Probate is the legal process through which a deceased person’s assets are distributed to the heirs or beneficiaries, per the wishes of the deceased as stated in The Last Will and Testament, or if there is no will, according to Florida Law. The Court oversees the estate to ensure that all debts are paid and assets are properly distributed. Probate is needed when a court order is required to transfer ownership of the deceased’s properties or to distribute the assets of the estate. Probate is not needed if all assets were jointly held and one of the joint holders is the survivor.
Probate matters include:
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Wills (not filed until the death of the party)
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Estates (when there are assets to be distributed)
Forms & Documents
Fee Schedule
Please be informed that fee increases are added during the Legislative Session.
The Clerk’s Office will accept only Cash, Credit/Debit Cards (Discover, MasterCard, Visa & American Express), Money Orders, or Cashier’s Checks for payment of all monetary business transactions.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Caveat/Notice of Trust | $41.00 |
| Petition and order to admit foreign wills, authenticated copies, exemplified copies, or transcripts to record | $231.00 |
| Disposition of personal property without administration | $231.00 |
| Summary Administration Less Than $1,000 | $235.00 |
| Summary Administration $1,000 or more | $345.00 |
| Formal Administration, guardianship, ancillary, curatorship, or conservatorship proceedings | $400.00 |
| Guardianship proceedings of person only | $235.00 |
| Veterans Administration Guardianship | $235.00 |
| Petition for determination of incapacity | $231.00 |
| Exemplified certificates | $7.00 |
| Case Re-Open | $50.00 |
| For the opening of any estate of one document or more, including but not limited to, petitions & orders to approve settlement of minor’s claims; to open safe deposit box; to enter rooms and places; for the determination of heirs, if not formal administration;and for foreign guardian to manage property of a nonresident, but not including issuance of letters or order of summary and family administration. | $231.00 |
| Guardianship Audit Fee, Initial Inventory, above $25,000 | $85.00 |
| Guardianship Audit Fee, Annual Financial Return For Estates $25,000 or Less | $20.00 |
| Guardianship Audit Fee, Annual Financial Return For Estates $25,000 to $100,000 | $85.00 |
| Guardianship Audit Fee, Annual Financial Return For Estates $100,000 to $500,000 | $170.00 |
| Guardianship Audit Fee, Annual Financial Return For Estates more than $500,000 | $250.00 |