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Citrus County, Florida State Court Records

The phrase "court records" is defined in Rule 2.420(b) of the Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration as the "contents of a court file." The description includes

  • Progress dockets and other related records generated to document case activity.
  • Transcripts; documentary exhibits; and electronic records, stenographic tapes, and video recordings of depositions or other proceedings filed with the clerk or in the clerk’s custody.
  • Electronic records, stenographic tapes, or videotapes of court proceedings.

The clerk, who serves as the custodian of Citrus County court records, is the local Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller’s Office.

Public access to the court system is a vital aspect of why the courts preserve official accounts of legal proceedings (i.e., court records). These records are crucial for promoting transparency within the judicial system, thereby diminishing public reluctance to engage with the courts and allowing for necessary public oversight of judicial decisions.

In addition, court records are valuable resources for legal and academic research, for historical context on legal matters that shaped the law, and for background checks, among other uses.

Notably, Citrus County court records frequently integrate with other public documents maintained by separate government departments. For example, a person’s criminal history report-which aggregates their arrest and conviction records-may be reviewed by judges when determining appropriate sentences based on a defendant’s past conduct. Another case in point is a divorce certificate, a vital record generated as an abstract of the official divorce decree issued by the courts.

Are Citrus County Court Records Public?

Yes. Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration, Rule 2.420, Citrus County court records are open to the public. Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.420 regulates public access to the records of the judicial branch, including court records (case files) and administrative records (business operations). Under this rule, anyone can see or duplicate a court record generated or maintained in Citrus County, with the exception of records deemed exempt from public disclosure ("confidential") by law.

Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.420 lists multiple records in sections (c) and (d) that remain confidential to the general public. These include

  • Estate inventories and accounting
  • Protected information of victims of child abuse or sexual offenses
  • Unexecuted arrest and search warrants and their supporting affidavits
  • Pre-sentence investigation reports
  • Juvenile dependency and delinquency records
  • Trial and appellate court memoranda, notes, drafts, and other written materials prepared by judges or court personnel as part of the judicial decision-making process
  • Records whose disclosure would reveal a compelling governmental interest or cause substantial injury to innocent third parties

What Information is Available in Citrus County Court Records?

The information/documents found in a Citrus County court file vary based on the particular case. In this sense, the contents of a criminal case file are fundamentally different from those of a civil case file, and the complexity and duration of a case can greatly influence the volume of filings contained in the court file. Nevertheless, the following are typical components of Citrus court records:

  • Party Information: The names of the litigating parties-the defendant(s) and plaintiff(s)-and their attorneys
  • Case Information: Essential elements of the case, such as the assigned judge, case status, case type, case title, and filing date.
  • Calendar/Court Docket: A listing of all past and future hearings scheduled for the case, often integrated into the Register of Action, which provides the specific time, date, and courtroom location for each event.
  • Register of Action: A chronological log of every event or activity in the case.
  • Filings: All documents filed by the parties or generated by the court in connection with the case, such as pleadings, motions, affidavits, notices, writs, orders, verdicts, exhibits, and judgments.

Citrus County Court Records Search

Here’s how Citrus County court records can be searched and accessed by members of the public:

SCORSS offers both "guest" (general public) and "registered user" profiles. Guest access allows searches by party name, company name, case number, or citation number. For party name searches, users can often narrow results by specifying the court type (e.g., circuit civil) and, in some instances, the case type, or by requesting an exact last-name match. Registration is reserved for parties who can demonstrate an "appropriate role" (e.g., attorney of record, case party, law enforcement officer).

Case information, such as party names, case numbers, and judge names, as well as non-confidential documents, can be viewed through SCORSS. However, access to certain court records is restricted:

  • Viewable on Request (VOR) Documents: These are not available for immediate viewing; a system request to the clerk’s office is required before disclosure.
  • Document in Redaction (RED): These documents are currently undergoing redaction at the clerk’s office and will be released once redaction is completed.
  • Courthouse-Only Documents: Certain documents may be unavailable online and only viewable at the courthouse in hardcopy or microfilm format due to their age.
  • Confidential Documents: These documents are restricted from general public access by law and only released to parties defined by law, as specified in the Florida Supreme Court’s Administrative Order 2024-65 Standards for Access to Electronic Court Records and Access Security Matrix.

SCORSS users can also purchase electronically certified documents for specific cases, which are delivered via email.

  • The Citrus County Court Docket Search: To get the most accurate results from this web-based application, users are advised to search using both a calendar date and a judge’s name. The system’s specific function is to retrieve all scheduled hearings and trials for a given date, filtered by the presiding judge.
  • Written Request via the Clerk’s Online Public Records Portal: Individuals can access the Citrus County Circuit Clerk’s Office Public Records Portal, select "New Request," click "Court Records Request," and then complete the form to submit the inquiry to the clerk’s office.
  • The Courthouse: Individuals can stop by the county courthouse in Inverness or the West Citrus Government Center in Crystal River to look up or request court records.

The clerk’s office can also be reached at (352) 341-6424 for record inquiries.

Fees for Court Records in Citrus County

Accessing the Citrus County Secured Courts Online Record Search System or the Citrus County Court Docket Search system is free of charge, with the exception of purchasing e-certified documents through SCORSS. Similarly, there is no fee to inspect a Citrus County court record at the courthouse or through the clerk’s office; however, a charge will be applied if the requester needs a copy of the record.

