Marion County Circuit Court Case Search

In Marion County, the circuit court serves as the primary trial court. Records are generated by legal proceedings heard at the court and managed by the Marion County Clerk of Court and Comptroller. The Clerk of Court is also responsible for answering court record requests in Marion County. A Marion County Superior Court search or record request may be necessary for different reasons, including case reviews, appeals, personal records, background checks, and legal or academic research.

What Kinds of cases have been heard in Marion Circuit Court?

The Marion County Circuit takes over the responsibilities of the Superior Court. It serves as the main trial court with general jurisdiction over most criminal and civil court cases, plus any other trials beyond the county court's jurisdiction. The Circuit Court hears criminal cases such as felonies, some misdemeanors, and domestic violence cases. It also hears civil cases with claims above $50,000, domestic relations cases, divorce, juvenile delinquency, child custody, and support cases. Probate cases such as mental health, commitments, and guardianships are also under the jurisdiction of the circuit courts.

Marion County Circuit Court

The Florida Court system operates Circuit and County Courts. Circuit Courts are the main trial courts in counties such as Marion and handle serious cases such as criminal felonies and civil cases with high monetary penalties. Their position as the main trial court also means that most residents with serious court cases have their cases handled by the Circuit Courts.

This is the location of the Marion County Circuit Court:

Marion County Circuit Court
Marion County Judicial Center
110 NW 1st Avenue, P.O. Box 1030,
Ocala, FL 34475
Phone: (352) 671-5604
Fax: (352) 671-5600

Marion County Case Lookup

The Marion County Clerk of Court and Comptroller provides record seekers with various options for looking up court case records. Non-confidential court records from all divisions of the circuit court can be searched for, and copies can be requested in person, online, or by mail.

Online Searches

Online searches can be made using the options provided on the Online Court Record Search page of the Clerk of Court website. The search tools may be used to look up records from all divisions of the Circuit Court, including civil, criminal, misdemeanors, domestic relations, probates, small claims, and felonies. Users are provided several access options, such as public, attorney, registered user, and party access. Public access permits anonymous access to court records and does not require creating an account and password, while all the other options do. Criteria required for searching include case number, full party names, business names, filing dates, date of birth, court location, and court type. Only public court records are available during online searches; restricted and confidential records will not appear as results during any search.

Walk-in Requests

Record seekers may request court records in person by visiting the Marion County Clerk of Court and Comptroller at:

Marion County Circuit Court
Marion County Judicial Center
110 NW 1st Avenue, P.O. Box 1030,
Ocala, FL 34475

Record seekers must make their requests during business hours on Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Public access terminals are available at the Self-Help Center and the Law Library. Copies of records cost $1 per page, and certification costs $2 per document. Staff searches cost $2 per name per year. Payment can be made in cash, cards, checks, and money orders. For any inquiries, record seekers may call the clerk’s office at (352) 671-5604.

Mailed Requests

Mailed requests may be sent to the Marion County Clerk of the Court and Comptroller at:

Marion County Clerk of Courts and Comptroller
P.O. Box 1030
Ocala, Florida 34478

Requests should contain enough information to locate the record, such as party names, case numbers, filing dates, court type, and court location. Records cost $1 per page plus an additional $2 to certify the document. Checks or money orders are accepted as payment. Record seekers are advised to call the clerk’s office (352) 671-5604 before they request records for information about payment and delivery options for mailed requests.

Marion Circuit Court Case Search by Name

The Marion County Clerk of Court and Comptroller offer name-based court record searches via any of their available request options. Name-based searches can be made in person, by mail, or online. During the request, the request must provide the full name(first and last) of the subject of the record. The name must be accurate and spelled correctly for the search to be successful. To avoid problems due to popular names, requests may include additional information to narrow or filter the search. This additional information may be case numbers, filing dates, dates of birth, case type, and court location.

Marion Circuit Court Docket Search

A court docket is a record that outlines the progress of a case, showing basic case information like parties involved, case numbers, hearing dates, motions, rulings, and judgments. Record seekers may find Marion County docket information by contacting the Marion County Clerk of Courts and Comptroller. Docket requests can be made in person or using the online Record Search options on the Clerk of Courts website. Seekers may also call the clerk’s office during business hours at (352) 671-5604 and inquire about how to obtain docket information.

Lookup Marion County Circuit Court Online

The Marion County Circuit Court offers several online options for looking up court records on the Online Court Records Search page. However, some third-party records websites may provide an alternative. Floridacourtrecords.us and similar third-party websites offer court records searches across jurisdictions using simple interfaces and search criteria such as names and case numbers. Some of these sites also allow requesters to download or print out search results. That said, such websites do not have government affiliation, so the search results they provide may not be accurate or up-to-date.

Supreme Court vs. Circuit Court

The Supreme Court and Marion County Circuit both exist in the Florida court system but have different responsibilities. In Florida, the Supreme Court typically handles death penalty appeals, constitutional matters, and issues between state agencies. It is the court of last resort in Florida and has state-wide jurisdiction. The Supreme Court in Florida sets legal precedents for other courts in the state, and only the U.S. Supreme Court may review or change decisions made by the Florida Supreme Court.

On the other hand, the Circuit Court is the Superior Court equivalent in Florida. It serves as the main trial court in the counties and hears civil, criminal, and domestic relations cases. Circuit courts only have county jurisdiction and are available for cases within their assigned county.