Lake County Detention Center Inmate Bail & Bonds
Lake County bail and bond: paying in the Tavares jail lobby
Lake adults are held at the Lake County Detention Center, 551 West Main Street, Tavares, FL 32778, run by the Sheriff's Office. Check Lake County Inmate Search for the booking and the bond. The Sheriff says a full bond can be paid in the detention center lobby with cash, a cashier's or certified check, or a money order. The jail line is 352-742-4000, and the booking and release line is 352-742-4024.
1. Is she in the Tavares jail?
Look her up on Lake County Inmate Search. If she is not listed, call 352-742-4024 and ask. If a city department, such as Leesburg or Clermont, made the arrest, ask that department which facility has the person, then check the search again in a few hours.
2. What can I bring to the lobby to post a bond?
The Sheriff's Office lists three forms for a full bond: cash, a cashier's or certified check, or a money order. The amount must cover the whole bond. Bring photo ID, plus the inmate's complete name and birth date. Call 352-742-4024 first to confirm the amount and who to write the check to.
3. Who do I make the check or money order out to?
The Sheriff's page says to use "Clerk of Courts" for local charges. For a charge from another county, the payee is "Lake County Sheriff." A wrong name can delay release, which is why the page recommends calling first. The booking line is 352-742-4024.
4. Can he pay the bond from his own jail account?
Yes, the Sheriff says a person with enough money in his commissary account can post his own bond. His family can deposit to the account, but money on an account is not a bond until it is used for one. Ask the jail at 352-742-4000 how long that transfer takes.
5. When are bonding hours?
The Sheriff's page does not post bonding hours. It lists administration hours of Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ask 352-742-4024 whether the lobby takes bonds at night and on weekends. A bail agent can post a bond without you visiting the jail.
6. How much is bond for my charge?
The Fifth Judicial Circuit, which includes Lake County, amended its bond schedule order in February 2026 (Administrative Order A-2024-02-A), and that order is the one the jail follows for early release. Amounts are not copied here because they vary by charge and a judge can change them. The bond on Lake County Inmate Search is the real number. Ask the booking desk, 352-742-4024, if it shows blank.
7. Why is he still in jail with no bond listed?
Florida Statute 903.011(6) bars release before a judge reviews certain cases. In Lake, examples include someone on the sex-offender registry, someone arrested three times in six months, or someone accused of homicide or felony battery. In Lake, a probation officer's hold or one from another county can also block release.
8. How quickly does a judge hear the case?
Within 24 hours of arrest, per Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.130. The hearing may be by video. Lake judges set release terms and may appoint counsel for those who can't pay. The Lake County Clerk, 352-742-4100, has the case number and the next date.
9. How do bail agents get paid, and what protects me?
The Department of Financial Services puts a Lake premium at 10 percent of court-set bail, earned when the agent gets the person out. If he never gets out, the full premium is returned. A Lake agent can't take a quitclaim deed as collateral, and collateral returns within 21 days of discharge. Questions go to the helpline at 1-877-693-5236.
10. Can land or a house be pledged?
The Sheriff's page does not describe property bonds. Under Florida Statute 903.05, a Lake surety qualifies by living in Florida or owning real estate there. For Lake County practice, such as the equity the judge wants, ask the Clerk at 352-742-4100 before you collect deeds.
11. When is the lobby cash returned?
Generally, once the case ends, but the clerk may subtract unpaid costs, fees, and fines from a cash bond posted by someone who is not an agent (Statute 903.286). A missed court date risks forfeiture. Keep the lobby receipt and the case number.
12. Where do I go for court papers?
The Lake County Clerk and Courthouse are at 550 West Main Street, Tavares, FL 32778, 352-742-4100. The Public Defender's Lake County office, if a judge appoints one, is at 123 North Sinclair Avenue, Tavares, FL 32778, 352-742-4270.
13. What if Leesburg or Clermont police made the arrest?
City departments book adults into the county jail, but whether any city keeps a short-term cell is not posted. Ask the Lake department for its report number and where the person was booked, then look at Lake County Inmate Search.
14. Where are Lake County teenagers held?
The Department of Juvenile Justice screens youth arrests for Lake County at 948 NW 30th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34475, 352-840-5840. Ask that office which center holds a Lake County youth. The Marion Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Ocala, 3040 Northwest 10th Street, 352-732-1450, is the one to ask about first. Lake's adult search leaves out children because their cases are private.
