Lake County Probate Court Records Search

Lake County probate court records are maintained by the Clerk of Circuit Court in Tavares and cover all estate administration filings, wills, guardianship cases, and related probate proceedings in the 5th Judicial Circuit. This page covers how to search those records, what kinds of cases exist, and how to contact the clerk's office.

Lake County Clerk of Court

The Lake County Clerk of Circuit Court in Tavares handles all probate filings for the county. The office processes petitions to open estates, wills offered for probate, inventories, creditor notices, accountings, and final discharge orders. Filings can be made in person at the main courthouse in Tavares or by mail.

Lake County is in the 5th Judicial Circuit, which also covers Citrus, Hernando, Marion, and Sumter counties. The 5th Circuit's site at jud5.flcourts.org provides local court resources, probate judge information, and procedural guidance for all five counties in the circuit.

Lake County's clerk website at lakeclerk.org includes an online case search portal, fee schedules, forms, and contact details for the probate division. The screenshot below shows the clerk's public-facing site.

The clerk's site is a good first stop when searching for an active or closed probate case in Lake County. Use the case search tool to look up records by name or case number before visiting the courthouse in person.

How to Search Lake County Probate Records

Lake County probate records are public under Florida law. The county is large enough to offer several access methods, including an online search portal.

Online search. Go to lakeclerk.org and find the case search or public records portal. You can search by decedent name, case number, or petitioner. Basic searches are free. Copies of individual documents carry a per-page fee.

In person. Visit 550 West Main Street in Tavares. Clerk staff can search by name or case number and pull documents from the case file. Bring the full name of the deceased person and the approximate date of death to speed things up. Certified copies of documents cost more than standard copies but are often required for closing bank accounts or transferring property titles.

By phone. Call (352) 742-4100. Staff can confirm whether a case exists and provide case numbers. They cannot give legal advice.

By mail. Send a written records request to 550 West Main Street, Tavares, FL 32778. Include the decedent's name, date of death, and the documents you need. Include payment or request a cost estimate before sending.

The statewide find-a-clerk directory at flclerks.com is also useful for confirming current contact details for the Lake County clerk's office.

Use the statewide clerk directory to verify office hours, current website address, and any branch locations that may be closer to where you live in Lake County.

Probate Types in Lake County

Florida law provides three types of probate proceedings for handling a deceased person's estate. All three are available in Lake County and governed by Chapters 731 through 735 of the Florida Statutes. Which one applies depends on the size of the estate and how long the person has been deceased.

Formal Administration

Formal administration is required when the estate's non-exempt probate assets are worth more than $75,000. This is the full court-supervised process under Chapter 733, Florida Statutes. The circuit court appoints a personal representative to manage the estate from opening to discharge. That representative files a detailed inventory of assets, publishes a creditor notice in a local newspaper, pays valid debts from estate funds, and submits a final accounting to the court before the estate can close.

Formal administration in Lake County takes at least six months in most cases. The creditor waiting period is the main driver of that minimum time. Estates with real property, multiple beneficiaries, or disputed claims often take longer. Most families work with a probate attorney during formal administration because the personal representative faces potential personal liability for mishandling estate assets.

Summary Administration

Summary administration is available when the total non-exempt estate assets are $75,000 or less, or when the deceased person has been dead for two or more years. Chapter 735, Florida Statutes governs this process. It skips the personal representative appointment and goes straight to a petition filed with the clerk. If the court approves the petition, it issues an order of summary administration directing that assets transfer to the named beneficiaries. A copy of the will, if one exists, must accompany the petition. This process can wrap up in weeks rather than months.

Disposition Without Administration

This option applies only to very small estates. There must be no real property in the estate. The total personal property value must be less than the cost of the deceased person's final illness and funeral expenses, capped at around $6,000. Under Chapter 735, the clerk can authorize disposition without formal court proceedings. This process is mainly used to reimburse whoever paid those final expenses out of pocket, with no formal estate opening required.

Florida Probate Law in Lake County

Every probate case in Lake County is governed by Florida's probate statutes. Chapter 731 defines terms used throughout all proceedings. Chapter 732 covers intestate succession, which determines who inherits when someone dies without a will. Florida's intestate rules run from surviving spouse to descendants to parents to siblings and beyond, following a specific statutory order.

Chapter 733 covers formal administration in full detail. It addresses the personal representative's powers and duties, the procedure for notifying creditors, the rules for paying claims, and the requirements for the final accounting and order of discharge. Every step must be done in the right order or the estate administration can stall.

One rule that surprises many families: a will must be filed with the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the deceased person lived within ten days of death. This is required even if no probate is needed. Failing to file a known will is a violation of Chapter 732 and can result in legal penalties.

Lake County's real estate market is active, and homestead property rules affect many estates here. Florida homestead may pass outside of probate under the state constitution, but the rules vary depending on whether the deceased had a surviving spouse or minor children. Getting this right matters when there is a family home in the estate.

Legal Resources in Lake County

Lake County residents have access to both local and statewide probate resources.

Lake County clerk online tools. The clerk's site at lakeclerk.org includes a case search portal, fee schedules, and forms for self-represented filers. This is the best starting point for Lake County residents.

5th Circuit resources. The 5th Circuit's site at jud5.flcourts.org provides local administrative orders, judge assignments, and procedural information for probate cases in Lake County.

Florida Courts self-help. The statewide self-help center has approved court forms, step-by-step guides, and plain-language explanations for all three types of Florida probate proceedings.

Legal aid. Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida serves Lake County and may assist income-eligible residents with probate matters. The Florida Bar's lawyer referral service can connect you with a licensed probate attorney in the Tavares or Clermont area.

Cities in Lake County

Lake County has several communities but none currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city records page. The county seat is Tavares, where the courthouse and clerk's office are located. Other cities include Leesburg, Clermont, Eustis, Mount Dora, Umatilla, and Groveland. All residents in these communities file probate cases with the Lake County Clerk of Court in Tavares.

Nearby Counties

Lake County borders several other Central Florida counties, each with its own clerk and probate process. Click any link below for probate information for neighboring counties.