Who must respond to this foreclosure notice?

The named defendants—here the unknown heirs of Richard Santos, III—must serve written defenses and file the original with the clerk within 30 days of first publication.

What happens if I ignore the 30-day deadline?

A default judgment can be entered against you, allowing the bank to pursue foreclosure and sale of the property.

Where do I file my written defenses?

Serve a copy to Van Ness Law Firm, PLC at 1239 E. Newport Center Drive, Suite 110, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442 and file the original with the Lake County Clerk of Court.

Who can I contact for disability accommodations?

Contact Lake County ADA Coordinator Nichole Berg at (352) 253-1604 at least seven days before a scheduled appearance.

Foreclosure — 7564 Alysha Ave, The Villages, FL (35-2026-CA-000400-AXXX-01)

Official courthouse record · Indexed in NoticeRegistry archive · AI-enriched for research

LenderSingle Family

Affects:HeirsProperty BuyersCreditors

Citizens First Bank filed a mortgage foreclosure against the estate of Richard Santos, III for property at 7564 Alysha Ave, The Villages. Unknown heirs must respond within 30 days of the first publication to avoid a default judgment and loss of the property.

Key Takeaways

Foreclosure filed by Citizens First Bank on 7564 Alysha Ave
Defendants listed as Unknown Heirs of Richard Santos, III
Must serve written defenses within 30 days of first publication
File original with Lake County Clerk to avoid default judgment
ADA accommodations available; contact Lake County ADA Coordinator

Published: May 12, 2026 · 1 week ago
Category: Foreclosure
City

Leesburg

Address

7564 Alysha Ave, The Villages, FL · 3 filings

Case #

35-2026-CA-000400-AXXX-01

Research context

3 filings at this address 200 foreclosure notices in Leesburg (last 12 months)

View full case dossier

All filings for #35-2026-CA-000400-AXXX-01 with AI case analysis

If you don't respond

If no written defenses are served and the original is not filed within 30 days of first publication, a default judgment may be entered and the plaintiff can obtain foreclosure relief against the property.

What to do next

1
Prepare and serve written defenses
Within 30 days of first publication, serve written defenses to J. Anthony Van Ness, Esq., Van Ness Law Firm, PLC, 1239 E. Newport Center Drive, Suite 110, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442.
2
File original with Clerk
File the original defense with the Lake County Clerk of Court before or immediately after serving the plaintiff's attorney to avoid default.
3
Contact ADA coordinator if needed
If you need accommodations, call Nichole Berg at (352) 253-1604 at least 7 days before your court appearance.

Frequently asked questions

Who must respond to this foreclosure notice?: The named defendants—here the unknown heirs of Richard Santos, III—must serve written defenses and file the original with the clerk within 30 days of first publication.
What happens if I ignore the 30-day deadline?: A default judgment can be entered against you, allowing the bank to pursue foreclosure and sale of the property.
Where do I file my written defenses?: Serve a copy to Van Ness Law Firm, PLC at 1239 E. Newport Center Drive, Suite 110, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442 and file the original with the Lake County Clerk of Court.
Who can I contact for disability accommodations?: Contact Lake County ADA Coordinator Nichole Berg at (352) 253-1604 at least seven days before a scheduled appearance.

The suggestions and answers above are AI-generated for general information only. They can be wrong, and we don't take responsibility for their accuracy. Talk to a qualified professional before acting on them.

Legal terms in this notice

Foreclosure of Mortgage: A legal process where a lender seeks to sell property to recover an unpaid loan secured by that property.
Default: A court ruling against a party who fails to respond or appear, allowing the other side to win automatically.
Plaintiff: The party (here, the bank) that initiates a lawsuit seeking relief from the court.
Complaint: The initial court document that explains the plaintiff's claims and requested relief.

Full Notice Text

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA
CASE NO.
35-2026-CA-000400-AXXX-01

CITIZENS FIRST BANK A DIVISION OF SEACOAST NATIONAL BANK,
Plaintiff,
vs.
RICHARD SANTOS, III, ET AL.
Defendants

NOTICE OF ACTION

To the following Defendant(s):
UNKNOWN HEIRS OF RICHARD SANTOS, III
(CURRENT RESIDENCE UNKNOWN)
Last Known Address: UNKNOWN

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that an action for Foreclosure of Mortgage on the following described property:

LOT 32, VILLAGES OF WEST LAKE UNIT NO. 79, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 81, PAGE 10 AND 11, PUBLIC RECORDS OF LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA.

A/K/A 7564 ALYSHA AVE, THE VILLAGES FL 34762

has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to J. Anthony Van Ness, Esq. at VAN NESS LAW FIRM, PLC, Attorney for the Plaintiff, whose address is 1239 E. NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE, SUITE #110, DEERFIELD BEACH, FL 33442 on or before or within 30 days of first publication date and file the original with the Clerk of this Court either before service on Plaintiff's attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint. This notice is provided to Administrative Order No. 2065.

If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact the ADA Coordinator for Lake County, Nichole Berg, at (352) 253-1604, at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711.

WITNESS my hand and the seal of this Court this 29 day of April, 2026.

Gary J. Cooney, Esq.
LAKE COUNTY CLERK OF COURT

By D. Latourelle
As Deputy Clerk
5/5, 5/12/2026