Lake County Court Records Search
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Lake County is located in central Florida and falls within the Fifth Judicial Circuit. The Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller serves as the official custodian of all court records generated by the Circuit and County Courts. Whether someone needs to look up a pending criminal case, retrieve a civil judgment, obtain divorce paperwork, or review a probate filing, the Lake County Clerk’s office at 550 W. Main Street in Tavares is the starting point. The county maintains both physical and digital archives, and many records dating from 2003 onward are accessible through the Clerk’s online portal.
Florida’s court system is organized into circuit and county divisions, and residents seeking case information can use resources available through FloridaStateCourts.us to understand court structures, jurisdictional boundaries, and statewide rules. Within Lake County, records can be located through official clerk databases, public-access computer terminals at the courthouse, direct requests to the appropriate clerk division, or the Fifth Judicial Circuit’s Self-Help Center, which offers walk-in assistance Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Lake County?
There are three principal methods for searching Lake County court records: online, in person, and by mail.
Online Search
The Clerk of Court operates the ShowCaseWeb public portal, which allows anyone to search case records by party name, case number, or case type. The system covers civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic, and small claims cases. Key points about the online system:
- Cases from 2003 to the present generally include document images; older files may not have scanned documents.
- Criminal traffic cases lack images before 2009; civil traffic cases lack images before 2013.
- Confidential documents undergo redaction before publication and may initially appear unavailable.
- The portal is compatible with modern browsers and mobile devices; Adobe Reader is required to view PDF documents.
- Anonymous users have limited access. Attorneys and other professionals can apply for expanded access through the Registered User Agreement page.
A secondary search option is available through the Clerk’s court records agreement page, and a downloadable ShowCaseWeb Portal Guide provides step-by-step instructions.
In-Person Search
Visit the Central Intake Section at the Lake County Courthouse:
Lake County Courthouse
Address: 550 W. Main Street, East Wing, First Floor, Tavares, FL 32778
Phone: (352) 742-4100
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Public-access terminals in the courthouse allow free searches. Staff can assist with locating case numbers using party names, though they cannot provide legal advice.
Mail Requests
Written requests can be sent to:
Lake County Clerk’s Office
P.O. Box 7800
Tavares, FL 32778-7800
Include the case number (if known), party names, the specific documents needed, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The Clerk charges service fees for searches and per-page copy costs. Cashier’s checks and money orders should be made payable to Gary J. Cooney, Clerk of Court & Comptroller. Personal checks are not accepted for criminal matters, and cashier’s checks older than two months will be refused.
Are Court Records Public in Lake County?
Florida has one of the strongest public-records frameworks in the country. Court records are governed not by Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes (which applies to executive-branch records) but by the Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration and administrative orders issued by the Florida Supreme Court. Florida Statute §28.24(1) defines court records broadly to include dockets, transcripts, calendars, judgments, exhibits, videotapes, stenographic tapes, and electronic data.
Rule 2.420 of the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration establishes the framework for public access and confidentiality. Under this rule, most court records are presumed open to inspection. However, several categories of information are restricted or require redaction before release:
- Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and other personal financial identifiers
- Juvenile case records
- Sealed or expunged criminal records
- Mental health and substance abuse treatment records
- Certain domestic-violence victim information
- Financial affidavits in family law cases (accessible only to parties and counsel)
- Records designated confidential by statute or court order
The Court Data & Records Division is responsible for performing mandatory redactions before documents become publicly viewable, whether online or in person. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office similarly redacts exempt information—such as bank account details, Social Security numbers, and juvenile victim identities—from incident reports before release, as authorized by Florida law.
Documents filed before certain dates may have been destroyed in accordance with state retention schedules, meaning no images exist in the digital system for some older cases.
Lake County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Lake County are divided between the Circuit Court (felonies) and the County Court (misdemeanors, criminal traffic, and infractions). The Criminal Division of the Clerk’s office processes all criminal filings, appeals, and juvenile delinquency documents.
