Court records in Citrus County, Florida, are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. CitrusCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Citrus County. Additional access points include the Citrus County Clerk's court records search, the Florida Courts website, and the clerk's office in Inverness.
Citrus County Court System Overview
Citrus County is part of Florida's Fifth Judicial Circuit, which also includes Hernando, Lake, Marion, and Sumter counties. The circuit court and county court both operate from the Citrus County Courthouse in Inverness. Circuit court judges handle felonies, larger civil disputes, family law, and probate matters, while county court judges preside over misdemeanors, small claims, traffic infractions, and lower-value civil cases. Appeals from the Fifth Judicial Circuit are heard by the Fifth District Court of Appeal.
Citrus County Courthouse
Courts Serving Citrus County
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Citrus County Circuit Court (Fifth Judicial Circuit) | 110 N. Apopka Avenue, Inverness, FL 34450 | (352) 341-6424 |
| Citrus County Court | 110 N. Apopka Avenue, Inverness, FL 34450 | (352) 341-6424 |
| U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida | 801 N. Florida Avenue, Tampa, FL 33602 (nearest division) | (813) 301-5400 |
Citrus County falls within the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Federal cases involving Citrus County residents are typically handled through the Tampa or Ocala divisions. There are no separate municipal courts in Citrus County; all local cases are processed through the county and circuit courts.
What Types of Cases Citrus County Courts Hear
Courts in Citrus County handle a broad range of case types across the circuit and county court levels:
- Felonies and misdemeanors
- Traffic infractions and criminal traffic offenses (including DUI)
- Civil litigation (all dollar amounts)
- Small claims
- Family law — divorce, custody, child support, paternity, domestic violence injunctions
- Probate — decedent estates, guardianships, trusts
- Juvenile — delinquency and dependency proceedings
- Adoption and termination of parental rights
The sections below break down which court handles each category.
District Court Cases in Citrus County
The Citrus County Circuit Court has jurisdiction over felony criminal cases, civil actions where the amount in controversy exceeds $50,000, family law matters, probate, and juvenile cases. Circuit court also hears appeals from county court decisions. Felony cases typically begin with an arrest or information filed by the State Attorney's Office. A circuit judge is assigned to the case, and the matter proceeds through arraignment, pretrial motions, and either a plea or jury trial. Post-conviction motions and sentencing also take place at the circuit level.
Magistrate Court Cases in Citrus County
Citrus County Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil disputes involving $50,000 or less, small claims cases up to $8,000, traffic infractions, and ordinance violations. County court judges also conduct first-appearance hearings and handle DUI arraignments. If you receive a traffic citation or a notice to appear for a misdemeanor, your case will be set in county court. Small claims cases follow a simplified procedure designed for parties without attorneys, though legal representation is permitted.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Citrus County
Family Law
Divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, domestic violence injunctions, and termination of parental rights are handled by circuit court judges. Petitions are filed with the Citrus County Clerk of Courts. The Florida Department of Health maintains dissolution of marriage verification records, while the actual divorce judgment is available from the clerk's office in the county where the dissolution was granted.
Probate
Decedent estates, guardianships, and trust matters are filed in circuit court. The clerk's office maintains probate case files and can provide copies of letters of administration, inventories, and final accountings. Guardianship cases involve court oversight of the person or property of a minor or incapacitated adult.
Juvenile
Juvenile delinquency and dependency (child protective) cases are heard by circuit court judges. Juvenile court records are confidential under Florida law and are not available through public search tools. Contact the clerk's office directly for information about accessing juvenile records if you are a party or authorized individual.
How Cases Move Through the Citrus County Court System
- Filing / Initiation: A case begins with a criminal complaint or information (criminal), a civil complaint or petition (civil/family), or a citation (traffic/infraction).
- Case Assignment: The clerk's office assigns the case to a judge based on case type and the court's internal rotation.
- Initial Hearing: Criminal defendants appear for arraignment or first appearance. Civil cases receive a scheduling conference or case management order.
- Pretrial Phase: Parties exchange discovery, file motions, and may engage in mediation or plea negotiations.
- Trial or Resolution: Cases resolve by plea agreement, jury or bench trial verdict, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: Criminal cases proceed to sentencing. Civil judgments may be appealed or enforced. Appeals from county court go to circuit court; appeals from circuit court go to the Fifth District Court of Appeal.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Citrus County
The Fifth Judicial Circuit's chief judge oversees court administration for Citrus County, supported by a trial court administrator. Local administrative orders and rules for the Fifth Judicial Circuit govern case management, courtroom procedures, and filing requirements. These can typically be found through the Florida Courts website.
Under Florida's broad public records laws (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes) and court access rules, most court records are open to the public. Exceptions include juvenile records, certain family law records involving minors, sealed or expunged criminal records, and documents containing confidential information as defined by Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420. The clerk's office works to redact confidential information before making records publicly available.
Hearings in Citrus County are generally open to the public. Some proceedings may be conducted remotely; contact the clerk's office at (352) 341-6424 for current hearing format information.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Citrus County
- Court Records Search: Search Citrus County court case records online through the Clerk's SCORSS court records search.
- Official Records (Deeds, Liens, Mortgages): The Official Records search provides access to recorded documents including deeds, mortgages, and liens.
- Public Records Requests: Submit requests to the Citrus County Clerk's public records request page. Police reports and arrest records should be requested from the Citrus County Sheriff's Office.
- Recent Arrests: The Sheriff's Office posts recent arrest information for the last 10 days. For older records, contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
- Criminal History Checks: FDLE maintains the state's central repository for Florida criminal history record checks.
- Seal and Expunge: Information about sealing or expunging a criminal record is available through FDLE's seal and expunge process page.
- Tax Deeds: Review upcoming and prior tax deed sales through the clerk's office.
- Property Records: The Citrus County Property Appraiser maintains property ownership and valuation data. The Citrus County Tax Collector handles tax payment records.
- Vital Records: Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates can be ordered through the Florida Department of Health in Citrus County.
- GIS and Mapping: Citrus County GIS provides parcel, zoning, flood zone, and land use data.
- County Government Public Records: The Citrus County Board of County Commissioners maintains a public records request portal for non-court government records.