Lake County Circuit Court Case Search

Lake County Circuit Court records generally refer to all the materials and documents related to a case stored by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. These include:

• The progress docket, which tracks the activity and progress of a case.
• Transcripts of court proceedings that have been filed with the court clerk
• Documentary exhibits submitted during the case and kept by the Clerk.
• Electronic records, videotapes, or stenographic tapes of dispositions or other proceedings filed with the clerk.
• Electronic records, videotapes, or stenographic tapes of court hearings or trials.

These records are generated during regular court sessions, collated at the conclusion of the court case, and delivered to the Records Management Division within the clerk’s office. The clerk is charged with the care, maintenance, and management of public access to the records. All records are open for public inspection, except those specifically exempt by Florida statutes or court orders.

Note: Lake County does not have a Superior Court. The Constitution of the State of Florida establishes Circuit Courts as the trial courts for the counties, which serve as the Superior Court equivalent.

What Kinds of Cases Are heard in Lake Circuit Court?

Lake County Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases. Criminal cases relate to the trial of an individual suspected of violating the state's criminal code. In comparison, civil cases are non-criminal offenses involving disputes between private individuals. They include contract and indebtedness, professional malpractices, products liability and eminent domain, negligence, divorce, care and custody of children, and other domestic relations disputes, domestic violence and injunction, probate and wills, guardianship, conservatorship, and other similar disputes.

Because of the number of possible actions and their potential complexity, the court is divided into several divisions, including Circuit Civil, County Civil, Child Support, Felony, Probate, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Guardianship, Injunction, Jury Management, Juvenile, Mental Health, Misdemeanor, Small Claims, and Traffic Division.

Lake County Circuit Court

The Circuit Court is generally a trial court with jurisdiction to adjudicate a wide range of criminal and civil disputes. To enhance effectiveness and expertise in the handling of legal proceedings, the court is divided into several divisions and departments, with some civil cases categorized based on the damages claimed.

Consequently, cases with claims exceeding $50,000 are decided by the Circuit Civil Division, while the County Civil handles those below this amount. If the claim is so low that it falls below $8,000, then the Small Claims Division assumes jurisdiction. This division operates with separate rules that allow litigants to present and settle their disputes without legal representation. Appeals from this Court go to the District Court of Appeals.

Generally, the Circuit Court serves as a forum for accessing fair and speedy justice administration. The Circuit is located at:

Lake County Circuit Court
Lake County Courthouse
550 West Main Street,
P.O. Box 7800, Tavares, FL 32778
Phone: (352) 742-4100
Fax: (352) 742-4110

550 West Main Street,
North Wing, 3rd Floor, Tavares, FL 32778
Phone: (352) 253-2600
Fax: (352) 253-2616

Lake County Case Lookup

A search for the Lake County Circuit Court records can be conducted on the Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller website using the ShowCase court records search tool, the Clerk of Court's online portal. Using this portal, individuals can look up felonies, misdemeanors, probate, traffic, divorce, domestic relations, and other civil disputes. To look up court records:

• Visit the website
• Navigate to and click on "Court Records".
• Scroll down to look for and click on "Access Court Records Now"
• Click on case search at the top of the page
• Enter these details into the appropriate sections of the search field—case number, last name (business name if the party is a company), first name, citation, filing date, and indicate the case type.
• Click on "Search" at the bottom of the page to query the database.

Some court-related documents (eCertified) may be found in the County's Official Records, some of which include deeds, mortgages, liens, marriage licenses, commencement, agreements, and judgments. To access and purchase Official records, requesters may visit one of these two locations:

Lake County Courthouse,
550 W. Main Street,
Tavares, FL (North Wing, 3rd floor)

Lake County Records Storage Facility,
313 Bloxham Ave.,
Tavares, FL

Alternatively, requesters can mail a completed version of the Official Records Form along with a check or money order (payable to the Clerk of Court & Comptroller) and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
ATTN: RECORDING
P.O. Box 7800
Tavares, FL 32778

For delivery/courier services (FedEx/UPS):

Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
ATTN: RECORDING
313 S. Bloxham Ave.
Tavares, FL 32778

Cashier's checks more than two months from the issue date are not accepted.

For added convenience, eCertified Official Records can be viewed and ordered online via the Court Clerk website. To place an order for these records:

• Navigate to the E-services header on the website homepage and click on "eCertify Official Records".
• Proceed by clicking on "Order eCertified Copies Here".
• Accept the terms and "CONTINUE SEARCHING".
• Click on the Official Records image to conduct a search by either the instrument number, name, or book page number.
• Enter the details in the appropriate search feed and click on search to facilitate a query.
• The image will come up for review. Upon completing the purchase, users may download and save the document. They will also receive the certified encrypted PDF document via the email provided.

Users may visit the fees page to view the fees associated with their request.

Lake Circuit Court Case Search by Name

When searching for court records, whether online, in person, or via mail, it is crucial to have details that specifically identify the records being sought. These often include the case number, party name, citation, filing date, and other relevant details. While it is often not possible to have all of these details, a researcher is expected to have at least the full name of one of the disputing parties.

The Court Clerk and search engines rely on these details to sift through the thousands of case files within the database and locate records with matching details. Researchers are encouraged to provide the exact details to prevent a failed search, bearing in mind that the fees paid for conducting the search are non-refundable.

Lake Circuit Court Docket Search

A court docket refers to a chronological account of the general activity of the court within a certain timeline and in a specific case. It chronologically reflects documents filed, exhibits tendered, rulings on issues, their execution, and the final judgment where judgment has been given. The Court docket is updated within minutes of a new document being filed. It typically involves cases still being heard by the Court's judges. Once these cases are concluded, they are removed from the docket and indexed into the record system, which can be searched through the ShowCase court records search tool.

The Circuit Court docket can be accessed via the Clerk of Court and Comptroller website. It serves as a useful resource for tracking the timeline of a case, as well as recent or past developments.

Lookup Lake County Circuit Court Online

Lake County Circuit Court records may be accessible online via the Clerk of Court and Comptroller portal, which provides links to multiple options, including eCertify and the ShowCase court records search portal. Furthermore, third-party sites like Floridacourtrecords.us may also provide access to these records. However, while these websites are typically easy to use compared to the official resources, they provide no guarantee that the details provided regarding a case are accurate or will meet users' expectations.

Supreme Court vs. Circuit Court

The Florida Supreme Court is primarily an appellate court with limited original jurisdiction over specific matters like constitutional challenges or death penalty cases. In contrast, Circuit Courts are trial courts that handle a wide variety of cases at the first instance. The Supreme Court’s decisions are binding on all other courts in Florida, while Circuit Courts only influence lower county courts within their jurisdiction. Both have appellate functions: the Supreme Court reviews District Court of Appeal decisions, while Circuit Courts hear appeals from county courts or administrative bodies.