What are Sumter County Public Records?
Sumter public records consist of information retained, filed, or maintained by public agencies. Records may exist in different forms, ranging from papers, books, and letters to photographs, films, maps, and data processing software. Some examples of public records in Florida include:
- Death records
- Marriage records
- Birth records
- Court records
- Voting records
- Historical records
- Research records
- Business records (articles of incorporation)
- Statistical data
- Meeting minutes
- Statutes and regulations
Per the Florida Sunshine Law established in 1995, most public records are accessible to the general public. All Florida state residents are eligible to obtain public records upon request. However, some records may be sealed or deemed confidential and restricted from public disclosure. Record exclusions help provide personal safety to the entities and persons named in the public record. For privacy reasons and to protect public health, health records are kept confidential. Examples of public records not accessible to the public include:
- Records containing home addresses
- Records containing telephone numbers
- Records containing payroll deductions
- Records containing spouse details/children's names or school
- Records containing social security number
- Health records
In addition to government agencies, some public records may also be accessible from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. However, users will need to provide enough information to assist with the search, such as:
- The name of the subject involved in the record (subject must be older than 18 or not juvenile)
- The address of the requestor
- A case number or file number (if known)
- The location of the document or person involved
- The last known or current address of the registrant
Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
Sumter County Crime Statistics
According to data published by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Sumter County recorded a total of 1,463 crimes in 2017. This figure includes 251 aggravated assaults, 24 rapes, 310 burglaries, and 782 larcenies. This figure also represents a 5.6% increase in total crime and a 3.8% increase in crime rate per 100,000 population when compared with statistics from 2016.
Are Sumter County Criminal Records Public?
Sumter county criminal records are largely open to the public. The Sumter County Sheriff's Office maintains criminal records for the county. Interested parties who wish to obtain these records may do so by contacting the Criminal Records Division in person at
7361 Powell Rd,
Wildwood, FL 34785
250 E McCollum Ave,
Bushnell, FL 33513
Victims of traffic crashes and any other interested parties can also obtain traffic crash reports at
8033 E CR 466,
Lady Lake, 32159
Interested parties who do not wish to request these records in person can also request records online. Paper copies cost 15 cents per page, double-sided copies cost 20 cents per page while certified copies cost $1 per copy and compact discs of records cost $10 per disc. It should be noted that requests which require research of archived reports, multiple records requests, or requests which require extensive use of technology might impose an hourly charge. This charge is currently $15.93 per hour.
In addition to this, interested members of the public can perform criminal history record checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement which maintains criminal records for the state of Florida.
Where and How to Find Sex Offender Information
Interested parties who wish to obtain sex offender information in Sumter County can perform a Sex Offender and Predator Search on a website maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. This website allows interested parties to access this information by performing either an offender search, neighborhood search, university/campus search, or internet identifier search.
Where and How to Find Inmate Information
Interested parties can search for and view booking information on current inmates of Sumter County Detention Center via an online portal provided by the sheriff's office. The Sumter County Detention Center handles all queries related to jail information. Interested parties who wish to access this information should contact the detention center at
219 E Anderson Avenue
Bushnell, FL 33513
Queries can also be directed to (352) 569-1700. However, interested parties who wish to deposit money into inmates' accounts may do so through either the kiosk located in the public lobby of the intake/release facility and is available 24/7, or the kiosk in the video visitation center located at
404 East Anderson Avenue,
Bushnell, FL 33513
The kiosk at the visitation center is only available during visitation hours, which are 1:30 pm-5:30 pm and 7 pm-10:30 pm on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. In addition to this, interested parties can also fund inmates' accounts online through ComissaryDeposit.
Sumter County Court Records
In the Florida trial court system, Circuits Courts have general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases. The Sumter County Clerk of the Courts maintains court records for the county. Interested parties who wish to access these records may do so by contacting the office of the clerk at
215 E McCollum Ave,
Room 190
Bushnell, FL 33513
Queries can also be directed to (352) 569-6600. It should be noted that obtaining these records may require the payment of any applicable fees, which vary depending on the type of record and the size/number of pages the record is printed on. However, copies of court records typically cost $1 per page and $2 per certified copy.
In addition to this, the Clerk of the Court's office also allows interested parties to perform an Online Court Records Search.
