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Lake County, FL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Category | Current rules |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court, Fifth Judicial Circuit, Lake County; probate is a division of the Circuit Court, not a separate court, and the circuit runs a Lake County Probate Division in Tavares |
| Filing office | Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller (Gary J. Cooney), Probate Department |
| Courthouse | 550 W. Main Street, Tavares, FL 32778; the Probate Department is in the courthouse's East Wing, Second Floor |
| Mailing address | Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, P.O. Box 7800, Tavares, FL 32778-7800 |
| Phone | (352) 742-4122 (Probate Department); (352) 742-4100 (general Clerk line) |
| Fax | (352) 253-1635 (Probate, Guardianship and Mental Health, per the Clerk's phone directory) |
| The Clerk publishes no dedicated probate email; use the Probate Department line (352) 742-4122 or the Clerk's website contact form for case questions | |
| Office hours | Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM; closed legal holidays |
| Filing fee | Per the Clerk's published probate fee schedule (verified July 2026): formal administration $400.00; summary administration $345.00 for an estate of $1,000 or more, $235.00 under $1,000; disposition of personal property without administration $231.00. These totals reflect the statutory service charges of F.S. 28.2401 ($395 formal, $340 summary of $1,000 or more, plus a $4 additional charge) plus mandatory add-ons; the schedule prints no effective date, so confirm the current total with the Clerk before filing. See the fees section below |
| Local probate forms | Yes. The Fifth Judicial Circuit's Lake County Probate Division page publishes four Lake County checklists (opening and closing formal administration, summary administration, and determining homestead status) and a set of local probate forms, and the Clerk publishes a local Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration form. Florida publishes no statewide self-help probate form set, and formal and summary administration petitions are prepared under the Florida Probate Rules, in most cases by an attorney |
| E-filing | Through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (myflcourtaccess.com); mandatory for attorneys, optional for self-represented filers, who may also file on paper at the Clerk's counter |
| Proposed orders | Local practice: Lake is the only Fifth Circuit county that does not accept proposed orders through the e-filing portal. After the motion or petition is e-filed, the proposed order is sent to the assigned judge's judicial assistant by US Mail only, with a cover letter and portal-stamped copies of the checklist and the motion or petition; orders submitted by email are not accepted, and orders e-filed or sent to the Clerk are rejected (Lake County Probate Division, circuit5.org) |
| Online case search | The Clerk's ShowCaseWeb court records search (courtrecords.lakecountyclerk.org) offers free public access and includes probate dockets. Under F.S. 28.2221(5)(a), images of records governed by the Florida Probate Rules are not displayed online to the general public: view documents at the Clerk's office, request copies through the Clerk, or use a registered account |
| Remote appearance | The Fifth Judicial Circuit publishes Zoom resources for court proceedings; whether a Lake County probate hearing is heard remotely depends on the matter and the assigned judge's procedures (Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.530) |
| Website | https://www.lakecountyclerkfl.gov |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Lake County, know exactly what is in the estate. Which Florida path fits depends on whether there is a will and on the value and type of the assets: formal administration under F.S. Chapter 733, summary administration under F.S. 735.201 for a smaller estate, or disposition of personal property without administration under F.S. 735.301 for a limited class of estates with no real property. The dollar thresholds that separate these paths are statewide and are explained on the Florida state page; identify the estate first so you and your attorney file the right petition once.
Identify every bank and credit-union account, retirement plan, brokerage holding, life-insurance policy, vehicle, and parcel of real property, along with every debt, before you go to the Clerk. Whether the decedent's home in Tavares, Leesburg, Clermont, Eustis, Mount Dora, or elsewhere in Lake County was homestead property matters, because Florida homestead often passes outside the probate estate and is not counted toward the summary-administration limit. Sunset's asset-discovery work, searching more than 2,300 financial institutions, exists for this step.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Circuit Court of the Fifth Judicial Circuit serves Lake County along with Citrus, Hernando, Marion, and Sumter counties, with circuit administration in Ocala. Within Lake, the court covers the whole county, including Tavares (the county seat), Leesburg, Clermont, Eustis, Mount Dora, Lady Lake, Umatilla, Groveland, Minneola, Fruitland Park, and Montverde. Lake probate matters are filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at the courthouse at 550 W. Main Street in Tavares, where the circuit runs a dedicated Lake County Probate Division, so Lake estates are both filed and heard locally rather than sent to another county in the circuit.
