In Alachua, Phillip & Sons The Funeral Directors, Inc. - West at Alachua serves families in Alachua, Putnam and seven other counties, with a sister location in Melrose. It offers green burial, naming Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery near Gainesville, and remote consultations for pre-arrangement.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Alachua County, Florida
How probate works in Alachua County: the Clerk of Circuit Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Alachua County Clerk of Circuit Court
Alachua County · 8th Judicial Circuit
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:15 AM-5:00 PM
Office
201 East University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
Required for attorneysE-filing mandatory for attorneys since April 1, 2013. Optional for self-represented parties. Statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal for all circuit courts.
Self-represented filing
AllowedSelf-represented parties may file summary administration and disposition of personal property without administration. The Clerk states that formal administration must be filed by an attorney licensed in Florida unless the personal representative is the sole beneficiary; the 8th Circuit cites Fla. Prob. R. 5.030(a). The 8th Circuit Self-Help Center has commonly used probate forms available for pickup; a downloadable probate packet is at circuit8.org/wp-content/uploads/Probate-Packet.pdf.
Self-help center
- Self-Help Center, 4th floor, Room 413, Alachua County Family and Civil Justice Center1-352-264-6991 · probate@circuit8.org · Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PMThe 8th Judicial Circuit's Self-Help Center. The Probate Case Manager holds regular office hours there; email preferred to schedule an appointment (include full case number in subject line).
County forms
- Questions to Determine if Estate Qualifies for DispositionQualification review for disposition of personal property without administration
- Instructions for Petitioners Filing a Petition for Disposition of Personal Property without AdministrationFiling instructions and required attachments for disposition without administration
- Petition for Disposition of Personal Property without AdministrationPetition to release assets to the person who paid final expenses
- Disposition of Personal Property ConsentConsent of persons who paid any part of the funeral bill or medical expenses
Fax
1-352-338-3201
Departments
- Probate (Clerk)1-352-374-3682
- Probate Case Manager (8th Judicial Circuit)1-352-264-6991 · probate@circuit8.orgEmail preferred; include the full case number in the subject line.
About the court
- Home to University of Florida.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Alachua County
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Alachua County, probate runs through the Clerk of Circuit Court at 201 East University Avenue, Gainesville. The court sits in the 8th Judicial Circuit. Alachua County shares the 8th Judicial Circuit with Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy and Union.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Florida intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Florida estates take 9 months to 12 months to move through this process. 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 a claim, counted from the first publication of the notice to creditors.
What Probate Costs in Alachua County
What probate costs in Alachua County, Florida comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Clerk of Circuit Court at 201 East University Avenue, Gainesville. The court is part of the 8th Judicial Circuit.
Florida charges $400Fla. Stat. §§ 28.2401(1)(g), (3); 44.108(1)Verified Oct 17, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Florida are based on reasonable compensation — usually hourly billing or a flat fee for the engagement.
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. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Florida requires publishing notice to creditors in a local newspaper, and the estate pays for it.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Industry surety premium estimate; the bond itself under Fla. Stat. § 733.402Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in Florida typically runs 9 months to 12 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the Clerk of Circuit Court
Probate cases in Alachua County, Florida are filed at the Clerk of Circuit Court. The court sits in the 8th Judicial Circuit.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Probate (Clerk) and Probate Case Manager (8th Judicial Circuit).
The 8th Judicial Circuit's Self-Help Center. The Probate Case Manager holds regular office hours there; email preferred to schedule an appointment (include full case number in subject line).
Can You File Without an Attorney?
Florida has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not available.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Alachua County Self-Filing Assessment.
Alachua County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
8th Circuit provides probate filing checklists
The 8th Judicial Circuit provides checklists for standard probate filings, same checklists used by the Court in its review.
SourcePro se motions and original wills are delivered to the Clerk, not the Court
Self-represented parties deliver motions and supporting documents to the Clerk's office. Original wills and other original documents are deposited with the Clerk in the county where the probate is filed; proposed orders go to the Probate Case Manager in Word format.
SourceDocument Requirements
Disposition without administration attachments
The Clerk's instructions require a certified copy of the death certificate with the cause of death removed, the funeral and medical bills with proof of who paid them, documentation of each asset and its value, and the original will if there is one. A case for a decedent who did not reside in Alachua County is transferred to the county of residence.
SourceCourt Appearances
Hearings are requested by email; filing a petition does not place it before the Court
The Court is not notified of new filings. Hearing requests go by email with the county name, full case number, style of the case, motions to be heard, parties involved and time requested, after all required documents are filed and notice is effected or waived.
SourceService Requirements
Probate inquiries via email preferred
All probate inquiries should be directed to the Probate Case Manager: probate@circuit8.org (include full case number in subject line) or (352) 264-6991.
