How probate works in Lake County: the Clerk of Circuit & County Courts record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Lake County · 5th Judicial Circuit
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Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
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 Lake County, probate runs through the Clerk of Circuit & County Courts at 550 West Main Street, 2nd Floor, Tavares. The court sits in the 5th Judicial Circuit. Lake County shares the 5th Judicial Circuit with Citrus, Hernando, 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 Lake 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 & County Courts at 550 West Main Street, 2nd Floor, Tavares. 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.
Probate cases in Lake County, Florida are filed at the Clerk of Circuit & County Courts. The court sits in the 5th Judicial Circuit.
Beside the filing office, the court lists a separate line for Probate, Guardianship & Mental Health.
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 Lake County Self-Filing Assessment.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Proposed probate orders go by mail to the judge's office, original wills and death certificates to the Clerk
A cover letter, a portal-stamped copy of the completed checklist, a portal-stamped copy of the motion or petition and the proposed order are mailed by U.S. Mail to the assigned judge's office; proposed orders are not e-filed, emailed or sent to the Clerk. Proposed orders are held ten days pending the rest of the documentation. Original wills and death certificates go directly to the Clerk.
SourceLake County administrative orders require checklists, an affidavit of heirs and a notice regarding the will
Three Lake County administrative orders on probate procedure call for the circuit's checklists, an Affidavit of Heirs and a Notice Regarding Will, all published on the circuit's Lake County probate page.
SourceCertified copies of an order are bought after the order is e-served
Certified copies are not prepaid at filing. A party may buy them in person three business days after receiving the e-served order, or request them by mail with the fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
SourceFiled with the opening petition at the Clerk of Circuit & County Courts: 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.
In Florida a death is registered locally, and in Lake County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Florida Department of Health in Lake County as well as by Florida Department of Health - Bureau of Vital Statistics.
Vital Records Office Record
Lake County · Florida Department of Health in Lake County
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| First certified copy | $12 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Lake County · District 5 Medical Examiner's Office
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Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
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 Lake County are recorded with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 550 West Main Street, North Wing, 3rd Floor, Tavares, FL 32778. Phone: 1-352-742-4100. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 7800, Tavares, FL 32778-7800.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court charges $10 for the first page plus $9 for each additional page.
Lake County accepts electronic recording through CSC, ePN and Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
Lake County
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| 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
Florida uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Lake 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. Lake 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 & County Courts, 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.
FirmOcala, FL
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateBusiness LawReal Estate
FirmMaitland, FL
Maitland firm on Spartan Drive, founded in 1997, serving Orange, Seminole, Lake, Osceola, and Volusia counties. Handles probate and trust administration and trust and estate litigation -- claims against fiduciaries, will and trust contests, disputed trust accountings, and guardianship disputes -- alongside estate-tax, charitable, and special-needs planning.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 5 more
FirmWildwood, FL
Wildwood and The Villages elder law firm serving Sumter County and central Florida since 1992. Handles probate, trust and estate administration, guardianship, Medicaid and long-term care planning, VA Aid and Attendance claims, and estate tax planning. Eric C. Millhorn is a VA-accredited attorney authorized to represent claimants for VA pension and survivor benefits.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 2 more
FirmOrlando, FL
Orlando firm formed in 2003, with offices in Lake Nona, Tavares, DeLand, and Port Orange, serving Orange, Seminole, Lake, Volusia, and Osceola counties. Its estate group handles probate administration and probate litigation, guardianship administration and litigation, Medicaid and special needs planning, and estate tax planning. Partners Daniel B. Harris and Heidi W. Isenhart lead it.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationElder Lawand 5 more
Solo PracticeClermont, FL
Clermont solo practice serving Lake County and the Orlando metropolitan area. Michael G. Horton handles wills and trusts, probate and estate administration, trust administration, and post-death tax strategies, and holds a master's degree in taxation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax PlanningWills Trusts
Solo PracticeOcala, FL
Ocala solo practice serving Marion, Sumter, Citrus, Lake, and Levy counties, including The Villages. Stanley W. Plappert represents personal representatives named in a will and those appointed by the court, advises successor trustees, and screens estates for summary administration. Also handles Florida probate for out-of-state families. Se habla espanol.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawReal Estate
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.
Data sourced from Florida statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
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.
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.
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.
Florida has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not available.
Browse vetted Florida attorneys handling probate matters.
Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
Enter the estate value to see Florida attorney fees, executor fees, court costs and the timeline.
General information about probate costs, not legal or financial advice. Fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value or net property after debts. Actual costs vary by county, attorney and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney for legal questions.
Enter the estate value to see whether Florida lets a self-represented person open probate, what the court requires, and what each route costs.
General information about filing probate without a lawyer, not legal advice. Both routes are priced by the probate cost estimator on the same estate; the attorney fee is the one line that differs. Actual costs vary by county, attorney and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney for legal questions.