Venue for a decedent's estate is governed by F.S. 733.101. Administration is proper first in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, then, if the decedent had no Florida domicile, in a county where the decedent's property is located, and, if the decedent had neither domicile nor property in Florida, in the county where any debtor of the decedent resides. In practice, file in Lake County for a decedent who lived here. Probate intake runs through the Clerk's Probate Department at the Tavares courthouse, and cases are heard by the circuit judges assigned to the Lake County Probate Division.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the documents. Collect the original signed will (if any), a certified copy of the death certificate, the proposed personal representative's contact information and photo ID, the names and addresses of the beneficiaries and other interested persons, and a list of the assets and debts with values.
- Deposit the original will. If there is a will, the custodian must deposit the original with the Clerk of the Circuit Court within 10 days of learning of the death (F.S. 732.901). In Lake County the original will is deposited with the Clerk's Probate Department at 550 W. Main Street, Tavares, or by mail to P.O. Box 7800, Tavares, FL 32778-7800.
- Choose the path based on the estate. Depending on whether there is a will and on the value and type of assets, the route may be formal administration (F.S. Chapter 733), summary administration (F.S. 735.201), or disposition of personal property without administration (F.S. 735.301). The governing thresholds are statewide and are on the Florida state page.
- Confirm whether an attorney is required. Under Fla. Prob. R. 5.030, the personal representative must be represented by a Florida-licensed attorney unless the personal representative remains the sole interested person (or is the only beneficiary with no other interested persons), or is a Florida-licensed attorney. Because most administrations involve more than one interested person, most Lake estates are filed through counsel.
- Prepare the petition and use the local checklists. Formal and summary administration petitions are prepared under the Florida Probate Rules (Fla. Prob. R. 5.010 to 5.530); Florida publishes no statewide self-help probate form set, so in most cases an attorney prepares and files the papers. The Fifth Judicial Circuit publishes four Lake County checklists (opening and closing formal administration, summary administration, and determining homestead status) and local probate forms that show what each filing must include.
- File with the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Attorneys must e-file through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (myflcourtaccess.com). A self-represented filer may register and e-file through the portal or file on paper at the Clerk's counter at 550 W. Main Street, Tavares, or by mail to P.O. Box 7800, Tavares, FL 32778-7800.
- Pay the filing fee. The Lake Clerk's published fee schedule lists $400.00 for formal administration, $345.00 for summary administration of an estate of $1,000 or more ($235.00 under $1,000), and $231.00 for disposition of personal property without administration (verified July 2026). These totals reflect the statutory service charges of F.S. 28.2401 plus mandatory add-ons; the schedule prints no effective date, so confirm the current total with the Clerk before filing.
- Give notice and publish. The personal representative serves notice on interested persons and publishes a notice to creditors, which opens the creditor-claim period. A creditor must file its claim by the later of 3 months after first publication or 30 days after being served (F.S. 733.702), and in all events within 2 years of death (F.S. 733.710).
- Submit proposed orders by mail and attend any hearing. Under the Lake County Probate Division's published practice, a proposed order is sent to the assigned judge's judicial assistant by US Mail only, with a cover letter and portal-stamped copies of the checklist and the motion or petition; orders submitted by email are not accepted, orders e-filed through the portal are rejected, and orders are not sent to the Clerk. Where a hearing is set, the Fifth Judicial Circuit publishes Zoom resources, and remote appearance is governed by Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.530; ask the assigned judge's office whether your matter will be heard by Zoom or in person in Tavares.
- Receive the authority document. On appointment the court issues Letters of Administration, the proof of the personal representative's authority to act, in every case, whether or not there is a will. Request enough certified copies for the banks and institutions involved.
- Administer and close. Inventory the assets, pay valid claims in statutory priority, account to the interested persons, distribute the remaining assets, and close the estate.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Lake County
Lake County is better supplied with local probate material than most Florida counties, but Florida still publishes no statewide self-help probate form set: formal and summary administration petitions are prepared under the Florida Probate Rules (Fla. Prob. R. 5.010 to 5.530), and Florida Courts Help states that it does not provide probate forms. Under three Lake County administrative orders (L-2022-24-A, L-2023-27, and L-2023-28), the Fifth Judicial Circuit's Lake County Probate Division page publishes four Lake County checklists (opening formal administration, closing formal administration, summary administration, and determining homestead status of real property) and a set of local probate forms, including an Affidavit of Heirs, a Notice Regarding Original Will, and petition and order forms for summary administration with and without a will. The Clerk separately publishes a local Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration form. These checklists and forms show what a filing must include, but they do not replace the attorney-prepared petition that Fla. Prob. R. 5.030 requires in most administrations. For questions about local intake, filing in person versus by mail, or what the Tavares counter needs, call the Clerk's Probate Department at (352) 742-4122.
