In Brooksville, the Brewer & Sons Brooksville Chapel arranges burial and cremation, and its prearrangement staff plan services in advance. The chapel has a viewing room, a bistro café style coffee room and a spacious reception room where a meal can be catered. The firm was established in Brooksville in 1965.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Hernando County, Florida
How probate works in Hernando County: the Clerk of Circuit Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Hernando County Clerk of Circuit Court
Hernando County · 5th Judicial Circuit
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
20 North Main Street, Room 165, Brooksville, FL 34601
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
AllowedA Small Estate Letter (Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration) may be filed without an attorney when the assets sought total no more than $5,000 and include no real property; the Clerk processes the forms, verifies the assets and prepares the order. Guardianship matters require an attorney under Florida Probate Rule 5.030.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCredit card, Debit card.Credit and debit card payments carry an additional 3.5% service charge.
County forms
- Small Estate LetterDisposition of Personal Property Without Administration for estates under $5,000 with no real property
- Delivery of WillForm accompanying deposit of an original will with the Clerk
- Statement of Claim - ProbateCreditor statement of claim in a probate estate
- Summary Administration (Intestate) Checklist and CertificationThe attorney's checklist of required filings for an intestate summary administration
Departments
- Probate / Guardianship1-352-540-6366 · 20 North Main Street, Room 165
- Spring Hill Branch1-352-754-4201 · 7405 Forest Oaks Boulevard, Spring Hill, FL 34606 · Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Hernando 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 Hernando County, probate runs through the Clerk of Circuit Court at 20 North Main Street, Room 165, Brooksville. The court sits in the 5th Judicial Circuit. Hernando County shares the 5th Judicial Circuit with Citrus, Lake, Marion and Sumter.
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 Hernando County
What probate costs in Hernando 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 20 North Main Street, Room 165, Brooksville. The court is part of the 5th 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 Hernando County, Florida are filed at the Clerk of Circuit Court. The court sits in the 5th Judicial Circuit.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Probate / Guardianship and Spring Hill Branch.
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 Hernando County Self-Filing Assessment.
Hernando 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
Small Estate Letter (Disposition of Personal Property) document checklist
For estates under $5,000 with no real property: decedent must have been a Hernando County resident; requires death certificates, the last bank statement showing recipient details, a paid funeral bill, valid ID, and the filing fee.
SourceAttorneys file the Clerk's checklist and certification with each probate step
The Clerk publishes a checklist and certification for each type of administration, homestead, sale of real property, distribution, attorney fees and discharge. The attorney of record lists the docket index number of each required filing on the checklist before the proposed order is submitted.
SourceProposed orders go through the e-filing portal in Word format
Hernando County accepts proposed orders through the Florida e-filing portal. They are submitted as Word (.docx) files using the Fifth Circuit's Hernando template, and each judge's page lists any added requirements.
SourceDocument Requirements
Original will filed within 10 days; no fee
Wills must be filed within ten days of receiving notice that the testator has passed away, accompanied by a delivery form; there is no filing fee.
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 Hernando County
In Florida a death is registered locally, and in Hernando County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Florida Department of Health in Hernando County, Vital Statistics as well as by Florida Department of Health - Bureau of Vital Statistics.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Registrar
Hernando County · Florida Department of Health in Hernando County, Vital Statistics
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
7551 Forest Oaks Boulevard, Spring Hill, FL 34606
Website
Certified copies
At the counter
Local rule
- The Brooksville office at 300 S Main also issues certificates Monday through Wednesday.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $13 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
District Medical Examiner
Hernando County · District 5 Medical Examiner's Office
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 7:30 AM-4:30 PM
Office
809 Pine Street, Leesburg, FL 34748
Website
Serves this county
District 5 Medical Examiner's Office (District 5 (Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter Counties))
Mail and offices
Fax
1-352-365-6438
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in Hernando County
7 funeral homes and crematories in Hernando County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
In Brooksville, Merritt Funeral Home has offered funeral and cremation care since 1982 from a building on South Lemon Avenue, and has its own crematory. It works with families to make final arrangements in advance.
In Spring Hill, the Brewer & Sons Seven Hills Chapel on Mariner Blvd. offers funeral, burial and cremation services and also serves Hudson in Pasco County. The location opened in 1992, and its largest room seats over 100 guests.
In Spring Hill, the Brewer & Sons Spring Hill Chapel on Commercial Way (US 19) offers services from direct cremation to traditional funerals with burial. Its chapel fits up to 75 people, and the firm was founded in Hernando County and is still owned by the same family.
In Spring Hill, Merritt Funeral Home – Spring Hill Chapel opened on Mariner Boulevard in 1998 and has its own crematory. It arranges funerals and cremations and works with families to make final arrangements in advance.
In Spring Hill, Pinecrest Funeral Chapel & Cremation Service offers cremation at its own crematory, on its own as direct cremation or paired with a memorial ceremony, as well as traditional services. It serves families from Spring Hill, Weeki Wachee, Brooksville and nearby Hernando County communities, and has added a 1937 Ford automobile and a hospitality room.
Funeral homes by city: Brooksville, Spring Hill
Cremation Services in Hernando County
7 listings
Pre-Need Funeral Plans in Hernando County
6 listings
Burial Services in Hernando County
4 listings
Veterans Funeral Services in Hernando County
3 listings
Spanish-Speaking Funeral Homes in Hernando County
1 listing
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in Hernando 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 Hernando County are recorded with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 20 North Main Street, Room 165, Brooksville, FL 34601. Phone: 1-352-754-4201. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court charges $10 for the first page plus $9 for each additional page.
Hernando County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile, CSC, ePN and Indecomm.
Recording Office Record
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Hernando County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
20 North Main Street, Room 165, Brooksville, FL 34601
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 Hernando County
Florida uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Hernando 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. Hernando 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.
Spring Hill practice serving Hernando County, with a second office in Key West (Monroe County). David A. Buck limits the practice to estate planning and estate administration: formal, summary, and ancillary probate, creditor claims, successor trustee guidance, and trust accountings. Over 30 years of practice.
Spring Hill firm serving Hernando and Pasco counties, founded in 1987 by David R. Carter. The firm handles estate planning and probate alongside real estate, family law, personal injury, and business matters, including lady bird deeds that keep Florida property out of probate. Two are board certified by The Florida Bar in real estate law.
New Port Richey firm on Main Street providing probate and trust services across Pasco, Hernando, and the Tampa Bay area for more than 40 years. Handles formal, summary, and ancillary administration and trust administration, alongside wills and trusts, advance care directives, and deeds. Stephen and Sallie D. Skipper are the firm's attorneys.
Spring Hill husband-and-wife practice serving Hernando County since 2000. David and Sandra Day handle wills, estate planning, and probate administration alongside Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and report over five decades of combined legal experience.
Family-run Ocala firm with offices in Beverly Hills and The Villages, representing clients throughout Marion, Sumter, Citrus, and Lake counties. Handles estate administration and probate, estate planning, real estate, and business matters, with an affiliated title company for closings.
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.
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)
- Hernando County Clerk of Circuit Court, official page
- Hernando County Clerk of the Circuit Court, official page
- Hernando 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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