Searching Criminal Records
The ShowCaseWeb portal allows online searches for criminal cases by defendant name or case number. For cases filed before 2003, or where document images are unavailable, an in-person request at the courthouse is necessary.
Obtaining Records from the Sheriff’s Office
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office maintains arrest reports, incident reports, and citations separately from court files. The Central Records Department processes these records and forwards them as follows:
- Felony and misdemeanor arrest reports go to the State Attorney’s Office
- Misdemeanor citations and notices to appear go to the Clerk’s Misdemeanor Department
- Juvenile arrests go to the Juvenile Clerk of Court and the Juvenile Court Liaison
- Domestic violence reports are forwarded to the local shelter “Haven”
Lake County Sheriff’s Office
Address: 360 W. Ruby Street, Tavares, FL 32778
Phone: (352) 343-9501
Administrative Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Lake County Jail
Address: 551 W. Main Street, Tavares, FL 32778
Phone: (352) 742-4000
Fax: (352) 742-4039
Traffic crash reports are available for purchase through the Florida Crash Portal.
Statewide Criminal History
For a comprehensive background check beyond Lake County records, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) provides statewide criminal history reports for $24 plus a $1 processing fee.
Restricted Criminal Records
Certain criminal documents are not available to the general public, including arrest reports containing victim-identifying information, sealed or expunged records, juvenile delinquency records, and records subject to ongoing investigation exemptions. Copy fees apply to all obtainable documents.
Lake County Civil Court Records
The Civil Division handles filings for both Circuit Civil (claims exceeding $50,000, real property, declaratory actions, injunctions, and tax matters) and County Civil (claims up to $50,000 and small claims under $8,000). The division also operates the Central Intake desk, which is the processing point for all non-criminal paperwork.
How to Search Civil Records
Civil case information is available through the same ShowCaseWeb portal used for all case types. Documents filed from 2003 forward generally include scanned images. For older files, contact the Civil Division directly or visit the courthouse.
Civil Filing Fees
Fees vary by case type and amount in controversy. The following table summarizes key filing costs as listed on the Clerk’s County & Circuit Civil Fees page:
| Case Type | Amount in Controversy | Filing Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Small Claims | Under $100 | $55 |
| Small Claims | $100–$500 | $80 |
| Small Claims | $500.01–$2,500 | $175 |
| Small Claims | $2,500.01–$8,000 | $300 |
| County Civil | $8,000.01–$15,000 | $300 |
| County Civil | $15,000.01–$50,000 | $400 |
| Circuit Civil | Over $50,000 | $400 |
| Mortgage Foreclosure (Circuit) | $50,000.01–$249,999.99 | $905 |
| Mortgage Foreclosure (Circuit) | $250,000+ | $1,905 |
Additional fees include summons issuance ($10 per summons), sheriff service ($40 per defendant), certified mail ($10.44), garnishment or attachment deposit ($85), reopening a closed case ($50 for claims over $500), and Pro Hac Vice attorney admission ($100). A Clerk’s Certificate costs $7.
Payment Methods
The Clerk accepts cash, cashier’s checks, money orders, and credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express). Debit cards are accepted only if they carry a Visa or MasterCard logo. Credit card transactions incur a non-refundable service fee, and a photo ID matching the cardholder is required for in-person payments. Mail payments should be sent to:
Lake County Clerk’s Office, ATTN: Civil Division
P.O. Box 7800
Tavares, FL 32778
Lake County Family Court Records
The Family Law Division of the Clerk’s office manages domestic relations cases, including dissolutions of marriage, annulments, paternity actions, child support and custody modifications, adoptions, name changes, and injunctions for protection against domestic violence.
