Search Free Marion County Public Records: Marital, Criminal, Court & More

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Free Marion County Public Records Search

Access Marion County Records: marriage, divorce, warrants, arrests, probation, criminal, court, background checks, and all public records.

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In most cases, Marion County public records can be found at no cost after figuring out which types of records are available and where to find them.

The information includes–but is not limited to–records of arrests, criminal history, prisoner information, warrants, probation, marriage, divorce, property and general court records. Additionally, readers will be given streamlined explanations of background check reports and how to request one.

Public records in Marion County are available for citizens to view and retrieve; under the federal Freedom of Information Act and Florida’s Public Records Law, government agencies must provide the general public with unfettered access to these records. However, it can be difficult to track these records down if you’re unsure how to request them or unfamiliar with the custodians that host them.

This resource provides public records guidance on the various types of records you can access, how to obtain them for free, and how to ethically and responsibly use the information.

This resource was written by Attorney Robert Bailey Jr, who holds a Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law.

How To Perform a Public Arrest Records Search for Free in Marion County Florida

Anyone interested can freely search for Marion County arrest records and related information.

Often, people search arrest and jail records to find out if someone is in jail. Depending on the information you have already and what you’re looking for, you may want to start your search at the city or county level.

County Level Searches: At this level, you can search the jail roster and arrest records for all individuals charged and incarcerated for committing a crime in Marion County. At the county level, you have the most convenient options, such as the ability to perform an online search for these records.

City Level Searches: You can search at this level if you know the location where a person was arrested or the arresting agency. Searching at the city level is also useful if the person was arrested recently (approximately the last 24 hours) and you need the information quickly.

If you find the law enforcement agency responsible for making the arrest, you can request police reports from them. These reports could be needed for various reasons, such as filing an insurance claim or other types of legal matters. You may find all the information you need at this level, or you can use the information to assist a search when looking through inmate records at the county level.

Below are the best options for searching and requesting public records in Marion County for arrest and inmate information.

Search for Arrestees Booked in the Marion County Jail

You can find arrest records using the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Search Tool.¹ You can use this search tool to search current inmates and archived records of individuals in the Marion County Jail.

The inmate tool is limited to searching by a person’s name, so if you do not know the person’s name, you may have to search with the arresting agency to try and gather more information (more on that below).

There is also an option to view all recent Marion County bookings. Whether looking at recent arrest reports or performing an inmate search, you can find someone’s mugshot along with other identifying information about the person.

The summary will provide useful information such as personal identifying information about the arrestee (e.g., date of birth, sex, race etc.). In addition, the summary provides information about the subject’s incarceration, such as their booking date, release date and whether or not they are currently in custody.

If you need additional information, you can click on the person’s booking number. The arrest record will provide detailed information about the charges against the arrestee. Specifically, you can get a description of the violation and the code violation.

If the case is still active, you can view the current bond amount and the next hearing date. If fully adjudicated (a final verdict has been reached), you can view information on the person’s sentence.

For additional information on inmate searches and arrest records, contact the Marion County Sheriff’s Office by phone at 352-732-8181. You can visit them in person at the below address:

Marion County Sheriff’s Office
692 NW 30th Avenue
Ocala, Florida 34475

Another option is visiting any of the Marion County Sheriff’s District Offices. You can also contact the Marion County Jail by phone at 352-351-8077 or in person at the address listed below:

Marion County Jail
3290 NW 10th St.
Ocala, Florida 34475

Obtaining Arrest Details & Police Reports via Marion County Law Enforcement Agencies

If you need an arrest report or additional details to perform an inmate search, gathering this type of information through local law enforcement agencies in Marion County is another helpful option.

The largest city in Marion County is Ocala. You can make a request for arrest records from the Records Department of the Ocala Police Department.³ Requests can be made with their Records Department by submitting an online request.