To this end, and following F.S. 28.24, the Citrus County Circuit Clerk charges these copy fees:

Photocopies (not larger than 14" x 8.5")

$1 per page

Photocopies (larger than 14" x 8.5")

$5 per page

Verifying any instrument presented for certification that was prepared by a party other than the Clerk or a Deputy Clerk

$3.50 per page

Reproduction of any document by a method other than a photographic process.

$6 per page

Certified ("raised seal") copies, including signing and sealing

$2 per document

Exemplified ("triple seal") copies, including signing and sealing

$7 per document

Authenticated copies ("Apostille")

$7 per document

Electronically Certified Copies (SCORSS)

$6 service fee, plus the $ 1-per-page statutory fee, and a $2 certification fee per document.

The circuit clerk’s office also issues certified copies of marriage licenses (all years recorded in Citrus) to married couples. The initial certified copy is included in the marriage license fee, and subsequent copies can be purchased for $3 per copy. Other vital records (birth, death, and divorce certificates) can be requested from the Florida Department of Health and Vital Statistics in Citrus County. Individuals can also purchase marriage certificates (June 6, 1927, to the present) from the Department of Health, as the clerk forwards all original licenses to the agency for permanent filing.

Citrus County Courthouse Locations

The Fifth Judicial Circuit of Florida comprises Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, and Sumter counties. Within this circuit, Citrus County maintains both a circuit court and a county court. The two courts function as the region’s trial courts, collectively managing the entire court caseload for Citrus County. The specific jurisdictions of these courts are outlined in the state judiciary’s Court Structure webpage.

All cases filed in Citrus County, whether filed in the circuit or county courts, are heard at a single location.

Citrus County Courthouse

110 North Apopka Avenue

Inverness, FL 34450

Phone: (352) 341-6424

Fax: (352) 341-6413

Criminal Records Access in Citrus County

Two primary sources may be approached to find Citrus County criminal records: the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller’s Office (which manages the county’s criminal case files), or the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) (for statewide criminal history records).

Methods for accessing court records through the clerk’s office are specified in the "Citrus County Court Records Search" section. These processes are identical whether requesting a criminal or civil court record.

On the other hand, comprehensive criminal records, which include reported arrests and convictions from Citrus County, can be requested from the FDLE. Florida is known for having some of the broadest public record laws. Therefore, any member of the public can view an adult’s criminal history records after paying a statutory fee (currently $24), whereas in several states, access may be restricted to explicitly defined parties. Nevertheless, confidential information, such as a person’s Social Security number and juvenile offender records, remains protected.

Statewide criminal history checks are available on the FDLE’s official website, and these checks are primarily name-based.

Citrus County Probate Records

Probate is the court process for the distribution of a deceased person’s ("decedent’s") assets to their legal heirs or designated beneficiaries. In Citrus County, these cases are heard in the Citrus County Circuit Court’s Probate Division. The corresponding "probate records" or "estate records," which are maintained and disseminated by the local Circuit Clerk’s Office, are generally public under Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.420.

Members of the public can inspect Citrus County probate records at the county courthouse or the West Citrus Government Center in Crystal River. They can also look up probate court cases and dockets via the Citrus County Secured Courts Online Record Search System or the Citrus County Court Docket Search system, respectively.

However, F.S. 28.2221(5)(a) prevents the publishing of images of probate records on a publicly available website (these images can typically be viewed at the courthouse). Moreover, confidential information, such as estate inventories and accountings, is exempt from public inspection.

The Citrus County Probate Division is also responsible for several other types of legal proceedings, mainly concerning vulnerable populations or social issues. These include cases involving the guardianships of minors or incapacitated individuals, trusts, substance abuse (Marchman Act), mental health (Baker Act), and competency hearings. Although court records might indicate the existence of these proceedings, the actual filings are usually confidential and not accessible to the general public.

Citrus County Family Court Records

In Citrus County, matters concerning domestic relations and juvenile law are handled by the Unified Family Court (UFC). The UFC is a specialized division of the local circuit court. Cases addressed by this court include divorce/dissolution of marriage, paternity/parenting plans, adoption, and issues related to child custody, child support, and spousal support.

To view or obtain copies of Citrus family court records, one can use the search methods outlined in the preceding section titled "Citrus County Court Records Search."

However, many UFC records are strictly confidential because they address sensitive domestic issues. For example, records of adoption, gestational surrogacy, pregnancy termination by a minor, domestic violence (identifying information and victim’s address), and child abuse & sexual offenses (victim information) are classified as confidential records under Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.420

Federal Court Records in Citrus County

The U.S. District Court that presides over federal matters (civil, criminal, bankruptcy) arising in Citrus County is the Florida Middle District Court in Ocala, Florida.

Ocala Division

Golden-Collum Memorial Federal Building and United States Courthouse

207 Northwest Second Street

Ocala, Florida 34475

Phone (Clerk’s Office): (352) 369-4860

Official records of cases filed in this court can be accessed either online via the federal case locator (PACER) or in person at the Ocala Division courthouse. At the courthouse, public terminals are available for free viewing of case records (printing at terminals costs 10 cents per page). Requests for copies can be submitted to the federal court clerk’s office for a nominal fee, typically 50 cents per page.