| Resource | What it provides |
|---|---|
| Fifth Judicial Circuit, Lake County Probate Division (circuit5.org) | The circuit's four Lake County probate checklists (opening and closing formal administration, summary administration, determining homestead status), local probate forms, the assigned judges and judicial assistants, and the proposed-order procedure |
| Lake County Clerk probate forms (lakecountyclerkfl.gov) | The Clerk's local Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration form and links to consumer probate information |
| Florida Courts Help, probate (flcourts.gov) | The judiciary's probate self-help page; it explains that no statewide probate forms are provided and points to the Florida Probate Code and local resources |
| Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (myflcourtaccess.com) | The statewide portal for filing probate documents; mandatory for attorneys, optional for self-represented filers |
Fees
Florida sets the Clerk's base probate service charges by statute (F.S. 28.2401): formal administration $395, summary administration $340 for an estate of $1,000 or more, and disposition of personal property without administration $230, plus a $4 additional service charge on administration petitions. On top of that statutory base, counties add further mandatory statutory charges, so the Clerk's published total is higher than the bare base. The Lake County Clerk's own published probate fee schedule totals are below (verified July 2026).
| Filing | Fee | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Formal administration | $400.00 | Lake Clerk published probate fee schedule (lakecountyclerkfl.gov), verified July 2026 |
| Summary administration, estate value $1,000 or more | $345.00 | Lake Clerk published probate fee schedule (lakecountyclerkfl.gov), verified July 2026 |
| Summary administration, estate value under $1,000 | $235.00 | Lake Clerk published probate fee schedule (lakecountyclerkfl.gov), verified July 2026 |
| Disposition of personal property without administration | $231.00 | Lake Clerk published probate fee schedule (lakecountyclerkfl.gov), verified July 2026 |
| Opening any estate (one document or more) | $231.00 | Lake Clerk published probate fee schedule (lakecountyclerkfl.gov), verified July 2026 |
| Petition to admit a foreign will | $231.00 | Lake Clerk published probate fee schedule (lakecountyclerkfl.gov), verified July 2026 |
| Caveat or notice of trust | $41.00 | Lake Clerk published probate fee schedule (lakecountyclerkfl.gov), verified July 2026 |
| Reopening a closed estate | $50.00 | Lake Clerk published probate fee schedule (lakecountyclerkfl.gov), verified July 2026 |
These are the Clerk's totals for the filing and do not include later costs such as certified copies of Letters of Administration, recording fees, or the cost of publishing the notice to creditors. The Clerk's schedule prints no effective date, so confirm the current total on the fee schedule at lakecountyclerkfl.gov or by calling the Probate Department at (352) 742-4122 before filing. The Clerk accepts cash, cashier's check, money order, and most credit cards (the card processor adds a nonrefundable transaction fee); cashier's checks and money orders are made payable to Gary J. Cooney, Clerk of Court and Comptroller, and may be mailed to Lake County Clerk's Office, ATTN: Probate, P.O. Box 7800, Tavares, FL 32778. Every figure carries its source: the F.S. 28.2401 base for the statutory service charge, and the Lake County Clerk's fee schedule for the published total.
Local nuance
Lake County-specific considerations
Proposed orders go to the judge by US Mail only. The Fifth Judicial Circuit accepts proposed orders through the statewide e-filing portal in Citrus, Hernando, Marion, and Sumter counties, but its Submitting Proposed Orders page states that Lake County does not. Instead, all four judges assigned to the Lake County Probate Division use the same procedure: after the underlying motion or petition is e-filed, the proposed order is sent to the assigned judge's judicial assistant by US Mail only. Orders submitted by email are not accepted, orders e-filed through the portal are rejected by the Clerk, and orders should not be sent to the Clerk. The mailing includes a cover letter addressed to the judge's office and portal-stamped copies of the applicable checklist and of the motion or petition. Submissions are held for ten days pending complete documentation, after which incomplete packages are destroyed, so send a complete set. This is a Lake County practice, not a statewide or circuit-wide rule; confirm the current requirement and mailing details on the circuit's Lake County Probate Division page before mailing.
The circuit publishes Lake County probate checklists and forms. Unlike many Florida counties, Lake has genuine local probate material, adopted through three Lake County administrative orders (L-2022-24-A, L-2023-27, and L-2023-28). The Fifth Judicial Circuit's Lake County Probate Division page publishes checklists for opening and closing formal administration, for summary administration, and for determining the homestead status of real property, plus local probate forms such as an Affidavit of Heirs and summary administration petitions and orders, and the Clerk publishes a local Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration form. These show what each filing must contain, but Florida still publishes no statewide self-help probate form set, and Fla. Prob. R. 5.030 requires an attorney to prepare the petition in most administrations.
