Lake County, Florida: Where to File a Security Deposit Claim and What It Costs

Listed court is Lake County Court - Small Claims Division in Tavares. Check venue on the court's official page or with the clerk. Filing fee: set by the court; see its fee table. Claims up to $8,000. Florida return time: 15 days or another period by condition. ACS two-bedroom rent: $1,437. Enter your dates below and send the dated letter first.

Court listed	Lake County Court - Small Claims Division
City	Tavares
Statewide filing fee	Current court fee schedule
Small claims limit	$8,000 (statewide)
State deposit return deadline	15 days after Termination of the rental agreement. Applies when: no deductions claimed. 30 days after Termination of the rental agreement. Applies when: landlord intends to impose a claim; written notice of intention to impose a claim (certified mail or email) is due within this window, or the right to impose a claim is forfeited. 30 days after the date of the landlord's notice of intention to impose a claim. Applies when: tenant did not object in writing within 15 days after receiving the notice; the landlord deducts the claim and remits the balance within this window.
Time limit to sue	5 years
Deposit statute	Fla. Stat. § 83.49 (2025 Florida Statutes, current codification); small claims limit at Fla. Stat. § 34.01(1)(c)

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

Details

Limits: $8,000 (statewide).

Your dates and your letter

Calculate your deadline and next letter

Choose how to send your letter

We mail it, or you mail it.

$49, done for you.

We write the letter from the facts you send, mail it by USPS Certified Mail with tracking, and send you the tracking number and a PDF record of what was sent.

Mailed within 2 business days of your completed form, or a full refund.

Document preparation and mailing, not legal advice. We do not assess your claim, choose a strategy, or promise a recovery.

Write and mail my letter for $49

$29, you send it.

A print-ready PDF of the Florida letter template, ready to download after payment.

Certified-mail instructions: what to ask for at the counter and what it costs.
Florida small-claims details: the limit, the deadline to sue, and where to file.

You fill in the template, print it, and pay postage. The same letter template is also available free by email below. The kit adds the print-ready PDF, mailing guide, and local details in one place.

If you cannot access or use the kit files, contact us for a replacement or a full refund.

Get the Florida kit for $29

Self-help document service. No account is required on Demand Letter Lab.

Your free letter

Get a DOCX letter with the dates and amount you entered.

Write and mail my letter for $49

Get the Florida kit for $29

Already sent a letter? Tell us if it worked

Details of the return rules

Florida statutory deadlines
When it applies	Deadline	Starts from
The landlord sent no notice claiming deductions, so the full deposit is due	15 days	Termination of the rental agreement
The landlord sent the claim notice, and I did not object in writing by the date printed in it	30 days	the date of the landlord's notice of intention to impose a claim

Florida return rule: 15 days (no deductions claimed). Check the dates you entered above.

Court listed for this county: Lake County Court - Small Claims Division. Check venue on the official court page or with the clerk.

Free dated DOCX by email. Print-ready state PDF kit: $29. Letter preparation and mailing: $49.

Who do you name in the claim?

Find and compare the legal names

Find and compare the legal names in these records:

The lease: the Landlord or Owner line and who signed.
The deposit receipt or the account your rent went to.
The owner of record in the property records of Lake County.
The Florida business registry for an LLC or management company: its exact legal name and registered agent. Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz) (check the link; report an error if it is wrong)

A registered agent receives court papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

This page shows where the names are recorded; it does not decide who is legally liable.

What to bring to the clerk

Your lease.
Deposit receipt or payment record.
The demand letter and proof of delivery.
Move-out photos and an inventory or condition report.

Check the Florida filing procedure before you go.

Court forms

Service methods: certified mail by clerk; constable or sheriff; private process server.

Procedure source (medium confidence): Forms that have been approved for statewide use are located within the Florida Small Claims Rules of Court Procedure.

Is it worth filing here?

Illustration: a deposit equal to one month's ACS median gross rent (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) for a home in Lake County. This is calculated from rent, not measured deposits. The statutory amount requires the rule's conditions.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms	Deposit owed	Statutory amount	Total illustration	Limit check
1	$1,085	Formula requires case facts	Check the formula	Check the applicable limit and remedy
2	$1,437	Formula requires case facts	Check the formula	Check the applicable limit and remedy
3	$1,647	Formula requires case facts	Check the formula	Check the applicable limit and remedy
4	$2,153	Formula requires case facts	Check the formula	Check the applicable limit and remedy

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070; accessed 2026-09-21. Penalty rule.

How does Lake County compare with other Florida counties?

The two-bedroom median gross rent is $1,437: rank 17 of 67 counties with this metric in U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. 23.4% of households rent in Lake County.

Lake County two-bedroom rent $1,437, rank 17 of 67 counties

Nearby counties in the two-bedroom rent ranking
County	Median gross rent
Lee County	$1,496
Flagler County	$1,445
Lake County	$1,437
Duval County	$1,402
Brevard County	$1,382
Bay County	$1,377

Ranking uses the same ACS metric and period within this state; ties share a rank. Coverage is 67 of 67 listed counties. Census source.

Places in Lake County

Astatula
Clermont
Eustis
Fruitland Park
Groveland
Howey-in-the-Hills
Lady Lake
Leesburg
Mascotte
Minneola
Montverde
Mount Dora
Tavares
Umatilla

These are Census places in the county. Check the rental's address with the clerk to find the court.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file

Free legal help

Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, Inc.: no-cost civil legal aid for eligible Central Florida residents, including housing, landlord-tenant, and housing-discrimination matters

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Lake County?

The court sets the fee. Check the current schedule. Court page

Where do I file a deposit claim in Lake County?

Lake County Court - Small Claims Division is listed. Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk. Court page

Who should I name in the claim?

Compare the legal names on the lease, deposit receipt, property records and business registry. A registered agent receives papers for a company; it is not the defendant.

What should I bring to the clerk?

Bring your lease, deposit receipt, demand letter, proof of delivery, photos and any move-out inventory.