Find Lake County Court Records
Lake County court records are managed by Clerk Gary J. Cooney, Esq. at the courthouse in Tavares. The clerk's office maintains all court case records for the county, covering civil, criminal, family, and traffic cases. Lake County is part of the 5th Judicial Circuit in Central Florida. The clerk has an online court records search tool that lets you look up cases from home. Residents of Clermont, Leesburg, Eustis, Mount Dora, and other Lake County communities all go through this same clerk's office for court filings. The main courthouse is at 550 West Main Street in Tavares, and the clerk also keeps official records like deeds and liens on file.
Lake County Quick Facts
Lake County Clerk of Court Records
Gary J. Cooney, Esq. is the Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court. His office files, stores, and manages all court records for the county. That covers every case type that goes through the Lake County courts, from major civil lawsuits to traffic tickets. The clerk also serves as the custodian of official records, which include deeds, mortgages, liens, and other documents that get recorded in Lake County. The main office at 550 W Main St in Tavares is where all court filings are processed.
The Lake County Clerk of Court website is your starting point for all court records and services. From the homepage, you can search official records, access court case records, look up court events, and set court dates. The site has links to forms, fee schedules, contact info, and other tools you might need when dealing with the Lake County court system. Whether you have a pending case or just need to pull up an old record, the clerk's website is where to begin.
The Lake County clerk's website at lakecountyclerkfl.gov provides access to court records, official records, and court services.
| Office | Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Gary J. Cooney, Esq. |
| Phone | (352) 742-4100 |
| Address | 550 W Main St, Tavares, FL 32778 |
| Website | lakecountyclerkfl.gov |
Note: For specific court record questions in Lake County, call the clerk at (352) 742-4100 during regular office hours.
Search Lake County Court Records Online
The Lake County Court Records search tool is the main way to look up cases online. This system lets you search by party name, case number, or case type. You can find civil, criminal, family, and traffic court records for Lake County through this portal. The search results show case details, docket entries, hearing dates, and party info. It is free to run a basic search. You do not need to create an account or log in to look up case information.
The Lake County court records search portal at courtrecords.lakecountyclerk.org shows case search and court event tools.
The court records system also has tools for looking up court events and setting court dates. The Case Search feature lets you pull up any case by name or number. Court Events shows upcoming hearings and their dates, times, and courtroom locations. Set Court Date is a scheduling tool for certain case types. These features make the Lake County court records search more than just a lookup tool. It is a way to stay on top of what is happening with cases in the county.
For official records in Lake County, the clerk has a separate search tool on the main website. Official records cover deeds, mortgages, liens, and other documents that are recorded but not part of a court case. Make sure you are using the right search if you need property records or recorded documents rather than court case records in Lake County.
Lake County Court Record Categories
Lake County courts handle a full range of case types. Circuit civil cases deal with lawsuits over $50,000, foreclosures, and injunctions. County civil covers smaller claims and landlord-tenant disputes. Family law includes divorces, child custody, paternity, adoption, and domestic violence cases. Criminal records split between felonies at the circuit level and misdemeanors at the county level. Probate covers estates, wills, and guardianships. Traffic cases include citations, suspended license matters, and driving offenses. Each of these generates court records in Lake County that the clerk must file and make available.
The 5th Judicial Circuit covers Lake County along with several other Central Florida counties. The circuit court takes the more serious matters while the county court handles lower-level cases. Both courts operate in Lake County and both produce records that you can search through the clerk's online system. The Florida Courts website shows the full state court structure and where Lake County fits in it. Understanding which court level has your case can help you search more efficiently.
The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers network connects all 67 county clerks in the state. If you need to find court records across counties or want to confirm you are in the right place, this resource can help you find the correct clerk's office. It is especially useful when court records cross county lines between Lake County and a neighboring area.
Note: Lake County circuit civil cases and county civil cases use different case number formats, so check which court level applies to your search.
Confidential Lake County Court Records
Not every court record in Lake County is available to the public. Florida law makes several types of records confidential. Juvenile cases are sealed by default. Adoption records are not public. Mental health proceedings have tight access restrictions. If a judge in Lake County orders a case sealed or expunged, it will no longer show up in any public search tool. These rules protect the privacy of people involved in sensitive court matters while still keeping most records open.
Under Florida Statute 119.0714, the Lake County clerk must remove social security numbers, bank account numbers, and other personal identifiers from court records before they go online. This happens automatically. You do not need to ask for it. The Florida Supreme Court's Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420 spells out the full list of what counts as confidential in court records. Administrative Order AOSC 16-14 adds more direction on how clerks should manage public access to court records across the state.
Florida Statute Chapter 119 gives everyone the right to inspect court records in Lake County. You can walk into the courthouse in Tavares during business hours and ask to see any public record. The clerk must show it to you. There is no charge to look at it. You only pay if you want a copy. This right applies to all public court records in Lake County, and the clerk's office follows it.
Legal Resources for Lake County
The Florida Courts Help website has free forms and guides for people dealing with court matters in Lake County. Every form approved by the Florida Supreme Court is on that site at no cost. You can download what you need, fill it out, and take it to the clerk's office in Tavares for filing. The 5th Judicial Circuit also has self-help resources for people who want to handle their own cases. Staff at the courthouse can help you figure out which forms you need and explain the process, but they cannot give legal advice or tell you what to put on the forms.
Legal aid groups in the Central Florida area serve Lake County residents who meet income qualifications. These programs cover family law, housing disputes, consumer issues, and other civil court matters. If you have a court case in Lake County and cannot pay for a lawyer, legal aid is a good place to start. The MyFloridaCounty.com portal also handles online payments for court fees in Lake County. You can pay filing fees, fines, and other costs through that site without a trip to the courthouse.
For people searching court records across more than one county, the My Florida Court Access portal offers a broader search option. This is helpful when you are not sure if a case was filed in Lake County or in one of the surrounding counties. You can check multiple areas without visiting each clerk's website one at a time.
Cities in Lake County
All cities and towns in Lake County file court cases through the clerk's office in Tavares. Clermont is the largest city in the county, followed by Leesburg, Eustis, and Mount Dora. Lady Lake, Groveland, Minneola, and Umatilla are also in Lake County. None of these cities are large enough for their own dedicated page, but all court records for these communities are handled by the Lake County Clerk of Court. Use the clerk's online tools to search for court records from any Lake County city.
Nearby Counties
These counties share borders with Lake County. Court records are filed in the county where the case happened, so check that you are searching the right clerk's system. Each county below has its own clerk and its own court records tools.