Probate dockets are searchable online; document images are gated. The Clerk's ShowCaseWeb court records search at courtrecords.lakecountyclerk.org offers free public access, with no cost to register or use it, and includes probate cases, so you can confirm online that a Lake estate has been opened. Under F.S. 28.2221(5)(a), the Clerk may not place images or copies of court records governed by the Florida Probate Rules on a public website for general public display: for many case types only limited images appear initially, and most documents are available on request after confidential information is redacted. To read the documents in a Lake probate file, view them at the Clerk's office at 550 W. Main Street, Tavares, request copies through the Clerk, or use a registered account.
A dedicated Probate Department counter, line, and fax. The Clerk runs probate through a Probate Department in the East Wing, Second Floor of the Tavares courthouse, with its own line, (352) 742-4122, and its own fax, (352) 253-1635, both published in the Clerk's phone directory and separate from the general Clerk number (352) 742-4100. Use the Probate Department line for case questions, filing mechanics, and what the Tavares counter needs; the Clerk publishes no dedicated probate email, so written questions go through the website contact form.
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: July 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely path in Lake County | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse, co-owned home | If the home in Tavares, Leesburg, Clermont, or elsewhere in Lake County was the decedent's homestead, Florida homestead protections usually let it pass to the surviving spouse outside the probate estate, often confirmed by a petition to determine homestead status filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court. If other assets must be administered, the spouse (through counsel, unless she is the sole interested person under Fla. Prob. R. 5.030) files a summary or formal administration and is issued Letters of Administration. | Asset discovery to confirm how title is held and what else is in the estate. Packet generation for the qualifying paperwork. A vetted attorney referral where Fla. Prob. R. 5.030 requires counsel. |
| Out-of-state adult child, small estate | A smaller estate that meets the statewide threshold can proceed by summary administration under F.S. 735.201, which appoints no personal representative and ends in an order distributing the assets; a very limited estate with no real property may qualify for disposition of personal property without administration (F.S. 735.301), for which the Clerk publishes a local form. Both are filed with the Lake Clerk, and an out-of-state filer can work with Florida counsel through the statewide e-filing portal without repeated trips to Tavares. | Asset discovery to confirm the estate qualifies and to locate accounts from out of state. Packet generation for the petition, prepared in advance so an out-of-state filer can proceed largely remotely. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Because the estate holds real property that must be sold, it generally proceeds through formal administration under F.S. Chapter 733: the parent, represented by counsel under Fla. Prob. R. 5.030, petitions the Clerk of the Circuit Court, is appointed personal representative, receives Letters of Administration, and can then sell the home and distribute the proceeds. The proposed order confirming appointment is mailed to the assigned judge's judicial assistant under the Lake County Probate Division's procedure. | Asset discovery for the child's accounts and property. Packet generation for the formal administration filing. Attorney referral, and help if the sale or an heir dispute turns contested. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it offers |
|---|---|
| Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court, Probate Department (352) 742-4122 (lakecountyclerkfl.gov) | The filing office for probate; local intake questions, filing by mail or in person, hours, the will deposit, court records search, and the published fee schedule |
| Fifth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Lake County Probate Division (circuit5.org) | The circuit's Lake County probate checklists and local forms, the assigned judges and judicial assistants, the proposed-order procedure, and Zoom resources |
| Florida Courts Help, probate (flcourts.gov/Courts-System/florida-courts-help/other-resources/probate) | The judiciary's probate self-help page, with plain-language information on the probate process |
| Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (myflcourtaccess.com) | Registration and self-help for e-filing probate documents, the option available to self-represented filers |
| Community Legal Services, Tavares office, 226 W. Main Street (by appointment, (352) 343-0815), helpline (800) 405-1417 (legalaccessforall.org) | Free civil legal help for income-eligible residents; its service area includes Lake County, and its self-help topics include wills, estates, and powers of attorney |
| The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service, (800) 342-8011 (floridabar.org) | Statewide referrals to Florida-licensed probate attorneys, plus the consumer pamphlet Probate in Florida |
When to hire an attorney
Florida makes counsel the norm in probate. Under Fla. Prob. R. 5.030, the personal representative must be represented by a Florida-licensed attorney unless the personal representative remains the sole interested person, or is the only beneficiary with no other interested persons, or is a Florida-licensed attorney. Because most Lake estates have more than one interested person, most formal and summary administrations here are handled through counsel, who also e-files through the statewide portal and follows the Lake County Probate Division's proposed-order procedure. Consider an attorney early when the estate holds real property that must be sold, when a will contest or heir dispute is likely, when the estate is insolvent or creditors are pressing, or when the estate includes a business interest or out-of-state property. Sunset can connect families to a vetted Florida probate attorney serving Lake County and the Fifth Judicial Circuit.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and public records to surface bank and credit-union accounts, retirement plans, brokerage holdings, life insurance, Lake County real estate, and unclaimed property, so you know the estate's value and which Florida path fits for estate settlement before you file.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset assembles the petition and supporting paperwork for your path, ready to file with the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Tavares through the statewide e-filing portal or on paper.
