Sumter County Record Lookup

Sumter County background check records are available through the Clerk of Court in Bushnell and through FDLE's statewide database. This central Florida county has grown a lot in recent years, largely due to The Villages retirement community that spans into its borders. The population is now around 135,000. The 5th Judicial Circuit serves Sumter County, and the clerk's office handles all local court filings. Whether you search online, by phone, or in person, the clerk and FDLE are the two main sources for background check data in this county.

Sumter County Clerk of Court

Erin Munz is the Sumter County Clerk of Court. The main office is at 215 E McCollum Ave in Bushnell. You can call (352) 569-6600 for questions about records, court services, or fees. The office handles criminal, civil, family, and traffic cases filed in Sumter County. Staff can search their system by name or case number and pull files for review at the counter.

The clerk's website at sumterclerk.com provides basic information about office hours and services. For online record searches, the MyFloridaCounty portal covers Sumter County official records like liens, judgments, and recorded documents. This statewide system lets you search by name or document type without having to visit the courthouse in Bushnell. It does not cover court case filings the same way the clerk's internal system does, but it is a useful tool for part of a background check in Sumter County.

The MyFloridaCounty portal provides access to official records for Sumter County and all other Florida counties.

Search Sumter County official records and recorded documents through this statewide tool.

How to Run a Sumter County Background Check

The most direct way is to call or visit the clerk's office in Bushnell. Give staff the name of the person and they can search the local court system. They will tell you what cases are on file and can print copies for a fee. This covers all local filings: criminal, civil, family, and traffic cases. It is a simple process in a mid-sized office.

For a statewide criminal history check, go to FDLE's CCHInet system. Pay $24 and submit the name. FDLE runs it through the state database and sends results by email. This covers all 67 counties. If the person has records in Sumter County and also in Marion or Lake County (or anywhere else in the state), all of it shows up in one report. Turnaround is usually about one business day.

The MyFloridaCounty portal is good for recorded documents. You can find liens, mortgages, judgments, and deeds tied to Sumter County. These are different from court case filings but still useful. A judgment against someone, for example, might not show in a simple court case search but would appear in the official records system.

Note: Sumter County's population has grown fast, so the clerk's office may be busier than you expect for a county of this size.

Sumter County Background Check Costs

FDLE charges a flat $24 for a Level 1 name-based criminal history check. You pay online at the FDLE criminal history page. This fee is the same across all Florida counties. A Level 2 fingerprint check costs more and varies depending on the agency requesting it.

At the Sumter County Clerk's office, searching records at the counter is free. Copies cost money. Plain copies are $0.15 per page. Certified copies run $1.00 per page. If you need certified documents for court or legal use, make sure to ask for them at the clerk's window. Online searches through MyFloridaCounty are also free to run, though viewing some document images may require a small fee.

• FDLE state check: $24.00
• Plain copies: $0.15 per page
• Certified copies: $1.00 per page
• In-person record viewing: Free
• Online search (MyFloridaCounty): Free

Public Records Access in Sumter County

Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes makes government records open to any person. You do not have to live in Sumter County. You do not have to give a reason for your request. The clerk must provide access to records that are not sealed, expunged, or exempt. Most court filings, arrest records, and other public documents in Sumter County fall under this open access rule.

There are limits. Sealed and expunged records cannot be viewed. Juvenile case files are restricted. Active criminal investigations may be withheld. But for the vast majority of background check records in Sumter County, the law says they are open. If a local office refuses your request, the Attorney General's Open Government office can step in and help resolve the issue.

Note: The clerk's office typically fills public records requests within a few business days, though larger requests may take longer.

Background Check Levels in Sumter County

Florida has two main levels. Level 1 is name-based. FDLE searches its statewide database for matching arrest and conviction records. The cost is $24. Submit through CCHInet and expect results by email within a day. Anyone can order a Level 1 check covering Sumter County or any other county in the state.

Level 2 is fingerprint-based. It uses both the FDLE state database and the FBI national database. This type is required for certain positions under Chapter 943 of Florida Statutes, which governs how FDLE handles criminal history data. You need to visit an approved LiveScan site to get fingerprinted. There may be LiveScan locations in or near Sumter County, but check FDLE's directory to be sure. Results take a few business days.

FDLE's VECHS program covers registered organizations that work with vulnerable people. This is not available to the general public.

Getting Copies of Sumter County Records

Visit the clerk's office at 215 E McCollum Ave in Bushnell. Ask for the record you need by name or case number. Staff will pull the file and you can view it at the counter. When you want copies, plain prints cost $0.15 per page. Certified copies are $1.00 per page. The Find a Clerk page has full contact details for the Sumter County office.

Mail requests work too. Send a letter to the clerk with the full name, date of birth if you know it, and the type of record you are after. Include a check or money order for the estimated copy fees. For statewide criminal history, order through CCHInet for $24. If you want to check your own record first, FDLE's personal review page lets you see what is on file under your name.

Cities in Sumter County

Sumter County includes Bushnell, Center Hill, Coleman, Webster, and Wildwood. A large part of The Villages retirement community falls within Sumter County as well. All court records for these areas are handled by the Sumter County Clerk of Court in Bushnell. No cities in Sumter County meet the population threshold for a separate page. Background check records for all residents go through the clerk's office.

Nearby Counties

Sumter County is surrounded by several central Florida counties. If you need records from a neighboring area, each has its own clerk and court system.