Recording – Frequently Asked Questions

Deed forms can be purchased from office supply stores or downloaded from online websites that offer Florida forms. The Official Records Division does not prepare documents, and is unable to provide legal advice regarding document types or content. It is strongly recommended that you consult with a real estate attorney or legal advisor to be sure that the form you select is suitable for your situation. Once the appropriate documents have been prepared, the original signed and notarized document can be recorded with our office.

Property surveys are not recorded or archived in the Official Records Division. These documents are typically issued at real estate closings and included with closing documents. If you want to obtain a copy of a property survey, please contact the company that provided the initial survey or consult a survey company.

If you have lost or misplaced your deed, you can purchase a certified copy from our office. View more information about ordering certified copies of official records.

Once recorded, a deed itself cannot be altered. If you are attempting to change ownership of the property described in the deed, a new document must be prepared and recorded. The Clerk’s Office does not prepare documents and is unable to provide legal advice regarding document types or content. It is strongly recommended that you consult with a real estate attorney or legal advisor if you wish to correct or add/remove a name on a deed. Once the appropriate documents have been prepared, the original signed and notarized document can be recorded with our office.

Certified copies can be obtained in-person, by mail, or online. View more information about ordering certified copies of official records.

There are various methods to submit documents for recording. Our website offers available options for how to record documents in the Official Records of Lake County.

A list of recording fees are available to view on our website. 

Yes, you can unsubscribe at any time by selecting the “Unsubscribe” link on the Recording Notification Service page and entering your registered email address.

No, pursuant to Florida Statute 28.47(5)(b), “All electronic mail addresses, telephone numbers, personal and business names, and parcel identification numbers submitted to the clerk or property appraiser for the purpose of registering for a recording notification service or a related service pursuant to this section are confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution, except upon court order.”

To edit the names you are monitoring, select the “Update Subscription” link on the Recording Notification Service page and follow the instructions.

The Recording Notification Service alerts you to newly recorded documents only, i.e. documents recorded after you have registered. You can search documents already recorded under your name on the Clerk’s Official Records website.

Enter your email address and the names you want to monitor on the Recording Notification Service sign-up page. You may enter multiple name variations. When a document is recorded in the Official Records of Lake County with a name being monitored, an email will automatically be sent to the provided email address.

Recording Notification Service is a free service offered by the Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller that alerts citizens via email when a document is recorded in their name.

Contact the Lake County Sheriff’s Office at 352-343-2101 and your attorney or legal advisor.

Neither the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, Property Appraiser, or Tax Collector offices can take legal action on your behalf to reverse the fraudulent activity.

No document can be removed from the Official Records without a court order. Therefore, citizens are urged to contact local law enforcement and an attorney for prompt, appropriate action if fraud is suspected.

The Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller must record all documents that meet the requirements outlined in the Florida Statues. The Clerk has no authority to refuse to record a properly prepared document, even if it may be fraudulent.

Check the Official Records using the Records Search to see what documents are recorded under your name and sign up for Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller’s free Recording Notification Service for automated email alerts when your name is added to the Official Records index.

If your property is vacant, check often to make sure it is not occupied illegally.

Ask someone you trust to look after your property if you are away for an extended period of time.

Do not let mail pile up when out of town.

Make sure the Property Appraiser and Tax Collector offices have the correct mailing address for you or the person who should receive notices about your property.

No, documents which are executed electronically must be recorded electronically, per Florida Statute 28.222(3)(h).

Documents must be scanned at 300 dpi and be no larger than 8 ½” x 14”. Scanned documents must be legible and reproducible.

The most common documents that are E-Recorded are deeds, mortgages, assignments of mortgage, Notices of Commencement, and satisfactions of mortgage.

• Ability to submit documents electronically- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Speeds up the recording process.
• Original documents never leave your possession.

Documents must be submitted through a third-party vendor. Begin by contacting one of the vendors listed below to sign up for E-Recording:

• Corporation Service Company (CSC)
  www.erecording.com
  866-652-0111
• eRecording Partners Network (ePN)
  www.GOePN.com
  888-325-3365
• Simplifile
  www.simplifile.com
  800-460-5657

Contact Triedata at [email protected] or (888) 351-6838.

Yes, certified copies can still be purchased in person or by mail.

Yes. Your eCertified document may be forwarded by email or printed as many times as you like. Always save your certified document to your computer’s hard drive since the email link will only be accessible for 30 days.

It is recommended that you save the document as soon as it is received. The download link is available for 30 days from the date of purchase. After 30 days, you will be required to repurchase your certified document.

The amount of time to deliver the email depends on your email server. Check your spam or junk folder if you do not receive the email in your inbox. You may also retrieve the document by going to receipt lookup and entering the order’s receipt number and the email address used for the transaction. For assistance, contact [email protected] or (888) 351-6838.

Electronically certified documents can be authenticated by clicking the link on the document’s cover page, scanning the QR code on the cover page with a smartphone, or visiting the authentication website. 

Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view eCertified Official Records. Download it for free here.

To view fees for eCertified Official Records, visit the fees page.

 

Certain document types are not viewable on the website and, therefore, unavailable for online purchase. If the entity receiving the document does not accept electronic certifications or the required document is not available for viewing on the website, you may obtain a manually stamped certified copy by mailing your payment with the Official Records Order Form (PDF) or by visiting one of our two locations:

• Lake County Courthouse
  550 W. Main Street, Tavares, FL (North Wing, 3rd floor)
  Free parking is located in the garage at 200 N. Sinclair Ave.

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

Each electronically certified document uses advanced encryption to produce a tamper-proof electronically certified document. Documents have a unique electronic reference number for identification printed on each page and contain a digital signature identifying the certifier and tamper-evident seal validating the document as a true and accurate copy.

An eCertified Official Record is an electronically certified, tamper-proof, and self-validating certified copy of a document recorded in Lake County’s Official Records.

Images of recorded documents are available as described below with the exception of those specified in Florida Statute 22.2221(5)(a):

Record Type	Recording Date Range	Book Type Code
Official Records	January 1, 1957 – Present	O
Plats	October 11, 1884 – Present	P
Condo Plats	September 30, 1971 – Present	C
Deeds	August 5, 1887 – December 31, 1956	DEED
Tax Deeds	November 23, 1887 – December 4, 1956	TD
Land Patents	August 18, 1887 – August 19, 1936 Land Patents recorded after August 19, 1936, are found in Deed Books.	PAT
Road Maps	September 29, 2011 – Present	RM
Military Discharges	June 10, 1920 – December 31, 1956 Military Records recorded after 1956 are found in Official Records Books.	MIL
Marriages	August 17, 1887 – Jun 22, 2000 Some Marriage Records recorded after 1998 are found in Official Records Books. It is recommended that both W & O book types are searched for years 1998-2000.	MAR

Florida Statute 28.2221(5)(a) provides that on or after June 5, 2002 images of the following types of documents may not be placed on a “publicly available Internet website:”

• Military Discharge
• Death Certificates
• Court files, records, or paper relating to matters or cases governed by
  • The Florida Rules of Family Law
  • The Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure
  • The Florida Rules of Probate

Blue indicates that a new or corrected record has been added.  Red indicates that a record has been deleted.

Documents recorded today will generally appear on the website within 24 hours.

For help with the Official Records website, visit the support page at https://officialrecords.lakecountyclerk.org/support.