15. What if she misses the next court date?
Statute 903.26 lets a Lake court forfeit the bond and order her arrest. Phone the lawyer and bail agent today, and ask the Lake Clerk, 352-742-4100, about rescheduling.
16. How do I avoid a payment scam?
Only the detention center lobby, the Clerk, and a licensed agent handle bonds. Lake's jail does not take gift cards or app transfers over the phone. Dial 352-742-4000 yourself before you pay anyone.
17. What if ICE puts a Lake jail hold on someone?
- ICE uses Form I-247A to ask Lake jailers for more time.
- In Lake, that means up to 48 more hours.
- The Lake clock keeps running on weekends and holidays.
- Posting bond in Lake does not end an ICE hold.
- Under F.S. 908.105, the Lake judge setting bond must hear about it.
- Notice also goes to the Lake state attorney.
- Florida law (F.S. 908.11) puts the Lake sheriff in the 287(g) program.
- ICE lists these 287(g) models for Lake:
- Task Force Model
- Warrant Service Officer
- If ICE takes someone from Lake, search the ICE detainee locator.
Lake County bond contacts
- County jail
- Lake County Detention Center, 551 West Main Street, Tavares, FL 32778; 352-742-4000; booking and release 352-742-4024
- Bond guide
- Lake County jail bail and bond help
- Custody lookup
- Lake County Inmate Search
- Clerk and courthouse
- 550 West Main Street, Tavares, FL 32778; 352-742-4100
- Public Defender
- 123 North Sinclair Avenue, Tavares, FL 32778; 352-742-4270
- Juvenile
- DJJ detention screening, 948 NW 30th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34475; 352-840-5840; Marion Regional Juvenile Detention Center, 3040 Northwest 10th Street, Ocala, FL 34475; 352-732-1450
- Bail agent complaints
- Florida Insurance Consumer Helpline, 1-877-693-5236
The Lake lobby can change payees and rules, and the judge's bond may differ from what you hear. Confirm with the Sheriff's booking line or the Clerk first. This Lake guide is general, not a lawyer's advice.
Paying an Inmate's Bail or Bond in Lake County
The Lake County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Lake County.
However if you don't want to use a bail bond agent:
- You can always pay a cash bond yourself, or use your home in Lake County, or in some cases the state of Florida, but the benefit of using a bail bond agent is that they take responsibility for making sure the inmate shows up for court in Lake County, and if they don't, then they take the financial responsibility.
- The typical fee for a bond in Florida is between 10-20% of the bail amount; usually 15% or less. So if an offender has a bail of $10,000.00, their bond will be $1,500.00.
- Pay by cash, cashier's check, money order or credit card at the Lake County Detention Center, or the courthouse in Lake County where the offense took place.
Call 352-742-4054 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Lake County inmate locator.
Lake County Detention Center
Address:
551 W Main Street
Tavares, FL 32778
Phone:
352-742-4054
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Lake County
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lake County?
Who can set bail in Lake County?
When is bail set in Lake County Florida?
Does Lake County have bail?
Yes, Lake County has bail and recognizes most types of bonds.
As of January 1, 2024, Florida moved to a statewide uniform bond schedule. The uniform bond schedule may change every year. The Lake County Detention Center will let you know the amount of the bond.
Under most circumstances your bond amount is set during the booking process, and you are eligible to bond out prior to going to court. Prior to January 1, 2024, each county set their own bond schedule. For more serious crimes, bond will be set at the first appearance.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lake County?
Florida offers bail in the form of cash bail or surety bond and bonds from a professional bondsperson.
Who can set bail in Lake County?
Under most circumstances your bond amount is set during the booking process by a judge, and you are eligible to bond out prior to going to court. Prior to January 1, 2024, each county set their own bond schedule.
For more serious crimes, bond will be set at the first appearance. Bail is set by a judge in accordance with a precalculated schedule based on the seriousness of the offense.
When is bail set in Lake County Florida?
In most cases bail is set immediately after arrest, based on the precalculated schedule. If a defendant is not eligible for immediate release bail may be set by a judge at the initial court hearing, or arraignment.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Lake County must pay or do to stay out of jail until the first court appearance.