Domestic Relations Fees
Filing fees for family law matters are published on the Clerk’s Domestic Relations Fees page. Key costs include:
- Dissolution of marriage or annulment: $397.50
- Cross-claim or counterclaim filing: $295
- Adoption petition: $400
- Paternity action: Filing under Chapter 742 costs $300
- Injunction for protection against domestic violence: No filing fee
- Summons: $10 (collected at filing)
- Reopening a closed family case: $50
- Notice of appeal: $400 (includes $100 Circuit Court fee and $300 District Court fee)
- Child support and alimony disbursement fee: 4% of each payment (minimum $1, maximum $5.25)
- Final judgment recording: $10.50 (collected at filing for dissolutions)
Family law forms approved by the Florida Supreme Court are available on the Florida Courts family law forms page. The Fifth Judicial Circuit’s Self-Help Center in Lake County provides free assistance with form completion and filing procedures.
Injunctions for Protection
The Injunctions for Protection section processes petitions for domestic violence, repeat violence, dating violence, sexual violence, and stalking injunctions. There is no filing fee for these petitions.
Marriage Licenses
Marriage license applications are processed at three Lake County Clerk locations. Applicants can begin the process through the online application portal. Requirements include a valid government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, passport, or military ID) and a Social Security number. The marriage license fee is $61 with a premarital preparation course certificate (includes one certified copy) or $86 without completion of a course. Additional details and common questions are addressed on the Marriage License FAQs page.
Vital Records
Marriage and divorce certificates can also be ordered from the Florida Office of Vital Records (1217 N. Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202; Phone: (904) 359-6900). A certified copy from the Circuit Court Clerk costs $3. Birth records in Florida are confidential for 125 years and can only be released to eligible applicants who submit a signed affidavit of eligibility. Death records without cause-of-death information are public; records containing cause of death are sealed for 50 years unless the requester demonstrates a qualifying legal interest.
Lake County Probate Court Records
Probate, guardianship, conservatorship, and mental health matters in Lake County are handled by the Probate, Guardianship & Mental Health section of the Family Law Division. The Fifth Judicial Circuit Probate Division oversees these proceedings.
Lake County Probate Court
Address: 550 W. Main Street, Tavares, FL 32778
Phone: (352) 742-4122
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Searching Probate Records
Probate case files can be searched through the ShowCaseWeb portal by selecting the probate case type. Documents from 2003 onward generally include scanned images. For older estate files or records without digital images, submit a request in person or by mail to the Probate section.
Probate Filing Fees
The Clerk publishes a detailed Probate, Guardianship & Mental Health Fee Schedule. Selected fees include:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Opening an estate (one or more documents) | $231 |
| Petition to admit foreign will | $231 |
| Caveat or Notice of Trust | $41 |
| Disposition without administration | $231 |
| Summary administration (under $1,000) | $235 |
| Summary administration ($1,000+) | $345 |
| Formal administration | $400 |
| Trusts | $400 |
| Guardianship of person only | $235 |
| Guardianship of person and property | $400 |
| Guardianship of a minor (person and property) | $400 |
| V.A. Guardianship | $235 |
| Petition for determination of incompetence | $231 |
| Filing verified inventory (Clerk’s fee) | $85 |
| Annual accounting (estate ≤ $25,000) | $20 |
| Annual accounting (estate $25,001–$100,000) | $85 |
| Annual accounting (estate $100,001–$500,000) | $170 |
| Annual accounting (estate > $500,000) | $250 |
| Reopening a probate case | $50 |
| Issuing a summons | $10 |
Payments for probate matters follow the same methods accepted countywide. Mail payments should be directed to:
Lake County Clerk’s Office, ATTN: Probate
P.O. Box 7800
Tavares, FL 32778
Property Records
Although not part of the probate court system, property records relevant to estate matters can be searched through the Lake County Property Appraiser’s online search tool. The Property Appraiser’s office is located at 320 W. Main Street, Suite A, Tavares, FL 32778 (Phone: (352) 253-2150). Certified copies of recorded documents such as deeds, mortgages, and liens can be purchased through the Clerk’s e-Certify system, which provides self-validating electronic certified copies at $8 per document ($2 statutory fee plus $6 service fee) plus $1 per page.