Court Docket Records in Sumter County

Sumter County court docket records are held by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Bushnell. The 5th Judicial Circuit covers Sumter along with Citrus, Hernando, Lake, and Marion counties in central Florida. You can search court docket entries for civil, criminal, family, and traffic cases at the clerk's office or through online tools. Sumter County has grown substantially due to The Villages, a large retirement community that spans across the county. The clerk maintains docket data for every case and the public can access these records under Florida law.

Sumter County Clerk of Court

The Clerk of the Circuit Court in Sumter County keeps all court docket records for this area. The office files new cases, tracks hearing dates, stores court documents, and logs docket entries. Staff can help you find a case file and get copies. The Sumter County Clerk also manages official records like deeds, mortgages, and marriage licenses.

Sumter County shares the 5th Judicial Circuit with Citrus, Hernando, Lake, and Marion counties. The courthouse in Bushnell is where the clerk's main office operates. Despite the smaller county seat, the population boom from The Villages community has increased the volume of court filings in Sumter County. Online tools on the clerk's website let you search court docket records from home. The Sumter County Clerk website has case search options, contact info, and fee schedules.

The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal gives you a statewide view of court filings, including cases in Sumter County.

This portal connects users to court docket records across all 67 Florida counties and lets you file documents online.

Search Sumter County Court Docket Online

Finding court docket records in Sumter County starts online for most people. The clerk's website may have search tools for looking up cases by name or number. Basic public searches are free and open. Under Florida Statute Chapter 119, court docket records are public. Anyone can view them without stating a reason.

The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal tracks docket entries for cases in all 67 Florida counties, including Sumter. This system serves over 770,000 users and handles more than 30 million filings a year. You can check case status and view docket info at no cost. For appellate court docket records, the ACIS portal searches the Florida Supreme Court and all six District Courts of Appeal without registration.

To search Sumter County court docket records, you need:

• Full name of a party in the case
• Case number if known
• Date range for the filing period

In-person visits to the Bushnell courthouse are another option. Staff will pull up records and make copies. Certified copies carry a higher fee than plain ones. Older Sumter County court docket records may take extra time to locate.

Note: Some Sumter County court docket records may be restricted under Rule 2.420 and Administrative Order AOSC24-65.

Sumter County Court Docket Public Access

Florida gives broad public access to court docket records in Sumter County. Chapter 119 of the statutes says all state, county, and municipal records are open for personal inspection and copying. Providing access is a duty of the clerk's office. Automation of records must not reduce the right to see them. Both paper and electronic court docket files in Sumter County fall under this law.

Administrative Order AOSC24-65 from the Florida Supreme Court sets standards for how electronic court docket records are shared. The order creates 15 user roles. As a member of the public, you can see case numbers, party names, and docket entries without registering. Sealed, expunged, and confidential records in Sumter County are not open to the public. Under Rule 2.420, family law, juvenile, and probate images need registration or an in-person visit to view. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers website has info on all 67 county clerks including Sumter.

The MyFloridaCounty portal lets you search official records across Florida. These may tie to court docket cases in Sumter County.

Sumter County Court Docket Resources

The 5th Judicial Circuit covers Sumter, Citrus, Hernando, Lake, and Marion counties. Circuit courts hear felonies, family law, probate, and civil cases over $50,000. County courts handle traffic, misdemeanors, small claims up to $8,000, and civil disputes up to $50,000. Both court levels create docket entries the Sumter County Clerk stores.

The Florida Courts website links to all 20 circuits and has self-help tools for people who represent themselves in Sumter County. The circuit courts page explains the structure. To file a document, use the E-Filing Portal at any hour. For help, call (850) 577-4609 weekdays between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM Eastern.

Cities in Sumter County

Sumter County includes several communities. All court docket filings go through the Sumter County Circuit Court in Bushnell.

Other communities in Sumter County include Bushnell, Wildwood, Coleman, and Center Hill. All court docket cases are filed through the Sumter County Clerk.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Sumter County. Court docket records are kept in the county where the case was filed. Check the right county before you search.