Sumter County Public Records Lookup

Sumter County public records are kept by the Clerk and Comptroller's office in Bushnell, and Florida law gives any person the right to inspect or copy them on request without providing a reason or identification. This page covers how to find court filings, official recorded documents, and government records in Sumter County, including what online tools are available, applicable fees, and where to find records beyond what the Clerk's office holds.

Florida Public Records Law in Sumter County

Florida's public records statute is codified in Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. It says that records made or received by a public agency in Florida are open to any person for inspection and copying. Article I, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution backs this up as a constitutional right. Sumter County agencies, courts, and offices are all subject to these rules. You do not need to state your name. You do not need to give a reason for your request. The agency must respond promptly and can only withhold records when a specific exemption applies.

Sumter County is in the 5th Judicial Circuit, which also serves Marion, Citrus, Hernando, and Lake counties. Court records for cases filed in Sumter County are kept by the Sumter County Clerk and are distinct from those of the other counties in the circuit. The Clerk's office in Bushnell is the main courthouse and the central records repository for the county.

Common exemptions to public access are listed in Section 119.071 of the Florida Statutes. These include active criminal investigation files, victim identity data, certain law enforcement personnel records, and sealed court orders. When an agency denies a request, it must identify the specific exemption it is relying on. If you believe a denial was improper, the Florida Attorney General offers free mediation at (850) 245-0140. The process is simple and often resolves disputes quickly without going to court.

Sumter County has grown substantially in recent years, in part due to The Villages, a large planned retirement community that spans parts of Sumter, Lake, and Marion counties. The Sumter County portion of The Villages includes a significant number of residents, which has contributed to growth in court filings and recorded instruments.

Sumter County Clerk and Comptroller

Erin Munz serves as the Clerk and Comptroller for Sumter County. Her office at 215 E McCollum Ave in Bushnell is the central custodian for court records filed in the 5th Judicial Circuit's Sumter County division and for official recorded instruments such as deeds, mortgages, liens, and judgments that affect Sumter County property. The office is the primary public records source in the county.

The Clerk's office is open on weekdays during regular business hours. The courthouse in Bushnell handles civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters for Sumter County. Staff can direct you to the right division or tell you how to find specific records when you call the main number. The Clerk's office also records real estate instruments and other official documents for the county.

The screenshot below comes from the Sumter County Clerk and Comptroller's official website.

The page shown above is the main online portal for Sumter County court record searches, official records, and other services provided by the Clerk and Comptroller's office.

Searching Sumter County Court and Official Records

The Sumter County Clerk's website at sumterclerk.com provides online access to court records and official recorded documents. Court case searches can be run by party name or case number to pull up case status, hearing information, and available scanned documents for matters filed in Sumter County. Official records, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded instruments, are also searchable through the Clerk's online system.

Sumter County has seen rapid population growth, which has driven increased real estate activity and a corresponding rise in the number of recorded instruments. Property records covering transactions in The Villages area and throughout the county are indexed by the Clerk and available in digital form for many years. Title researchers and real estate professionals use the official records portal regularly for Sumter County property work.

For older records that are not in the digital system, a written request or an in-person visit to the Bushnell courthouse is required. Call (352) 569-6600 before visiting to confirm that the record you need is available and in what format. The Clerk's staff can usually give you a quick answer on whether a document has been digitized or is in physical storage. The myfloridacounty.com portal also provides access to Sumter County official records and can be a useful cross-reference tool.

Sumter County Records Fees and Copies

Standard Florida copy fees apply in Sumter County. Paper copies of public records cost $0.15 per one-sided page for standard document sizes. Certified copies carry a fee of $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification statement. Research time is free for the first 30 minutes. Beyond that, the Clerk may bill at a reasonable hourly rate for extensive research requests.

Records available in the online system can often be downloaded as PDFs at no charge, which is the easiest way to get a copy when you do not need certification. For certified copies needed in legal or financial transactions, submit a written request to the Clerk's office in person or by mail with the appropriate payment. Check the Clerk's website for the current fee schedule before submitting any request. Mail requests should include contact information so the Clerk can reach you if additional details or payment are needed before releasing the records.

Other Public Records in Sumter County

Beyond the Clerk's records, other Sumter County agencies produce public documents you can request under Chapter 119. The Sumter County Sheriff's Office handles arrest records and incident reports for unincorporated areas. The Property Appraiser maintains assessment and ownership data for all parcels in the county. The Supervisor of Elections keeps voter registration records. Records from municipal governments in Bushnell and other incorporated areas are also subject to Chapter 119.

For statewide criminal history, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement central repository covers all 67 Florida counties. This is the best option when you need records that may extend beyond Sumter County. The Florida Clerks directory provides contact information for every county clerk statewide. Legal aid for eligible Sumter County residents is available through Lake-Sumter Legal Aid and similar organizations serving the Central Florida region. The Florida Free and Accessible Futures foundation can also help connect residents to legal resources.

Cities in Sumter County

Sumter County includes The Villages, a large planned community that spans parts of Sumter, Lake, and Marion counties. The Sumter County portion has a dedicated public records page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Sumter County borders five other Florida counties. Each has its own clerk and separate records system.