The agreement to bail acts as a promise that the arrested will return to court for court dates and trial. Bail usually refers to a dollar amount, but bail can also mean something that has to be done, or a condition such as reporting to an officer of the court, a curfew, restraining orders or attending a treatment program.
Bail is usually a significant enough amount of money and/or condition that the person will be negatively impacted and has incentive to return to court and not flee. A flight risk usually means that the person would flee the area, and not necessary that they are going to take an airplane.
If a judge in Lake County feels that the arrested will return to court for further proceedings, the arrested could be released under a conditional release without needing to pay bail money. This is called Released on Own Recognizance, or ROR.
Conditions for ROR might be to obey all court orders and laws, maintain contact with the lawyer, report changes in residence or have no contact with the victim. Family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court.
If the judge or bail schedule determines that the defendant would be a danger to the public if they were released, bail can be denied, and the person will be detained in the Lake County Detention Center until the case is resolved or goes to trial.
Bail can be denied if the defendant did not comply with bail conditions from a previous arrest. Bail is usually denied in cases of violent offenses.
What is the difference between Bail and Bond?
Bail and bond are used interchangeably to mean the same thing but technically, they are different.
The bail is the amount to be paid and a bond is a signed document promising payment of the bail amount with certain conditions.
Think of a bond as a loan to pay for the bail.
The bond payment is always written to the court in your municipality, Lake County or district directly and does not go through the defendant. Chances of obtaining a bond from a bond company or clerk of court are better if family is involved.
The thought of being in jail can cause the arrested to panic and try to secure a bond immediately.
DO NOT panic and take the time to understand all the options.
More courts are now trying to work with defendants to make bail work and might provide non-monetary options or even reduce the bail.
Payments to a bond company are not refundable. It is a long process to get back property title or money that was given to the clerk of court or bondsperson to secure the bond. This could put your loved ones into a difficult financial situation.
Another reason not to unnecessarily rush into securing a bond is that if the court notes that you came up with the money to pay a bond company, they may assume you have resources to pay a defense attorney and decline public defense.
On the other hand, as anyone who has ever been involved in their criminal defense understands, fighting your case while ‘out on the streets’ gives you a much better chance of either winning, or getting a more favorable sentence.
What are the different types of bonds in Lake County?
Based on a review of information from the arrest, the judge or bail officer will determine and notify the accused of which types of bonds are available to them.
To describe the types of bonds, let’s use an example of buying your neighbor’s car. Your neighbor decides the price of the car and how they would be paid. Similarly, the court (meaning a police or bail officer, clerk of court, bail magistrate or judge) determines the bail amount and how it would be paid. Here are different options that the seller of the car or the court might consider:
You could pay full asking price for the car in cash. This is similar to paying cash bail. The full amount of bail would be paid to the town or county clerk or at the jail. Cash, cashier’s checks and credit cards are usually accepted. A Florida bondsperson will not write a bond for under $250.
Surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
You can put a deposit down for your neighbor’s car and sign an agreement that the car will be paid off at a later date. Cash percentage in lieu of bonds is when the defendant pays a percentage of the bail amount, usually 10%, to the court which then holds the money until the case is over.
The amount is returned to the person who paid the 10% after the case is over. In most cases, the full amount is not returned if there are court fees or fines due. This is a type of surety bond if another person signs the bond paperwork.
You could sign an agreement that if the car were not paid off, that your neighbor would get your house or something of value.
A property bond is a bond that the courts might consider in which the bond is pledged in land or home real estate (mobile homes are not accepted).
Usually, the property must be in the same state as the courts, and it must be worth at least 1 ½ - 2 times the amount of the bond.
There are multiple court fees involved to execute a property bond with the courts and a tedious process to get the property deed back. This is another type of surety bond if another person or a bond company is used to secure the bond.
You could also go to a local bank and take out a car loan offering property or anything of value for collateral. You may get someone to co-sign on the loan and offer their property. The bank charges fees, interest and could keep your property if you did not pay the loan back, or even on time.
A professional bondsperson makes money, at least 10% of the bond amount by providing you with a “loan” called a bond. The percent that they charge is fixed by the state and cannot be negotiated. The defendant or surety does not get that 10% or more back even if the terms of the bail are met.
With a property bond, the property deed would need to be signed over to the bondsperson and everyone on the deed would need to be involved.
A bondsperson might consider a transfer bond that is transferable across state lines but generally a bond company will only assume the loan to adjoining states. For a Florida resident arrested in another state, bond companies will do transfer bonds but the person putting up the security has to be a Florida resident.