Find a local probate attorney. Because Fla. Prob. R. 5.030 requires a Florida-licensed attorney in most administrations, Sunset connects families to a vetted Florida probate attorney serving Lake County and the Fifth Judicial Circuit.
Sunset is free for families. Revenue comes from bank partners that pay Sunset while estate funds sit in an FDIC-insured estate account ($3M coverage).
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file for probate in Lake County?
With the Clerk of the Circuit Court at the Lake County courthouse, 550 W. Main Street, Tavares, FL 32778, or by mail to P.O. Box 7800, Tavares, FL 32778-7800. Lake is in the Fifth Judicial Circuit, which runs a dedicated Lake County Probate Division in Tavares. Florida has no separate probate court; probate is a division of the Circuit Court.
Do I have to e-file probate in Lake County?
Attorneys must e-file through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com. A self-represented filer may register and e-file through the same portal or file on paper at the Clerk's counter in Tavares or by mail to the Clerk's post office box.
Do I need an attorney for probate in Lake County?
Usually yes. Under Fla. Prob. R. 5.030, the personal representative must be represented by a Florida-licensed attorney unless the personal representative is the sole interested person (or the only beneficiary with no other interested persons), or is a Florida-licensed attorney. Because most estates have more than one interested person, most Lake administrations are handled through counsel.
How do I submit a proposed order in a Lake County probate case?
By US Mail only. Lake is the only county in the Fifth Judicial Circuit that does not accept proposed orders through the e-filing portal: a proposed order goes to the assigned judge's judicial assistant by mail, orders submitted by email are not accepted, orders e-filed through the portal are rejected by the Clerk, and orders should not be sent to the Clerk. Include a cover letter to the judge's office and portal-stamped copies of the applicable checklist and of the motion or petition. Submissions are held ten days pending complete documentation, so send a complete set. Confirm the current procedure on the circuit's Lake County Probate Division page.
What does it cost to file probate in Lake County?
Per the Clerk's published fee schedule, $400.00 for formal administration, $345.00 for summary administration of an estate of $1,000 or more ($235.00 under $1,000), and $231.00 for disposition of personal property without administration (verified July 2026). These totals reflect the statutory service charges of F.S. 28.2401 plus mandatory add-ons; the schedule prints no effective date, so confirm the current total on the Clerk's fee schedule or by calling the Probate Department at (352) 742-4122 before filing.
What forms do I need for probate in Lake County?
The Fifth Judicial Circuit publishes Lake County probate checklists (formal administration opening and closing, summary administration) and local probate forms, and the Clerk publishes a local Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration form. Florida publishes no statewide self-help probate form set, so formal and summary administration petitions are prepared under the Florida Probate Rules, in most cases by an attorney.
Can I look up a Lake County probate case online?
You can find the case, but not always read the papers. The Clerk's ShowCaseWeb court records search at courtrecords.lakecountyclerk.org offers free public access and includes probate dockets. Under F.S. 28.2221(5)(a), images of records governed by the Florida Probate Rules are not displayed online to the general public: for many case types only limited images appear initially, most documents are available on request after redaction, and you can view files at the Clerk's office in Tavares or through a registered account.
Can I appear remotely for a Lake County probate hearing?
Sometimes. The Fifth Judicial Circuit publishes Zoom resources for court proceedings, and remote appearance is governed by Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.530. Whether a remote appearance is available depends on the matter and the assigned judge, so check the judge's procedures when a hearing is set.
Do I have to travel to Tavares to settle an estate there?
Not always. Attorneys and self-represented filers can file through the statewide e-filing portal, and papers can be mailed to the Clerk at P.O. Box 7800, Tavares, FL 32778-7800. Proposed orders are mailed to the assigned judge's judicial assistant, and where a hearing is required, ask the assigned judge's office whether it can be held by Zoom; the Fifth Judicial Circuit publishes Zoom resources, subject to the judge's procedures. Note that the Clerk's branch offices in Lady Lake and Clermont handle marriage licenses and passports, not court filings, so in-person probate business happens at the Tavares courthouse.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.