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Legal Services

Lake County Library System provides countywide law library resources for all residents. Instead of traveling to one location in the center of the county, pro se litigants, attorneys and the public may visit any Lake County Library System library to access legal research resources. Cooper Memorial Library, located at 2525 Oakley Seaver Drive in Clermont, houses a collection of essential legal-related materials.  The library also has one of the former law librarians, Sandra Lara, on staff as a legal reference coordinator. 

The law collection housed at Cooper Memorial Library contains various publications from LexisNexis and Thomson West which cover vast areas of the law. The library also has self help publications for those who choose to represent themselves in legal matters. In addition to all print publications available, Lake County Library System provides Westlaw, an online legal database. Westlaw is an in-house database only accessible at the library.  All reference librarians in the system have been trained to assist with Westlaw.

Attorneys needing to report continuing legal education credits may also contact Sandra Lara for CLE tapes which are available. For help concerning self-help materials, CLE tapes, and/or legal reference in general, call Sandra Lara at (352) 536-2275.

• Cooper Memorial Library
• Self-Help Packets
• Family Law Forms
• Useful Web sites for Legal Research

 

Cooper Memorial Library
Cooper Memorial Library, located at 2525 Oakley Seaver Drive in Clermont, will be the lead library for providing legal research. While print materials have been reduced, a collection of essential legal-related books will be housed at Cooper Memorial Library. The library also has one of the former law librarians, Sandra Lara, on staff as a legal reference coordinator. All reference librarians in the system have been trained to assist with Westlaw. For help concerning self-help forms and legal reference in general, call Sandra Lara at (352) 536-2275.

Self-Help Packets
Self-Help packets previously available at the Lake County Law Library are now available for free download on the Lake County Clerk of Courts' Web site. These packets contain valuable information for those who wish to represent themselves in legal matters, usually relating to family law. The forms may be printed from any computer with Internet access, including public computers at any County library. When downloaded and printed at a County library, the patron will be charged only for the cost of printing.

Family Law Forms
If one needs only one form, or if a particular form is not available at the Lake County Clerk of Courts’ web site, individual family law forms are available via the Florida State Courts web site.

Other Web Sites Useful in Legal Research

• State Library and Archives of Florida
  The State Library and Archives of Florida contain links to various government agencies and departments. The Web site also contains a very interesting frequently asked questions portion which answers questions from absentee ballots to renter’s rights.
  
  
• Online Sunshine
  Online Sunshine is the official Web site for the Florida Legislature. Online Sunshine will give you information regarding Florida Statutes, Laws of Florida, Florida Senate, and the House of Representative. Online Sunshine will also explain the process of how an idea becomes a law.
  

• Florida Bar Association
  The Florida Bar Association web site contains information on locating a licensed attorney who will conduct a thirty minute consultation for $25.00. The Florida Bar Association also has various consumer pamphlets that range from buying a home to preparing a will.
  
  
• Florida Law Help
  Florida Law Help contains self help information on various issues of law. Florida Law Help will also provide information regarding legal aid provider in your area.
  
  
• My Florida
  My Florida is the official Web site for the State of Florida. My Florida contains information on various government agencies, job vacancies, tourism and much more.
  
  
• My Florida County
  My Florida County allows users to pay traffic fines and/or child support, and order official records. A person may also verify if child support has been paid from this Web site.
  
  
• Municode
  Municipal Code Corporation is a private sector host for City/County ordinances. The Lake County Code of Ordinances can be located from this Web site.