You can also make a request for records in person at the Records Department, located at the Ocala Police Department Headquarters. Their address is as follows:

Ocala Police Department
402 South Pine Avenue
Ocala, Florida 34471

The Ocala Police Department can be reached by phone at 352-369-7090. For calls and in-person visits, the Records Department is available from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

You can also reach out to one of their two districts in person if you have any additional questions about arrest information. They are located at the addresses below:

Ocala Police Department – East District
350 NE 8th Avenue
Ocala, Florida 34470

Ocala Police Department – West District
625 NW Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue
Ocala, Florida 34475

Here is contact information for the only two other police departments located in Marion County:

Police Department	Address	Phone Number
Belleview Police Department	5350 SE 110th St. Belleview, Florida 34420	352-245-7044
Dunnellon Police Department	12014 South Williams Street Dunnellon, Florida 34431	352-465-8510

Note: The remainder of Marion County is solely under the jurisdiction of the sheriff’s office.

How To Perform a Marion County Criminal Record Search

In addition to arrest records, you can also perform a free criminal record check using Marion County public records. Criminal records can provide unique information that an arrest record does not typically provide.

Marion County criminal records can provide detailed information about past cases that have been adjudicated, as well as criminal charges that are still pending. Criminal records outline sentencing information as well as a detailed list of all events that have happened in a particular case.

In addition, you can get specific information regarding any warrants that were issued for the person, their sentence and whether or not they are on probation. Below are details on how you can search public criminal records in Marion County for free.

Check Criminal Records in Marion County Florida via the Clerk of Court

You can perform a Marion County case search to find criminal records through the Clerk of Court’s Online Case Search Tool.⁵

One way to use this public records repository is to perform a general case search. This option allows you to broadly search Marion County judicial records for criminal cases by year or other search criteria.

The more direct way to view criminal records in this public index is by performing a person search. The only required information is the person’s first and last name. Also, since this is a general case record search tool, you will have to select the appropriate court type to view criminal cases.

Any of the following options will allow you to view certain types of criminal records:

• Criminal Traffic (CT)
• Felony (CF)
• Misdemeanor (MM)

To filter your search results, you can enter other information, if available, such as their Social Security Number or date of birth. In addition, you can narrow the search by entering a range for the date the case was filed.

If your search yielded any results, you will be able to see a list of names, along with their gender, race and general address (city and state only). In addition, you can see how many criminal cases they’re involved in.

Once you select a particular person, you can view detailed information for each of these cases. The case details will provide you with basic information, such as when the case was filed and its current status.

You can also view the specific charges, including the relevant criminal statute, a summary of the offense and the case type (e.g., felony, misdemeanor etc.). A searcher can also view different parties that were involved in the case, such as the judge who presided.

For additional case information, click the hyperlink for the case number. Here, you can view the docket with a list of every event that occurred in the case and a brief summary. For docket entries that contain an order or other type of court filing, you can click on the image to view an actual PDF of the document filed with or by the court.

Other sections of a person’s criminal record that you can view here include the following:

Judge Assignment History: Here, you can view the judge(s) that presided over various stages of a criminal case.

Court Events: This section lists court dates and what type of event occurred (e.g., arraignment, sentencing etc.).

Sentences: Here, you can find the type of sentence that was imposed if a person was found guilty of a crime. This may include prison time, probation, a fine or any combination of these.

Financial Summary: This section will provide information on any fees or restitution due, paid to date and whether or not a balance remains.

If you want, you can also search for case information in person. The Marion County Court handles misdemeanors and criminal traffic violations. The Marion Circuit Court handles all criminal felony matters.

You can contact either court by calling the Marion County Judicial Center at 352-401-6700. You can also go in person to:

Marion County Judicial Center
110 NW First Ave.
Ocala, Florida 34475

How To Initiate a Warrant Search in Marion County FL

Interested parties are enabled — and encouraged — to keep tabs on warrant statuses of those in their communities to keep themselves and their neighbors safe. Methods of looking up information on anyone issued a warrant in Marion County will be outlined below.