Since the bondsperson signed off, to be responsible that you show to court as your surety and ultimately, they can send a bounty hunter to bring you to court if you flee. A bondsperson does not have to give you a bond if the defendant seems to be too much of a risk.
Ask the bondsperson to explain all the costs: percentage, fees or court fees. There is never a reason to rush through signing the paperwork with a bond company. Make sure that everything told to you is in writing and that you understand what you are signing. Ask questions, and if you feel rushed or don’t understand the contract with the bond company, you might want to call another one.
(There have been phone scams where a bond company calls and informs a person that their family member has been arrested and they ask for financial information. A bondsperson will not call asking for money without involvement of the arrested.)
Does Lake County have bail?
Yes, Lake County has bail and recognizes most types of bonds.
As of January 1, 2024, Florida moved to a statewide uniform bond schedule.
Under most circumstances your bond amount is set during the booking process, and you are eligible to bond out prior to going to court. Prior to January 1, 2024, each county set their own bond schedule. For more serious crimes, bond will be set at the first appearance.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Lake County?
Florida offers bail in the form of cash bail or surety bond and bonds from a professional bondsperson.
Who can set bail in Lake County?
Under most circumstances your bond amount is set during the booking process by a judge, and you are eligible to bond out prior to going to court. Prior to January 1, 2024, each county set their own bond schedule.
For more serious crimes, bond will be set at the first appearance. Bail is set by a judge in accordance with a precalculated schedule based on the seriousness of the offense.
When is bail set in Florida?
In most cases bail is set immediately after arrest, based on the precalculated schedule. If a defendant is not eligible for immediate release bail may be set by a judge at the initial court hearing, or arraignment.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Lake County Florida?
Yes, if there are extenuating circumstances, let the judge know at your initial appearance. Your attorney can also request a bond reduction.
In Lake County, who can pay bail for me?
Monetary bail may be posted by any friend or relative. Surety bonds are only accepted from registered bail bond agent. Bail may be posted at the county jail where the defendant has been charged. Please contact Lake County Detention Center at 352-742-4054 for information related to types of payment accepted, hours of operation, and location.
The person posting bail should be a relative or close friend, called a surety, because they are promising and taking responsibility that you will return to court to get their money back.
A surety is not responsible for court fees or paying off personal debts for the defendant. A professional bondsperson who is approved by the State of Florida could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Lake County Florida?
Some counties do accept online payment. Other only accept cash, money orders, or cashier’s checks. Contact the Lake County Detention Center at 352-742-4054 for more information regarding accepted forms of payment.
What options are there to pay bail in Lake County Florida?
Cash or surety bond. Surety bonds are only accepted from registered bail bond agents. Bail may be posted at the county jail where the defendant is charged. Please contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted: Go to the Lake County Detention Center for more information about posting bail in Lake County.
Will I get all my bond money back in Florida?
Money is returned to the person who paid the bail; in whole or in part once the case is finished. There may be fees, restitution (money to pay for damage caused by the crime) or fines that come out of that amount. If you used a bondsperson, you would not get your 10% back. Property is returned by the court or bondsperson after the appropriate requests and formal paperwork are completed with the court.
Can I get bail or a bond with no money down in Lake County?
The judge or officer who sets bail determines which kind of bond will be an option however personal recognizance bonds are not offered in Florida, leaving few options for no money up front.
What are the least expensive and affordable bail bonds in Florida?
The Lake County Detention Center or court in this jurisdiction can provide you with a list of approved and licensed bond companies, but they cannot recommend a specific company. You are not obligated to use the first company available and can call several companies to compare what kind of bonds that the bondsperson is willing to execute.
The percentage of bail that the bond company can charge is set, usually at 10%, by the state and cannot be negotiated.
Paying an Inmate's Bond without Going through a Bail Bond Agency
- Bring cash, cashier's/certified check or money order for the full amount of the bond to the lobby of the Lake County Detention Center.
- Checks or money orders must be made out to the 'Clerk of Courts' for local charges and made out to the 'Lake County Sheriff' for all out of county charges.
- Call 352-742-4024 to verify you have the correct amount and if bringing a check or money order, to whom it should be made to.
- If an inmate has enough money in their commissary account, they can post bond themselves.