Probate in Hillsborough County

Probate Court Record

Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Court

Hillsborough County · 13th Judicial Circuit

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM

Office

800 East Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602

Filing in person

Walk-ins accepted

Self-represented filing

Allowed

Self-help forms

How to file probate in Hillsborough County →

Verified October 15, 2026 · Source

Do I need a lawyer for probate in Hillsborough County? →Settling an estate in Hillsborough County →

Probate Litigation Firms Serving Hillsborough County

Bradenton firm serving Manatee and Sarasota counties from five offices, including Lakewood Ranch, Parrish, Anna Maria Island, and downtown Sarasota. Handles formal and summary probate administration, creditor claims, trust administration and accountings, will contests and fiduciary disputes, and guardianship proceedings. Established 1995.

Since 1995Serves 4 countiesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationGuardianship

St. Petersburg firm serving Pinellas and Hillsborough County families from Clearwater to Tampa and Sun City. Represents personal representatives and trustees through probate and trust administration and probate and trust litigation, plus wills, trusts, guardianships, and elder law. David Foster began the practice here in 1962; his son Bill Foster was mayor of St. Petersburg from 2010 to 2013.

Since 1962Serves 2 countiesFree consultationEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+2

Arcadia solo practice and one of the few probate firms based in Florida's inland Heartland, serving DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Charlotte, Sarasota, Lee, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. Paul Seusy handles probate and probate litigation alongside elder law, real estate litigation and family matters, and states plainly that he is not certified by Florida as a specialist.

Solo PracticeServes 8 countiesProbateProbate LitigationElder LawFamily LawReal Estate Litigation

Sarasota practice founded in 2011, with a second office in Lakewood Ranch, serving Sarasota and Manatee counties. Handles probate, trust administration and settlement after death, estate and gift tax planning, and probate and trust disputes including arbitration and mediation. David M. Silberstein has been Florida Bar board certified in both Tax Law and Wills, Trusts and Estates since 1998.

Solo PracticeSince 2011Serves 2 countiesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+3

Gainesville firm handling probate in every Florida county on a flat fee, with an Ocala office and a fully remote administration process. Founding partner R. Nadine David advised Florida circuit court probate judges as a probate court staff attorney before entering private practice in 2014. Handles formal and summary administration, trust administration, and estate litigation.

Since 2014Serves the whole stateFree consultationVirtual consultationsEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation

Winter Park firm serving Orange County and, in probate matters, the entire state of Florida. Represents estate administrators, executors, trustees, and fiduciaries; handles intestate estates, probate real estate, will contests, and probate litigation; and drafts wills, testamentary trusts, and advance directives. Co-founder John R. Gierach has 43 years of experience and an AV Preeminent rating.

Since 1971Serves the whole stateFree consultationEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTax Planning+2

All 19 Florida probate litigation firms serving Hillsborough County →

Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Florida

Free Florida forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Florida.

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Revocable Living Trust

Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.

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Last Will and Testament

In Florida, a will is signed before 2Fla. Stat. § 732.502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyFla. Stat. § 732.502Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.

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Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Florida

Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Florida: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool for Florida.

How Much Does Probate Cost?

Probate on a $500,000 estate in Florida costs an estimated $30,600Fla. Stat. § 733.6171Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees on a statutory schedule presumed reasonableFla. Stat. § 733.6171Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.

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Who Inherits Without a Will?

Without a will in Florida, a surviving spouse takes the entire estateFla. Stat. § 732.102Verified Oct 21, 2026View source when every child of either spouse is a child of both, and descendants divide what passes to them per stirpesFla. Stat. § 732.104Verified Oct 21, 2026View source.

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What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?

In Florida, creditors have 3 monthsFla. Stat. § 733.702Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from first publication of the creditor notice to present claims; late claims are barred.

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How Do I Settle an Estate?

Settling an estate in Florida: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 60 daysFla. Prob. R. 5.340; Fla. Stat. § 733.604Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 3 monthsFla. Stat. §§ 733.2121, 733.702 (later of 3 months from first publication or 30 days from service on a served creditor), 733.703, 733.705, 733.707, 733.710Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.

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How Much Can an Executor Charge?

Florida sets executor compensation on a statutory schedule that is presumed reasonable — about $15,000 on a $500,000 estate, roughly 3.0%Fla. Stat. § 733.617Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.

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