Marion County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Named after General Francis Marion of South Carolina, Marion County was established in 1844 from portions of three different counties. It is the fifth-largest county in the state of Florida, with a total land area of 1,530 square miles. Marion County has a population of more than 378,000 residents, and Ocala is its government seat. The Marion County Circuit Court and the County Court of Marion County are the judicial bodies responsible for resolving all disputes and administering justice within the county. Both courts have separate divisions for criminal and civil cases, all of which are located in the city of Ocala.

The Circuit Criminal Court handles all of the felonies and juvenile delinquency cases related to a felony or a violation of the law. In contrast, the county criminal court hears misdemeanors and criminal traffic cases. On the other hand, the circuit civil court holds hearings for cases involving medical malpractice, habeas corpus, contract disputes, disputes over boundaries and title of real property, and civil actions in which the amount in dispute exceeds $50,000. Conversely, the county civil court handles civil lawsuits involving amounts ranging from $8,000 to $50,000. Other departments within the county and circuit courts include probate, eviction, family, juvenile dependency, and small claims. For instance, the small claims department settles matters where the amount in dispute is $8,000 or less, excluding interests, court costs, and attorney fees.

Yearly, the Marion County court system receives a large number of case filings. The Marion County Clerk of Court and Comptroller not only accepts case filings but also prepares an annual report on the courts' caseloads and keeps court records. In 2023, the county court processed 34,861 cases, the majority of which were small claims, traffic infractions, and county civil cases. Additionally, the circuit court handled a total of 20,425 cases, the majority of which were circuit civil, family civil, and felony cases. The clerk's website allows the public to access court records remotely. Marion County has a crime rate of 2,056 incidents per 100,000 people, and this accentuates the need for a productive court system.

In summary, the Marion County court system serves residents who enter the justice system through circuit court, county court, and their divisions. It promotes transparency by providing annual caseload reports and easy access to the court records of cases filed in the county.