Conduct a Free Lake County Warrant Search on Any Resident

Perform a free Lake County warrant search in just minutes.

Anyone interested can search for active warrants and obtain historical records from county and statewide systems. Searchers can use the data obtained to help themselves or a family member clear up a warrant, assist in apprehending a wanted person, or help keep them safe.

An Overview of Looking Up Warrants in Lake County Florida

Searchers may need to find out information about various types of warrants issued by Lake County. Fortunately, the state legislature deemed many documents as public records under the Sunshine Law, recorded as Florida Chapter 119: Public Records.¹

Several types of warrants will be discussed in this resource. These warrants are usually publicly available and completely free to search and discover. Though most warrants are available, researchers should be advised that in cases where the records interfere with the administration of law enforcement, the records may be sealed or otherwise unavailable.

Before searching for warrants, the record seeker should have some basic information for the search tools. Generally, you may need to know the person’s first and last name, home city, or where the warrant was issued. With this information, you can find the records you need from the appropriate custodian of these records.

There are several custodians of warrants throughout the state, including local sheriff offices and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).²

How To Run a Lake County Warrant Search for Yourself or Someone Else

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is the custodian of warrant issues within the county, so that is the place to start. The Sheriff provides all the relevant information on the Lake County Warrants Division Page.³

Records in Lake County are more challenging to access than in many other parts of Florida because there is no online search tool. Instead, searchers are encouraged to visit the Lake County Sheriff’s Office in person to obtain warrant information. The location is:

Office of the Lake County Sheriff
360 W. Ruby Street
Tavares, Florida

Alternatively, you can go to any local police station, and the municipal officers can access the county warrant information. Those who potentially have active warrants out against them should be fully aware that they will likely be arrested if you do arrive in person.

In such cases, seek advice from an attorney.

If you have questions, call the sheriff’s office at the Non-Emergency Number of (352)-343-2101 or the Information Desk at 352-343-9500. However, citizens should note that the Sheriff states that they do not give any warrant information out via phone.

In some cases, you may want to find out more detailed information about the original case underlying the warrant. That information can be searched at the Lake County Clerk of the Court’s Record Search.⁴

How To View Statewide Warrants in Florida

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) provides a free statewide warrant search.⁶ Though this record is less accurate than the official county records, it may be beneficial in cases where the record seeker is unsure if the warrant was issued in a particular county.

The FDLE states that the records within their database may be inaccurate because they are not always updated by all the agencies that report the warrants. Also, wanted persons may have given false personal information. So, inquirers should be fully aware of these limitations.

To conduct a statewide warrant search in Florida, navigate to the FDLE Wanted Persons Search Tool.⁷ You can find the warrant record by entering data about the wanted person.

The search can be narrowed by name, nickname, sex, and age. The results will show each person’s:

• Name
• Date of birth
• Sex
• Race
• Agency that reported the active warrant

Types of Warrants & Their Definitions

Generally speaking, a warrant is any document that allows law enforcement to search, seize, or detain a person or property; this encompasses a range of different order types. Any type of warrant may also be referred to as an “active warrant” if the order is still in effect. The most common types are listed below with explanations of each.

• Arrest Warrants: Orders issued by a judge that allow law enforcement to place a person under arrest because they are accused of a crime.
• Bench Warrants: These orders are issued by a judge because of something that occurred related to a court proceeding. Typically, they are ordered for missing a court appearance. Law enforcement can detain the person and bring them to appear before the judge.
• Probation & Parole Violation Warrants: These orders allow the police to detain someone violating these supervised release conditions. Common violations include a positive drug test, missing a meeting with an officer, or committing a new crime. Since the offender has already been convicted of a crime to be on probation or parole in the first place, people with these warrants have fewer procedural rights than others.
• Child Support Warrants: Courts often order child support payments to be made by a non-custodial parent. When these payments are in arrears, the court can issue a warrant to detain the person and have them appear before the judge.
• Traffic Warrants: Municipal or traffic courts issue these warrants based on non-compliance. For example, judges often issue these for failure to pay parking tickets or failure to appear at a hearing for a DUI.
• Capias & Capias Pro Fine Warrants: Capias are special warrants issued when a defendant in a criminal trial fails to appear at a hearing. Often, these are no bond warrants, meaning the person will be held in jail until the trial is complete.
• Fugitive Warrants: Any type of warrant issued to apprehend someone who has fled the jurisdiction to avoid arrest or appearance in court. They can also contain extradition instructions, telling police in other counties or states whether or not Florida authorities are willing to pay to have the person sent back to the original court to face the charges.
• Search Warrants: Unlike other warrants, a search order applies to property and not a person. They allow law enforcement to search someone’s home, vehicle, or other property for evidence of a crime.

How To Resolve a Warrant in Lake County Florida

Those who seek warrant information often do so to find out if they, someone they are close to, or someone they are suspicious of, may have a warrant out. This resource has detailed how to find these warrants, but it is equally important to know what to do once they are found.

If someone you know has an active warrant and you want to assist them, you can begin by notifying them about the warrant’s existence and the name of the agency that issued it. You can suggest that the person immediately contact an attorney for legal advice.

In other cases, it is dangerous to approach the wanted individual, so you may want to report the person’s location so they can be arrested.

Lake County partners with the Central Florida Crimeline to allow individuals to make anonymous reports to the police.⁸ Tips can be made at 800-423-TIPS (8477).

Record seekers may find out that they themselves have an active warrant. When that is the case, it is wise to take action to resolve the warrant immediately before you are taken into custody. How the warrant can be resolved is determined by the specific facts, the reason for the warrant, and the discretion of the issuing agency.

In all cases, make sure to immediately contact an attorney (they can provide legal advice and advocate for you) and a bail bondsman or agency; they can help you get released if you are taken into custody and need to post bail.

Depending on the type of warrant and the underlying facts, you may be able to resolve the problem without being detained in jail. For example, some warrants are worked out if the wanted person pays a fine or agrees to a date for a court hearing.

For more serious violations, such as felony arrest warrants for failure to appear at a criminal proceeding, individuals should be prepared for the likelihood of being taken into custody.

Regardless of the reason you are searching, an active warrant is a serious situation. In most cases, it is important to take steps to resolve the warrant. To begin that process, use this resource as guidance for running a free Florida statewide or Lake County warrant search; the information costs nothing to search and helps to research and resolve warrants.