Established in 1887, Lake County is home to several water bodies, which were a major influence on its naming. As of the 2020 census, the county had a land area of 952.1 square miles and a population of 383,956 residents. Its seat is Tavares City.

Courts in Lake County

Lake County’s court system is included in the Fifth District of the Florida Circuit Court. The Circuit Court has wide jurisdiction over several matters arising from Lake County. The civil division of the court adjudicates contractual disputes, claims for money and property, and other civil claims involving more than $50,000. The authority of the court’s criminal division covers the prosecution of all felony cases.

However, criminal matters involving minors, as well as juvenile dependency and child protection matters, fall within the authority of the juvenile division. The court also has a probate division, which handles wills, estate administration, guardianship, and mental health cases. Family and domestic matters like domestic violence injunctions, divorce, child custody and support, paternity, and adoption fall within the jurisdiction of the family court division.

The Lake County Court has civil jurisdiction over claims of $50,000 or less. It also hears small claims in which the claimant seeks an amount not exceeding $8,000. The small claims procedures are less formal and often do not require the services of a lawyer. The court also has criminal jurisdiction over misdemeanor cases and traffic matters. 

Where to Find Public Court Records in Lake County

The Clerk of the Circuit Court in Lake County maintains all court records in the county. These records are accessible online via the Lake County records search portal. Digital records are also available on public access terminals at the Clerk’s office. Interested persons may also obtain court records by submitting a completed request form to the Clerk’s office in person, via mail, or by email. But note that emails are public records in Lake County; as such, emails of requesters can be accessed by members of the public. Furthermore, fees apply for searches and obtaining copies of Lake County court records from the Clerk.

Types of Public Court Records in Lake County

Public court records in Lake County include dockets, documents, parties’ information, pleadings, exhibits, judgments, and other material relating to cases handled by the courts. These records are often publicly accessible unless a law or court order forbids their disclosure. Examples of public court records in Lake County include

• Circuit civil records
• County civil records
• Felony and misdemeanor records
• Probate records
• Small claims records

Confidential Court Records in Lake County

Confidential court records are records of court cases that are shielded from public access under law or by court order. Some examples are:

• Sensitive information in case records
• Adoption records
• Juvenile records
• Guardianship records

Juvenile Delinquency in Lake, FL

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Lake County, juvenile delinquency crimes are on the rise. There are many reasons for the increase in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Florida often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of offenses, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 918 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Lake County. Of that total, 100% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 918 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Lake County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Lake County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Lake County, FL

https://www.myflorida.com/

County Seat:	Tavares
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1887
Total Square Miles:	1,157
2019 Population:	346,017
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	315 W Main St Administration Building Tavares , FL 32778-3813 https://www.lakecountyfl.gov/

Lake County, FL Courts