What to Do When Someone Dies in Hillsborough County, Florida

How probate works in Hillsborough County: the Clerk of Circuit Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.

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

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.

Filing in person

Walk-ins acceptedProbate customer service is in person at the downtown Tampa, Plant City and Brandon locations. Appointments can be booked online for the Tampa location, and the clerk's ClerkExpress line lets a visitor get in line remotely at all three.

Self-represented filing

AllowedDisposition of Personal Property Without Administration may be filed without an attorney; the clerk processes the forms, verifies the decedent's assets and prepares the order allowing distribution. Most probate cases and all guardianship matters require an attorney under Florida Probate Rule 5.030. The clerk's forms page carries the probate forms it provides.

Verified October 15, 2026 · Source

How Probate Works in Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough County, probate runs through the Clerk of Circuit Court at 800 East Twiggs Street, Tampa. The court sits in the 13th Judicial Circuit.

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 Hillsborough County

What probate costs in Hillsborough 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 800 East Twiggs Street, Tampa. The court is part of the 13th 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 Hillsborough County, Florida are filed at the Clerk of Circuit Court. The court sits in the 13th Judicial Circuit.

Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Probate/Guardianship Division, Plant City Courthouse, and Brandon Regional Service Center.

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 Hillsborough County Self-Filing Assessment.

Hillsborough 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

Original wills mailed or delivered within 10 days of death

The custodian deposits the original will with the clerk within 10 days after receiving information of the death. Wills may be delivered in person or mailed to the Probate Department's mailing address; the court requires the original.

Source

Probate customer service at three locations

Probate, guardianship and trust customer service is offered at the George Edgecomb Courthouse (800 E. Twiggs Street, downtown Tampa), the Plant City Courthouse (301 N. Michigan Ave.) and the Brandon Regional Service Center (311 Pauls Drive).

Source

Document Requirements

Acknowledgment of Venue form required with any will filing

An Acknowledgment of Venue form must accompany any will filed. The person filing the will must provide the decedent's date of death or Social Security number; there is no fee to deposit a will.

Source

What 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 Hillsborough County

In Florida a death is registered locally, and in Hillsborough County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County, University Area Vital Statistics as well as by Florida Department of Health - Bureau of Vital Statistics.

Vital Records Office Record

Local Registrar

Hillsborough County · Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County, University Area Vital Statistics

Hours

Monday-Friday 7:30 AM-4:15 PM

Office

13601 North 22nd Street, Tampa, FL 33613-4427

Certified copies

At the counter

Mail

Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County Attn: Vital Statistics P.O. Box 5135 Tampa, FL 33675-5135

Verified November 1, 2026 · Source

Coroner or Medical Examiner Record

District Medical Examiner

Hillsborough County · Hillsborough County Medical Examiner Department

Hours

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

Office

11025 North 46th Street, Tampa, FL 33617-2000

Serves this county

Hillsborough County Medical Examiner Department (District 13)

Release of remains

1-813-914-4567 · Investigations · Daily 8:00 AM-5:00 PM

Cremation authorization

Signed by this office

Mail and offices

Fax

1-813-914-4594

Verified November 1, 2026 · Source

Transferring Property in Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough County are recorded with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 419 Pierce Street, Tampa, FL 33602. Phone: 1-813-276-8100.

The Clerk of the Circuit Court charges $10 for the first page plus $9 for each additional page.

Hillsborough County accepts electronic recording through CSC, e-Docs Solutions, ePN, Indecomm, RecordNation, Simplifile, eRecording USA, Hopdox and Swift-E Recording Services.

Recording Office Record

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 Hillsborough County

Florida uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Hillsborough 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. Hillsborough 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.

FirmBradenton, FL

Barnes Walker, Goethe, Shea & Robinson, PLLC

Since 1995 · Serves 4 counties

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.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationGuardianship

Office
3119 Manatee Avenue WestBradenton, FL 34205

Solo PracticeLargo, FL

De Paz Law

Serves 3 counties

Largo practice serving Pinellas County and the Tampa Bay area, with a second office in downtown St. Petersburg. Daniel De Paz handles probate and trust administration, estate planning, elder law and VA benefits planning, special needs trusts, and unclaimed property recovery. Bilingual English and Spanish.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 2 more

Office
12651 Walsingham Road, Suite BLargo, FL 33774
Free consultation

FirmSaint Petersburg, FL

Foster & Foster Attorneys, PA

Since 1962 · Serves 2 counties

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.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 3 more

Office
2111 Dr M.L.K. Jr St NSaint Petersburg, FL 33704
Free consultation

FirmTampa, FL

Fuentes & Kreischer, P.A.

Since 1977 · Serves 1 county

Tampa firm on West Busch Boulevard serving Hillsborough County executors, heirs, trustees, and creditors. Handles estate and probate administration, estate settlements, will disputes, contested trusts, and probate litigation, alongside wills, revocable living trusts, and powers of attorney. Established in 1977.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTrust LitigationWills Trusts

Office
1407 W Busch BlvdTampa, FL 33612

Solo PracticeTampa, FL

Joshua T. Keleske, P.L.

Serves 1 county

Tampa estate and trust practice serving Hillsborough County and the wider Tampa Bay area. Concentrates on estate planning, probate administration, and trust administration. Joshua T. Keleske is board certified by The Florida Bar in Wills, Trusts and Estates and is a certified circuit civil mediator.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateBusiness Planning

Office
3333 W. Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 104Tampa, FL 33609

Solo PracticeTampa, FL

Law Office of Elaine McGinnis, P.A.

Serves 1 county

Tampa estate planning and probate attorney serving Hillsborough County from an office on North Dale Mabry Highway. Prepares wills, revocable living trusts, durable powers of attorney, life-estate deeds, and special-needs plans, and handles summary and formal probate administration, trust administration, and guardianships. Elaine McGinnis was admitted to The Florida Bar in 2004.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateGuardianshipWills Trusts

Office
324 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Suite 100Tampa, FL 33609
Free consultation
See all 31 firms serving Hillsborough County →

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.

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Legal Sources

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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.

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