In Bonita Springs, Hodges Life Celebration Center is a funeral home and multipurpose event center serving the Bonita Springs and greater Lee County communities. It arranges traditional funerals, life celebrations and cremation, including scattering ceremonies, and works with families on final arrangements in advance. Its event spaces hold up to 200 guests.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Lee County, Florida
How probate works in Lee County: the Clerk of Circuit Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Lee County Clerk of Circuit Court
Lee County · 20th Judicial Circuit
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:45 PM
Office
2075 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, 2nd Floor, Fort Myers, FL 33901
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. On paper: Original wills (delivered in person or by mail).
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe Clerk publishes a disposition of personal property without administration packet with forms and instructions, and forms and instructions can be requested from the Probate Department by mail with a self-addressed stamped envelope. The Clerk states that a formal administration must be filed by an attorney licensed in Florida unless the personal representative is the sole beneficiary.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCash, Check, Money order, Credit card.Probate filing fees are paid by credit card, money order, cashier's check, business check or cash, with checks payable to the Lee County Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Self-help center
- Self-Help Center, first floor, Lee County Justice Center1-239-533-2978 · Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PMThe Clerk's Self-Help Center offers legal resources, forms, internet access, public computers, notary and copy services. Lee County Legal Aid holds free virtual consultations there for civil and family matters; the center's form-preparation assistance covers family, injunction, small claims, eviction and record-sealing forms, not probate.
County forms
- Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration PacketThe Clerk's instructions, verified statement and order for a disposition without administration
- Coversheet: Will Submitted for SafekeepingCover sheet delivered with an original will deposited with the Clerk after a death
P.O. Box 9346
Fort Myers, FL 33902
Departments
- Probate, Guardianship & Mental Health1-239-533-5000 · Lee County Justice Center, 2nd Floor, 2075 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard · (option 5) · probate@leeclerk.org · Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:45 PMThe probate email takes probate, Baker Act and Marchman Act cases.
- Guardianshipguardianship@leeclerk.orgGuardianship and incapacity cases have their own email.
About the court
- Probate filings are taken at the Lee County Justice Center, second floor. The Justice Center lobby is open until 5:00 p.m.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Lee 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 Lee County, probate runs through the Clerk of Circuit Court at 2075 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, 2nd Floor, Fort Myers. The court sits in the 20th Judicial Circuit. The same 20th Judicial Circuit also serves Charlotte, Collier, Glades and Hendry.
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 Lee County
What probate costs in Lee 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 2075 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, 2nd Floor, Fort Myers. The court is part of the 20th 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 Lee County, Florida are filed at the Clerk of Circuit Court. The court sits in the 20th Judicial Circuit.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Probate, Guardianship & Mental Health and Guardianship.
The Clerk's Self-Help Center offers legal resources, forms, internet access, public computers, notary and copy services. Lee County Legal Aid holds free virtual consultations there for civil and family matters; the center's form-preparation assistance covers family, injunction, small claims, eviction and record-sealing forms, not probate.
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 Lee County Self-Filing Assessment.
Lee 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 are delivered in person or by mail with the Clerk's coversheet
Wills cannot be e-filed. A will deposited after a death goes to the Clerk at the Justice Center, second floor, or by mail to the probate mailing address, with the Clerk's coversheet for a will submitted for safekeeping. A will filed in the wrong county is returned only through a new probate action asking the court to release it.
SourceDocument Requirements
Probate forms and instructions can be requested by mail
Forms and instructions can be downloaded from the Clerk's Forms Library or requested from the Probate Department by mail with a self-addressed stamped envelope.
SourceDisposition without administration requires a certified death certificate and paid final bills
The Clerk's packet requires the notarized verified statement, a certified copy of the death certificate, the original will if not already filed, the paid funeral bill showing who paid it, paid medical bills for the last 60 days if any, records of the assets and any heirs' waivers. The decedent must have been a Lee County resident owning no real estate, and the Clerk can witness the signature in place of a notary for a 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 Lee County
In Florida a death is registered locally, and in Lee County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Florida Department of Health in Lee County, Vital Statistics as well as by Florida Department of Health - Bureau of Vital Statistics.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Registrar
Lee County · Florida Department of Health in Lee County, Vital Statistics
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
83 Pondella Road, North Fort Myers, FL 33903
Website
Certified copies
At the counter
Fees
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $11 |
Verified November 1, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
District Medical Examiner
Lee County · Office of the District 21 Medical Examiner
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
70 South Danley Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33907-2437
Website
Serves this county
Office of the District 21 Medical Examiner (District 21 (Glades, Hendry and Lee Counties))
Mail and offices
Fax
1-239-277-5017
Verified November 1, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in Lee County
23 funeral homes and crematories in Lee County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
In Bonita Springs, Legacy Options Funeral and Cremation Services arranges funerals, cremation and burial for Lee and Collier County families. The Bonita Springs office has a private viewing room for the immediate family, and the firm describes itself as independent and family operated.
