Find Public Records in Lake County

Lake County public records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts in Tavares and are open to any person under Florida law. With over 420,000 residents and strong growth in recent years, Lake County generates a high volume of court filings, property records, and official documents. This guide walks through every access point, from online portals to in-person requests at the courthouse.

Florida Public Records Law in Lake County

Florida's Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes establishes the public records framework for every county in the state. The policy is clear: all state, county, and local records are open unless a specific exemption applies. You do not need to give your name or explain why you want a record. The right to inspect is guaranteed not just by statute but by Article I, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

In Lake County, that means any person can walk into the Clerk's office or contact any county department and ask to inspect or copy records. The agency cannot refuse without citing a specific statutory exemption. Section 119.07 requires the custodian to allow inspection at any reasonable time during normal business hours. Staff must help you identify records responsive to your request.

If a request is improperly denied, the Florida Attorney General's Office runs a free mediation program at (850) 245-0140. The AG's Open Government page has practical guidance on what to do when agencies push back on valid requests. Mediation resolves many disputes without the need for court action.

Exemptions under Section 119.071 cover active criminal investigations, certain law enforcement personnel files, medical information, and a number of other specific categories. When a record is withheld, ask the custodian for the specific exemption in writing.

Lake County Clerk of Courts

The Lake County Clerk of Courts in Tavares is the primary custodian of court records, official records, and county financial documents. The office processes every court filing made in the 5th Judicial Circuit for Lake County, records property instruments as they arrive, and maintains the public records of county government.

The 5th Judicial Circuit covers Lake, Citrus, Hernando, Marion, and Sumter counties. Each county maintains its own Clerk's office for local records. Lake County's office in Tavares serves a fast-growing population and handles a large volume of filings each year. The Clerk's website offers online search access for most record categories, and the office has staff available to assist with in-person requests during business hours.

Below is a screenshot from the Lake County Clerk of Courts website, which provides direct access to court records, official records, and the online records search portal.

The site shown above is the official access point for court records, recorded official records, and public records requests in Lake County.

Online Records Search for Lake County

Lake County's Clerk website at lakeclerk.org offers several online search tools. The court records search lets you look up civil, criminal, family, and probate cases by party name, case number, or filing date. The official records search covers instruments recorded against real property, including deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, and notices of commencement. Both tools are available without creating an account and without paying a fee to search.

The county also participates in myfloridacounty.com, which provides a single search interface for official records across multiple Florida counties. That is useful when a document involves parties or property in more than one county, or when you need to verify whether a lien or judgment was recorded elsewhere.

Lake County's growing population means the online records database is substantial. Documents going back to the early days of digital filing are generally available. For older records, particularly pre-1990s instruments, contact the Clerk's office to ask about availability and retrieval options.

Public Records Fees in Lake County

Florida law establishes the fee structure for public records copies. Administrative records from county departments cost $0.15 per single-sided page or $0.20 per double-sided page. Court records and official records from the Clerk cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies of official records include a $5.00 certification statement on top of the per-page cost.

Research fees can apply to requests that require significant staff time. The first 30 minutes of staff time are not charged. After that, the county may bill at the hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee who can fulfill the request. For large or complicated requests, ask for a written cost estimate before work begins. The agency must provide one on request.

Many online searches through the Clerk's portal are free. Downloading or printing copies may carry a per-page cost. Check the fee schedule on the Clerk's website before you begin a large document pull.

Types of Records in Lake County

The Clerk of Courts handles the broadest category of public records in Lake County. Court records include every civil, criminal, family law, and probate case filed in the 5th Judicial Circuit for Lake County. Official records cover all instruments recorded against real property: deeds, mortgages, satisfaction of mortgages, judgment liens, lis pendens notices, and construction liens. These are recorded in the order they arrive and indexed by name and document type.

Other records include county commission meeting minutes and agendas, county budget documents, public contracts, marriage license applications, tax deed files, and jury management records. Each of these is a public record under Chapter 119 unless a specific exemption applies.

Common record types Lake County residents frequently request:

• Civil court case filings and final judgments
• Criminal case records and disposition reports
• Family law filings and domestic relations orders
• Deed and mortgage recordings
• Lien searches and satisfaction documents
• Probate and guardianship filings

Records held by other Lake County offices are separate from those of the Clerk. The Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records and incident reports. The Property Appraiser holds assessment data and parcel maps. The Tax Collector maintains property tax payment records and vehicle registration files.

Additional Record Sources in Lake County

The Lake County Sheriff's Office is a major source of public records separate from the Clerk. Sheriff records include arrest logs, booking information, offense reports, and jail records. These are generally public under Chapter 119 unless an active investigation exemption applies. Contact the Sheriff's Office directly for these records; they are not held by the Clerk.

For state criminal history, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement at fdle.state.fl.us operates a public access system for Florida criminal records at the state level. County arrest records and state-level background records are different systems that may each contain information the other does not.

The Lake County Property Appraiser and Tax Collector both have their own online databases. Property ownership, assessed values, and parcel information are freely searchable on the Property Appraiser's site. Property tax payment history and delinquency information is available through the Tax Collector. Neither requires an account or fee for basic searches.

The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers directory connects you to every county clerk in Florida. That is the right place to start when a record might cross into a neighboring county such as Orange, Marion, Sumter, or Polk.

Cities in Lake County

Lake County has several incorporated communities. Clermont meets the population threshold and has a dedicated page on this site.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lake County and each maintains its own public records office and search tools.