Find Marion County Court Records

Marion County court records are managed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Ocala, Florida. Gregory C. Harrell serves as the clerk and oversees all court record filings for the 5th Judicial Circuit. The office provides several ways to search court records, including online tools, remote viewing access, and in-person visits at the courthouse. Civil, criminal, family, and probate cases are all part of the system. Marion County also maintains official records like deeds and liens through a separate search portal. Whether you live in Ocala, Belleview, or Dunnellon, all court matters go through the same clerk's office for Marion County.

Marion County Clerk of Court Records

Gregory C. Harrell is the Marion County Clerk of the Circuit Court. His office files, stores, and manages all court records in the county. Every civil suit, criminal case, family matter, and probate filing in Marion County goes through this office. The clerk also handles official records, including deeds, mortgages, and liens. The courthouse sits in Ocala and serves the full county. For questions about court records, you can call 352-671-5604 or email marionaccess@marioncountyclerk.org.

The clerk's website at marioncountyclerk.org is the hub for all court record services in Marion County. From there, you can search court records, search official records, and purchase electronic certified court records. The site also has links for e-filing, e-recording, and court forms for civil, criminal, family, and traffic cases. It is a well-organized starting point if you need any type of record from Marion County.

The Marion County Clerk homepage provides direct access to all search tools and court services.

You can get to the court records search, official records search, and forms library from this page.

Under Florida Statute Chapter 119, all court records in Marion County are public unless a judge seals them or a law makes them confidential. You have the right to inspect any public court file at no charge. The clerk only charges when you want a copy of the record.

Note: The Marion County Clerk's office also processes passport applications and marriage licenses in addition to court record services.

Search Marion County Court Records Online

Marion County gives you more than one way to search court records online. The search records page on the clerk's website is the main gateway. From there you can pick between court record searches and official record searches. The basic public search lets you look up cases by name, case number, or other details. Results show party names, case types, filing dates, and docket entries for court records in Marion County.

The Marion County search records page shows the different options available for looking up court records and official records.

This is the starting point for most people who want to find court records in Marion County.

For a deeper look at court documents, Marion County offers remote viewing of court records. This is a step above the basic search. Per Administrative Order AOSC 16-107, what you can see depends on your user role, the case type, the nature of the record, and the nature of the information in it. The basic public gets a standard level of access. If you need more, the clerk offers enhanced viewing. Getting enhanced access means you must sign a Registration Agreement and return it to the clerk via email. Once approved, you can see more documents in Marion County court records than the general public.

The remote viewing page for Marion County explains the levels of access and how to register for enhanced viewing.

The process is straightforward but does require a signed agreement for full access to Marion County court records.

Marion County also uses the OCRS system for official records searches. OCRS stands for Official County Recording System. It covers deeds, liens, mortgages, and other recorded documents in Marion County. This is a separate tool from the court records search, so make sure you use the right one for what you need.

Confidential Court Records in Marion County

Not every court record in Marion County is open for public viewing. Florida law protects certain types of information. The clerk follows Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420, which sets out the categories of court records that must stay confidential. Sealed cases do not appear in any public search. Juvenile records, adoption files, and certain mental health proceedings have strict access limits in Marion County.

Under Florida Statute 119.0714, the clerk must strip social security numbers, bank account numbers, and other sensitive data from public court records before they go online. This happens as part of the posting process. You do not need to request it. The multi-tier access system in Marion County ties directly to these rules. Some documents exist in the system but are only visible to registered users, attorneys of record, or parties to the case. This keeps private info in Marion County court records from being seen by people who should not have it.

If you believe your own Marion County court record should be sealed, you can file a motion with the court. The judge will review the request and decide based on the facts and the law. Administrative Order AOSC 16-14 from the Florida Supreme Court also governs how clerks across the state, including Marion County, handle the posting of court documents online.

Legal Help for Marion County Court Cases

The Florida Courts Help center has free forms and guides for people who want to file in Marion County without hiring a lawyer. All Florida Supreme Court approved forms are available at no cost. The 5th Judicial Circuit also offers self-help resources for people in Marion County who need to handle their own court filings. Staff at the Ocala courthouse can point you to the right form and explain the steps you need to take. They are not allowed to give legal advice or tell you what to write on your forms.

Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida serves Marion County residents who need free legal help. They cover family law, housing, and other civil matters for people who meet income requirements. If you have a court case in Marion County and cannot afford a lawyer, this is a good first step. The Florida Bar also runs a statewide lawyer referral service that covers Marion County and the rest of the 5th Judicial Circuit.

All new court filings in Marion County go through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers website ties all 67 county clerks together. You can also pay court fees through MyFloridaCounty.com for Marion County cases. The statewide courts site at flcourts.gov shows how the 5th Judicial Circuit fits into the full Florida court structure. That circuit covers Marion, Lake, Sumter, Citrus, and Hernando counties.

Note: The 5th Judicial Circuit shares resources across its five counties, so some forms and procedures are the same whether you file in Marion County or one of the neighboring counties in the circuit.

Cities in Marion County

All cities and communities in Marion County file court cases through the county clerk's office in Ocala. Ocala is the county seat and the center of court activity for the area. Belleview, Dunnellon, McIntosh, and Reddick also fall under Marion County jurisdiction for court records. None of these cities have their own court systems. Every filing goes through the same clerk's office. If you need court records for any part of Marion County, the clerk in Ocala and the online search tools are your starting points.

Nearby Counties

These counties share borders with Marion County. Make sure you are searching in the right county for your court records, since jurisdiction depends on where the case was filed. Each county has its own clerk and search system.