In Bonita Springs, Shikany's Bonita Funeral Home arranges funeral and memorial services from its offices on Tamiami Trail South. It publishes obituaries on its website, searchable by name.
In Cape Coral, Baldwin Brothers Funeral & Cremation Society offers cremation with its own crematorium and online pre-planning for the city and surrounding communities. A live professional answers the phone at any hour, with no automated messages. Se habla español.
In Cape Coral, Coral Ridge Funeral Home and Coral Ridge Cemetery have provided funeral, cremation and cemetery services for Cape Coral, Lee and Charlotte counties since 1965. Families can make funeral, cremation and burial arrangements at the two sister locations, and plan ahead in person or virtually. The events center opened in 2019 and holds up to 175 guests.
In Cape Coral, Fuller Metz Funeral Home describes itself as the first funeral home in the city, with its first facility opened in 1967 in downtown Cape Coral. It offers burial and cremation, and its facility has banquet rooms and video recording and webcasting.
Funeral homes by city: Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, North Fort Myers
Cremation Services in Lee County
21 listings
Pre-Need Funeral Plans in Lee County
13 listings
Burial Services in Lee County
11 listings
Veterans Funeral Services in Lee County
6 listings
Funeral Transport in Lee County
8 listings
Spanish-Speaking Funeral Homes in Lee County
6 listings
Human Composting in Lee County
1 listing
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in Lee 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 Lee County are recorded with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 2115 Second Street, 2nd Floor, Fort Myers, FL 33901. Phone: 1-239-533-5007. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:45 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 2278, Fort Myers, FL 33902.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court charges $10 for the first page plus $9 for each additional page.
Lee County accepts electronic recording through CSC, ePN, Hopdox, Indecomm, Simplifile, eRecording USA, File and Go and RecordNation.
Recording Office Record
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Lee County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:45 PM
Office
2115 Second Street, 2nd Floor, Fort Myers, FL 33901
Website
P.O. Box 2278
Fort Myers, FL 33902
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 Lee County
Florida uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Lee 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. Lee 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.
Fort Myers firm serving Lee, Collier, and Charlotte counties, with a second office in Port Charlotte. Handles formal and summary probate administration, ancillary administration for out-of-state heirs, trust administration, will contests and trust disputes, and guardianship litigation.
Naples firm with a second office in Fort Myers, serving Collier and Lee counties. Handles probate and trust administration alongside estate planning and the real-estate work that follows a death, with more than two decades of practice behind it. The team takes clients in English, Spanish, Russian, and Creole.
Fort Myers probate and elder law firm serving Lee, Collier, and Charlotte counties, with a Naples office. Matthew A. Linde is one of only ten Florida lawyers board certified by The Florida Bar in both Elder Law and Wills, Trusts & Estates -- the only such attorney in Southwest Florida. Handles probate and trust administration, estate planning, guardianship, and probate litigation.
Fort Myers firm established in 1949, with a West Palm Beach office, serving Lee, Collier, and Palm Beach counties. The estate team handles probate and trust administration, fiduciary and beneficiary representation, guardianship, and Medicaid planning. Partner Mary Vlasak Snell practices in estate planning, probate, and trust administration.
Naples estate and elder law firm serving Collier and Lee counties, with offices in Bonita Springs and Fort Myers. Seven attorneys handle probate, trust administration, guardianship, Medicaid and long-term care planning, and asset protection. Founder Pam Buff Baker is a Florida Bar Board Certified Elder Law Attorney. The initial vision meeting is complimentary.
Fort Myers firm on Royal Palm Square working the Twentieth Judicial Circuit in Lee County. Its estate and trust administration practice is set out as probate administration, trust administration for trustees, and fiduciary tax planning and compliance. Eight attorneys, two of them board certified by The Florida Bar in wills, trusts and estates and one in elder law.
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)
- Lee County Clerk of Circuit Court, official page
- Lee County Clerk of the Circuit Court, official page
- Lee 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
Hire a Florida Probate Attorney
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Notify Banks & Financial Institutions
Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.
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