If someone has a warrant or had one in the past, it should also show up when you perform a criminal record search using the Clerk of Court’s Online Case Search Tool. After you perform a criminal records person search, you can individually search each case associated with them.

Once you select the hyperlink for a particular criminal case, you can go to the “Docket” section. This section details every case event that has occurred from initial arrest to final disposition. If a person had a warrant issued for them under a particular case, it should show up as a docket entry on their criminal record.

If you want to perform a Marion County warrant search, the sheriff’s office website provides a link to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Wanted Persons Search Tool.⁶ You can check for Marion County warrants and this type of information throughout the state of Florida using this online directory.

This tool allows you to search not only by a person’s name, but also any nicknames (i.e., aliases). To speed up your search, you can narrow your results by sex, race and a person’s date of birth or age. Once you find an offender using this tool, you can view specific information regarding any warrants, such as the number and date it was issued.

This search tool also provides you with the reason the warrant was issued and the reporting agency. A significant amount of identifying information will be listed too, in case you encounter this person. In addition to general descriptive information, you can view their occupation, last known address and all aliases used. They even provide a link if you have a tip about the wanted person.

You can also request warrant information in person at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is essential to have certain key details to make the warrant search easier, such as full name, date of birth and aliases.

Marion County Sheriff’s Office
692 NW 30th Ave.
Ocala, FL 34475

Phone: 352.732.8181

A broader search for statewide Florida warrant records can prove helpful if someone is wanted outside of Marion County.

Searching for Marion County Probation Records (Florida)

One way to find probation records within Marion County is to perform a criminal record search using the Clerk of Court’s Online Case Search Tool. Earlier, we discussed how to use this search tool to find criminal records. Now, you can also use this tool to locate specific information.

To find probation information, perform a person’s search for a criminal record. Once you find the record you are looking for, click on their record and then select the case hyperlink. From there, you can scroll down to the “Sentences” section.

If a person is on probation, their sentence will indicate probation details. Specifically, it will provide the length of probation, the date it was imposed and the effective date.

Alternatively, you can request to view or obtain probation records for specific cases by visiting the Marion County Clerk’s Office. The office address is provided below:

Marion County Clerk of Court Office
Main Courthouse
110 NW, 1st Ave. 
Ocala, FL 34475

Another option is to contact the Marion County Probation & Community Intervention Program. They can be contacted by phone at 352-732-1279. You can also go in person to the below address:

Marion County Probation & Community Intervention Program
948 NW 30th Avenue
Ocala, Florida 34475

If you want an online way to search for probation records, you can use the Florida Department of Corrections Supervised Population Information Search.⁷ While this is a statewide tool, it provides specific information about individuals on probation, including those from Marion County.

Once you perform a name search and click on the person you are looking for, you can view detailed information about a particular offender. As it pertains to probation, this search tool will indicate the supervision type, when it began and the scheduled termination date.

Note: More guidance can be found via the tutorial on looking up Florida probationer details.

Request a Background Check Report in Marion County Florida

Beyond performing your own free public records search, you can also obtain a Marion County background check. Before understanding how to obtain a background check, it is important to understand what one is.

Personal background checks can be performed by anyone and for any reason that is not illegal (more on this will be discussed later in this article). This type of background check can be done by using online search tools, submitting records requests and viewing records in person.

Professional background checks are conducted for a variety of specific reasons (e.g., employment, child care positions, insurance etc.). Whatever the reason, professional background checks are more formal in nature and, thus, necessitate additional steps and requirements.

