Florida uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Alachua County — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.
Florida uses a presumed-reasonable fee schedule for probate attorneys — the percentages are a starting point that can be negotiated, especially for simple estates. Alachua County firms typically follow the schedule for routine work and negotiate on complex matters.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Clerk of Circuit Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Solo PracticeGainesville, FL
Since 1927 · Serves 11 counties
Gainesville firm founded in 1927 by E.G. Baxter and E.A. Clayton, one of the oldest continuously operated law firms in Florida. Handles estate administration, probate, trust administration, and asset-protection and charitable trusts for families across eleven north-central Florida counties, from Alachua and Marion to Lafayette, Dixie, and Putnam.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationTax PlanningGuardianshipand 3 more
- Office
- 18 NW 33rd CourtGainesville, FL 32607
FirmGainesville, FL
Serves 6 counties
Gainesville practice serving Alachua, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy, Union, and Marion counties, and handling probate matters in Gainesville, Ocala, and Orlando. Works directly with the personal representative on creditor notice, asset collection, and distribution, alongside trust administration and wealth-preservation planning. The office does not handle Medicaid planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationAsset ProtectionProbate Administration
- Office
- 5618 NW 43rd Street, Suite AGainesville, FL 32653
FirmGainesville, FL
Since 1974 · Serves 12 counties
Gainesville firm serving Alachua County and north-central Florida since 1974. Handles probate and estate administration, trust administration, wills and trusts, Medicaid planning, and elder and minor guardianships. Richard Knellinger was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1974 and holds Martindale-Hubbell's AV Peer Review Rating.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawGuardianshipand 2 more
- Office
- 2815 NW 13th Street, Suite 305Gainesville, FL 32609
FirmGainesville, FL
Serves 8 counties
Gainesville elder law firm serving Alachua, Marion, Columbia, and neighboring north-central Florida counties. Handles probate and trust administration, guardianships, trust and estate litigation, elder financial exploitation recovery, Medicaid planning, and special needs planning. Shannon M. Miller has been board certified by The Florida Bar in Elder Law since 2011.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationTrust LitigationElder Lawand 4 more
- Office
- 806 NW 16th Avenue, Suite BGainesville, FL 32601
A probate litigation attorney firm in Gainesville serving most of Florida (excluding Broward and Miami-Dade counties). Guides families through Florida's probate process with exclusive focus on estates and trusts. McCabe G. Harrison has an L.L.M. in taxation and expertise in financial and tax aspects.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationAsset ProtectionProbate Administration
- Office
- 7015 SW 24th AveGainesville, FL 32607
FirmGainesville, FL
Since 2014 · Serves the whole state
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationTrust LitigationProbate Administration
- Office
- 201 SE 2nd Ave, Suite 210Gainesville, FL 32601
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