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Clerk of Circuit Court: Verified Petition for Administration drafted to Fla. Prob. R. 5.200 (petitioner interest, decedent data, beneficiaries, venue, § 733.301 priority, will statement, asset value); Original of the decedent's last will and any codicils (deposited with the court within 10 days of knowledge of death, Fla. Stat. § 732.901), in a testate estateFla. Stat. §§ 733.101-733.402 (venue, petition, appointment, letters, bond); Fla. Prob. R. 5.200 (petition), 5.235 (issuance of letters, bond), 5.030 (attorney required)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Death Certificates and the Medical Examiner in Alachua County
In Florida a death is registered locally, and in Alachua County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Florida Department of Health in Alachua County as well as by Florida Department of Health - Bureau of Vital Statistics.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Registrar
Alachua County · Florida Department of Health in Alachua County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
224 Southeast 24th Street, Gainesville, FL 32641
Website
Certified copies
At the counter
P.O. Box 5849
Gainesville, FL 32627
Local rule
- A legible copy of a valid driver license, passport, state-issued ID or military identification card accompanies every request.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $10 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
District Medical Examiner
Alachua County · Office of the Medical Examiner, District 8
Phone
Office
3217 Southwest 47th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32608
Website
Serves this county
Office of the Medical Examiner, District 8 (District 8 (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy and Union Counties))
Mail and offices
Fax
1-352-384-3365
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in Alachua County
13 funeral homes and crematories in Alachua County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
In Gainesville, A Direct Cremations arranges direct cremation and performs the cremation on its own property. It serves North Florida counties and completes arrangements by phone and email, and states it has been family-owned and operated since 1993.
In Gainesville, A.M. White Mortuary is a funeral home that describes itself as family owned and operated. Its site lists funeral, cremation, burial and veterans services, with a planning section for arranging a funeral in advance.
In Gainesville, Chestnut Funeral Home has served families since 1914 and arranges funeral and memorial services for Gainesville, Alachua County and North Central Florida. It is a family-owned and Black-owned funeral home, with a chapel that seats over 40 attendees.
In Gainesville, Crevasse's Simple Cremation provides direct cremation from its office on NW 27th Lane, one of four it runs in Florida. Its own trained staff perform each cremation at the firm's own crematory, and the firm was founded in 2013.
In Gainesville, D. Williams Life Tribute Funeral Services is a locally owned, African American, woman-led funeral home offering burial and cremation services. It serves Levy, Gilchrist, Dixie, Alachua, Marion and Bradford counties.
Funeral homes by city: Alachua, Gainesville, Hawthorne, High Springs, Newberry
Cremation Services in Alachua County
10 listings
Pre-Need Funeral Plans in Alachua County
5 listings
Burial Services in Alachua County
5 listings
Veterans Funeral Services in Alachua County
5 listings
Funeral Transport in Alachua County
4 listings
Green Burial in Alachua County
4 listings
Water Cremation in Alachua County
2 listings
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in Alachua County
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Deeds and other real property documents for Alachua County are recorded with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 201 East University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601. Phone: 1-352-374-3636. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:15 AM-5:00 PM.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court charges $10 for the first page plus $9 for each additional page.
Alachua County accepts electronic recording through CSC, e-Docs Solutions, ePN, Hopdox, Simplifile, eRecording USA and RecordNation.
Recording Office Record
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Alachua County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:15 AM-5:00 PM
Office
201 East University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601
Website
Fees
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $10 |
| Each additional page | $8.5 |
Fla. Stat. 28.24(13), (13)(c), (13)(d), (13)(e); Fla. Stat. 201.02(1)(a)
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Probate Attorneys Serving Alachua County
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Legal Sources
(8)·
- Fla. Stat. § 733.617
- Fla. Stat. §§ 28.2401(1)(g), (3); 44.108(1)
- Fla. Stat. §§ 733.101-733.402 (venue, petition, appointment, letters, bond); Fla. Prob. R. 5.200 (petition), 5.235 (issuance of letters, bond), 5.030 (attorney required)
- Fla. 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, 733.710
- Fla. Stat. 28.24(13), (13)(c), (13)(d), (13)(e); Fla. Stat. 201.02(1)(a)
- Alachua County Clerk of Circuit Court, official page
- Alachua County Clerk of the Circuit Court, official page
- Alachua County vital records and death investigation offices, official page
Data sourced from Florida statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Tools for Settling an Estate in Florida
Free tools for settling an estate in Florida: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool for Florida.
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.
See the Steps
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in Florida happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeFla. Stat. § 736.0101 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 60 daysFla. Stat. §§ 736.0813, 736.1008, 736.10081Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
See the Steps
Can I Self-File Probate?
Florida has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not available.
Get the Answer
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