To request a background check and report, you can turn to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Records Division.⁸ To request a background check, you can contact them by email at [email protected] or by phone at 352-732-8181. If you want to contact them in person, you can visit:

Marion County Sheriff’s Office
692 NW 30th Ave.
Ocala, Florida 34475

You can also send them a request through the mail using this mailing address:

Marion County Sheriff’s Office
Attention: Records
P.O. Box 1987
Ocala, Florida 34478

The flat fee for a background check is $5.00. If you need to search using more than one name, it will cost $1.00 for each additional name. Finally, there is a $0.15 fee per page of the background check.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office also provides free fingerprinting services if you are a resident of the county. These services are not provided to individuals who live outside Marion County. For both background checks and fingerprinting services, the Records Division is available Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

A background check with the Sheriff’s Office’s Records Division is a name-based search limited to only criminal records a person has within Marion County. To request a Florida or nationwide background check, you can do so with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).⁹ A background check with the FDLE costs $24.00.

Here are the different ways you can request a Florida background check with the FDLE.

Perform an Instant Search: You can search the FDLE’s criminal records database to get instant results.¹⁰ Once you perform your search, you can request the results either be printed or emailed. There is a $24.00 search fee to use this service (plus an additional $1.00 credit card processing fee).

Submit a Certified/Non-Certified Search: Another option is to submit a certified or non-certified search request in person or by mail. To submit your request, first determine whether you need a certified or non-certified record. Non-certified records will suffice if you are just trying to learn more about a person.

Regardless of the type of record, you will need to provide the FDLE with your mailing address and specific information about the person you are searching for (e.g., name, date of birth, etc.). FDLE staff will conduct the search themselves.

To mail the request, you can send it to the address below:

Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Criminal History Services
Attention: VECHS
P.O. Box 1489
Tallahassee, Florida 32302

If you prefer to go in person, you can drop your request off at:

Florida Department of Law Enforcement
2331 Phillips Rd.
Tallahassee, Florida 32308

ORI Search: This type of request is only available to certain entities that are authorized by the state or statute to request this type of criminal background check.

For additional information about securing a background check, you can reach out to FDLE’s Criminal History Services Section by phone at 850-410-8161. Their hours of availability are from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. One last option is to send any questions or requests to them by email at [email protected].

For a nationwide background check, you can submit electronic fingerprints to the FBI to search their comprehensive database.¹¹ There are several Florida Livescan Service Providers that you can use to submit your electronic fingerprints.

How To Verify if Someone Has a Criminal Records Across Florida via State & Federal Agencies

Beyond Marion County public records, you can find criminal records throughout Florida using various state and federal online tools. You can use these online search tools to search Florida public records for several types of criminal records.

These search tools can be used to find individuals convicted of specific types of offenses (e.g., sexual crimes), criminal case records as well as federal incarceration information. Look up someone’s criminal record throughout Florida using the following tools:

Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Criminal Records – The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) provides online access to search individual criminal history records throughout Florida.

Florida Online Public Docket – To search if someone has a criminal record throughout Florida, you can use Florida’s online public docket system to find cases throughout the state.

Florida Sexual Offenders & Predators Search – You can use this online search tool to find information about individuals registered as sex offenders in Florida, either by name or location.¹²

FDLE Career Offender Search – Search for particular convicted felons who, because of the nature of their offenses, are required to be on a select list of Florida felons.

Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) Offender Information Search – This search tool is specifically designed for criminal records of inmates located at the Florida Department of Corrections.

United States National Sex Offender Registry – This tool can be used to search for individuals convicted of sexual offenses in Florida and throughout the United States, searchable by name or location.

Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Search Tool – For individuals convicted and incarcerated for federal crimes, you can use the Federal BOP’s search tool, which allows you to find federal inmates in Florida and throughout the U.S., either by name or BOP register number.¹³

How To Look Up Court Records & Cases in Marion County FL

If you want to search different types of Marion County court records, you can utilize the Clerk of Court’s Online Case Search Tool.

This search tool allows you online access to various types of court records in Marion County. You can search the following types of cases using this online tool:

• Appeals from County Court
• Circuit & County Civil Cases
• County & Municipal Ordinances
• Criminal – Traffic, Misdemeanor & Felonies
• Domestic Relations Cases (e.g., divorce, child support, custody)
• Probate & Guardianship Cases
• Non-Criminal Infractions
• Traffic Infractions

This comprehensive search tool provides you access to many different types of cases. However, some may have a reason to look for records in person. If someone has a need to search in person, they can go to the courthouse that is the custodian for that particular record.

