Florida probate guide
Probate process in Florida
Florida probate runs in the Circuit Court's probate division. Filing fees are about $401 for formal administration and $346 for summary administration. Summary administration is available for estates of $75,000 or less (rising to $150,000 for deaths on or after July 1, 2026 per CS/SB 1500), or when the decedent has been dead more than two years. Florida is unusual in NOT recognizing a transfer-on-death deed; the equivalent is the common-law Lady Bird (enhanced life estate) deed.
Florida probate at a glance
- Court
- Circuit Court (Probate Division)
- Typical timeline
- 24–52 weeks
- Filing fee
- $346–$401
- Small-estate threshold
- $75,000
- TOD deed allowed?
- No
- Bond required by default?
- Yes (unless waived)
- Statute
- Fla. Stat. §§ 731-735 (Florida Probate Code)
Source: www.flcourts.gov. Fees and thresholds change — verify with your county court before filing.
How Florida probate works, step by step
- 1File petition for administration in the county where decedent was domiciled
- 2Court issues letters of administration to personal representative
- 3Serve Notice to Creditors; three-month claim period runs
- 4File inventory within 60 days and pay debts, taxes, and family allowance
- 5File final accounting and petition for discharge
Probate by county in Florida
Filing fees, court contacts, and process detail for 67 Florida counties:
- Miami-DadeCounty
- BrowardCounty
- HillsboroughCounty
- PinellasCounty
- AlachuaCounty
- BakerCounty
- BayCounty
- BradfordCounty
- BrevardCounty
- CalhounCounty
- CharlotteCounty
- CitrusCounty
- ClayCounty
- CollierCounty
- ColumbiaCounty
- DeSotoCounty
- DixieCounty
- DuvalCounty
- EscambiaCounty
- FlaglerCounty
- FranklinCounty
- GadsdenCounty
- GilchristCounty
- GladesCounty
- GulfCounty
- HamiltonCounty
- HardeeCounty
- HendryCounty
- HernandoCounty
- HighlandsCounty
- HolmesCounty
- Indian RiverCounty
- JacksonCounty
- JeffersonCounty
- LafayetteCounty
- LakeCounty
- LeeCounty
- LeonCounty
- LevyCounty
- LibertyCounty
- MadisonCounty
- ManateeCounty
- MarionCounty
- MartinCounty
- MonroeCounty
- NassauCounty
- OkaloosaCounty
- OkeechobeeCounty
- OrangeCounty
- OsceolaCounty
- Palm BeachCounty
- PascoCounty
- PolkCounty
- PutnamCounty
- St. JohnsCounty
- St. LucieCounty
- Santa RosaCounty
- SarasotaCounty
- SeminoleCounty
- SumterCounty
- SuwanneeCounty
- TaylorCounty
- UnionCounty
- VolusiaCounty
- WakullaCounty
- WaltonCounty
- WashingtonCounty
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This page is informational and is not legal advice. Probate procedure varies by county and changes over time. Consult a licensed Florida probate attorney for advice specific to your situation.