Location of the County Courts
Sumter County Circuit Court & County Court - 1
Sumter County Courthouse
215 East McCollum Avenue, Bushnell, FL 33513
Phone: (352) 569-6600
Sumter County Circuit Court & County Court - 2
North Sumter Annex
8033 East CR-466, The Villages, FL 32162
Phone: (352) 689-4625
Where and How to Get Bankruptcy and Property Records
The United States Bankruptcy Courts' Middle District of Florida handles all bankruptcy matters for cases filed in Sumter County. Interested parties who wish to obtain these records may do so by contacting the court clerk from Monday-Friday, between the hours of 8:30 am-4 pm at
300 North Hogan Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202
To obtain property records, interested parties should contact the Sumter County Property Appraiser at
218 E McCollum Avenue
Bushnell, FL 33513-6124
This office is open from Monday-Friday, 8:30 am - 5 pm. This office also has additional locations at
8033 East C-466
Oxford, FL 34484
9:30am-12pm, 1pm-4pm
Mondays-Fridays
7375 Powell Rd,
Wildwood, FL 34785
8:30am-12:30pm, 1:30pm-5pm
In addition to this, interested parties can also perform a Property Record Search online through a portal provided by the office of the Sumter County Property Appraiser. Any queries can be directed to (352) 569-6800.
What are Sumter County Vital Records?
The Florida Department of Health maintains and issues vital records for the state. This department has three (3) offices that serve Sumter County, which is located at
415 East Noble Avenue
Bushnell, FL 33513
Phone: (352) 569-3102
(Main Location)
104 Rutland Street
Wildwood, FL 34785
Phone: (352) 689-6520
8015 East C-466
The Villages, FL 32162
Phone: (352) 689-4675
Interested parties who wish to obtain these records are required to have a valid photo ID. Some of these records are also maintained and issued locally by the office of the County Clerk of Court.
Where and How to Get Sumter County Divorce Records?
Interested parties who wish to obtain divorce records may do so by contacting the office of the Sumter County Clerk of Court through the information provided in the Court Records section. For divorces that took place from June 6, 1927, to the present, records can also be obtained in person at any of the Florida Department of Health locations listed above. A completed Application for Dissolution of Marriage Report can also be mailed to
Bureau of Vital Statistics
Attn: Vital Record Section
Post Office Box 210
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042
Certified copies of divorce records cost $5 and an additional $4 for each extra copy of the same record. Interested parties requesting these records by mail should include a check or money order for any applicable fees made out to "Vital Statistics."
Where and How to Get Sumter County Marriage Records
Records of marriages that took place from June 6, 1927, till the present can also be obtained by interested parties from any of the Sumter offices of the Florida Department of Health. Interested parties are required to complete an Application For Marriage Certificate Form, which can either be submitted in person at the Department of Health or mailed, along with a check or money order for any applicable fees made out to "Vital Statistics," to
Bureau of Vital Statistics
Attn: Vital Record Section
Post Office Box 210
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042.
Certified copies of marriage records cost $5 and an additional $4 for each extra copy of the same record. To obtain marriage records for marriages that occurred before June 6, 1927, interested parties will need to contact the County Clerk of the Courts.
Where and How to Get Sumter County Birth and Death Records?
Interested parties can obtain copies of birth or death certificates for events that occurred from 1917 to the present after completing an Application for Florida Birth Record or Application for Florida Death Record respectively at either the Bushnell or The Villages locations of the Sumter County Florida Department of Health. The completed form can also be mailed to the Bushnell address. Certified copies of Birth Certificates cost $12, and an additional $5 for extra copies of the same record, while certified copies of Death Certificates cost $12 each. I
Birth certificates are only issued to an adult registrant, the registrant's parents listed on the record, a legal guardian, or a court recognized party, while death certificates stating the cause of death are only issued to the decedent's immediate family, including adult grandchildren and siblings, a party who provides a either a will that has been executed pursuant to Florida state statute 732.502, an insurance policy or other document that demonstrates his/her interest in the estate of the decedent and any party that provides documentation that he or she is acting on behalf of any of the previously mentioned parties.
In addition to government agencies, county public records may also be obtained from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. Users are able to search third-party websites remotely for multiple records at a time with just the name of the record subject and their last known location, including the city, county, or state. Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