The primary Marion County Courthouses (Marion County Court and Marion County Circuit Court) are located at the below address:

Marion County Judicial Center
110 NW First Ave.
Ocala, Florida 34475

For Florida court records you can use their Online Public Docket to search for cases with the Supreme Court and any of their appeals courts.¹⁴ You can also go here to navigate to any circuit or trial courts for any county in Florida. There, you can find online lookup tools for other counties in Florida.

How To Acquire Vital Records in Marion County Florida (Marriage, Divorce, Birth & Death)

Vital records primarily include death certificates, birth certificates, marriage and divorce records. You can use these records to check if someone is married, has since finalized a divorce, or to perform a genealogy search.

In many legal or business situations, you may need a certified copy of one of these vital records. For instance, when adding someone to an insurance policy, a certified birth or marriage record is often used to prove a qualified relationship with the policyholder. Or, if a person wants to change their last name on their Social Security card or other official documents, they will often need to provide a certified copy of their marriage or divorce record.

Whether you are just looking to find out if someone is married or you need a certified copy of a vital record, use the resources below to assist you with determining what records are available to the public, how to view them and methods for requesting a record.

Retrieve Marion County Marriage or Divorce Records via the Clerk of Court & Comptroller

Marriage and divorce records are public in Marion County, Florida.

To access Marion County marriage records, you can perform a search with the Clerk of Court & Comptroller.¹⁶ Here, you can search for marriage records by a person’s name.

To ensure you only get results for marriage records, make sure to specifically select that option under the “Document Type” tab. In addition, you can narrow your search results by providing a date range and the particular town or city where the person was married.

Once you click on a particular result, you can see both spouse’s names, the date the marriage license was filed and any other related information. In addition, this search tool provides you with a printable PDF of the original marriage license. The marriage license will provide additional information, such as the judge that issued the license.

To track down Marion County divorce records, you can use the Clerk of Court’s Online Case Search Tool.

This tool can be used to perform a case record search specifically for domestic relations cases. To do so, make sure to select “Domestic Relations/Family (DR)” under the Court Type section. From there, you can enter the person’s name as well as a date range and other identifying information.

Once you click on a person’s record, you can view party information, when the case was filed and when the divorce decree was issued. You can also see other information, such as whether the divorce involved children or not.

Marriage and divorce records can also be ordered throughout Florida via their Bureau of Vital Statistics.¹⁷ You can either submit a Application for Florida Marriage Certificate or Application for Dissolution of Marriage Certificate to the below address:

Florida Department of Health
Bureau of Vital Statistics
Attn: Vital Records Section
P.O. Box 210
Jacksonville, Florida 32231

A certified copy costs $5.00. You can also order records online with the only approved third-party vendor, VitalChek.

Acquire Marion County Birth & Death Records via the Clerk of Court or the Florida Department of Health

For Marion County birth records, it’s important to note that if the record is less than 100 years old, it is considered confidential and is not accessible to the general public. Death records, however, are public, as long as the reason someone died is redacted.

A certificate of death with the cause of death included is confidential until 50 years after it was issued.

Since death records (excluding the cause of death) are public, you can perform an online search through the Clerk of Court & Comptroller. Here, you can select “Death Certificate” as the document type and enter the person’s name you are searching for. The information provided will vary depending on the date the person died.

A request for a certificate of birth or death can be made with the Florida Department of Health in Marion County. To request a copy of a birth record, you must be one of the following people:

• Person on the Birth Record (if 18 years or older)
• Parents
• Guardians
• An Attorney (representing a minor whose name is on the birth record)

For a request for a death record with the reason they died listed, you must be one of the above people or one of the following parties listed below:

• Spouse
• Children
• Grandchildren
• Sibling (if 18 or older)
• Administrator of the Decedent’s Estate
• Beneficiary of Decedent’s Estate or Life Insurance Policy

You can make a request for a birth or death record either in person or by mail. First, complete either the Application for Florida Birth Record or the Application for Florida Death Record.

You can mail or drop off your application at the below address:

Department of Health Marion County
1801 SE 32nd Avenue
Ocala, Florida 34471

Make sure you also provide valid government-issued identification and the appropriate fee. The cost of birth certificates is $13.00, plus $7.00 for any additional copies. The cost for death certificates is $10.00 per copy.

For additional questions, you can reach out to the Florida Department of Health in Marion County by email at [email protected] or by phone at 352-629-0137. Their hours of availability are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Verifying Property Ownership & Tax Information in Marion County for Free

You can search Marion County public records for property ownership information using the Property Appraiser’s Property Record Search Tool.¹⁸

You can use this tool to search for Marion County property records by inputting various information. A searcher can perform a search by address, name, parcel, book and page number and more.

The results page will provide you with a snapshot, including the following information:

• Parcel Number
• Name
• Address
• Link to Map
• Acreage of Property

For additional information, you can click on the property’s parcel number. This will take you to the Property Record Card. Here, you can view information on the current value of the real estate, history of its assessed value and details on the transfer history of the property.

You can also get information on the property description, zoning, building characteristics, improvements and other related data. There are a couple of useful tools you can click on for further information. First, there is a link if you would like to see a picture of the street view of the property.

Also, you can click on the “Taxes Assessments” hyperlink at the top of the page. This link will take you to the Marion County Tax Collector’s tax roll for a particular property. Here, you can view tax information, including the amount of taxes associated with a property and whether they have been paid.

If you just want to perform a property tax search, you can search directly with the Marion County Tax Collector. A person may want to use this search tool prior to purchasing a home to make sure there are no unpaid taxes. Or, you may just want to see how much property taxes are in a particular neighborhood you are looking to purchase a home in.

Understanding Your Rights & Responsibilities Regarding Marion County Public Records

After reading through this resource, you are now equipped with several tools to check public records both online and through other means.

Before you start performing your first search, it’s important to understand your responsibilities once you access these records. Responsible use of public records is incredibly important, considering the type of records you now know how to access.

Rights and responsibilities can most easily be categorized based on the way a public record is being used. Personal use has limited restrictions, while professional use involves different regulations and regulatory agencies that are tasked with ensuring these records are used appropriately.

Personal use is a broad category of searches where individuals gather information about another person to use for themselves. Typically, this is to learn more about a person in their life, neighborhood or job for a variety of reasons.

When searching public records for personal use, make sure you do not use those records to commit any type of criminal or illegal act. Also, limit your use to purely personal reasons–meaning do not use the records for professional reasons, which will be described in detail shortly.

When performing a search of public records for personal use, you are not required to obtain the consent of the person you are searching. Also, if you are looking for records that cannot be accessed online or in person, you can formally submit a FOIA request to receive any records that are not exempt from public disclosure.

Professional use comes with additional requirements and rights. Professional use of public records is often triggered by a state or federal statute. Professional use examples include a request for a firearms license, individuals working with the elderly or children, as well as when adopting a child.

It is also considered professional use if relied on to make an employment decision or determine whether or not to rent a property to a person. These are just some examples and are not exhaustive reasons.

When public records are used for professional use, you must request the consent of the person being searched. If not, that person can submit a claim with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

If a person is being subjected to some type of credit inquiry, they have additional rights provided by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Some examples of these rights include the right to dispute false or inaccurate information, as well the right to know what is in your file. A person must be notified if something in their file was used to take adverse action against them.

Discrimination is another important issue when using public records for professional use. Evidence of unlawful discrimination based on public records information can be filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The process is straightforward and they even provide an online claims portal that individuals can use.

After perusing this resource, you’re now equipped with the knowledge of how to use Marion County public records responsibly, and all the tools you need to access them; for a wider search, check out the Florida public record lookup resource.