What to Do When Someone Dies in St. Lucie County, Florida

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

What probate costsHow to fileDeath certificatesTransferring propertyLocal attorneys

Probate Court Record

St. Lucie County Clerk of Circuit Court

St. Lucie County · 19th Judicial Circuit

Hours

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

Office

201 South Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34950

Self-represented filing

Allowed

Self-help forms

Court forms packet

Open in Google Maps

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

AllowedThe Clerk states that a formal administration must be filed by an attorney licensed in Florida unless the personal representative is the sole beneficiary, and it has no formal administration forms; those are available at the Rupert J. Smith Law Library. The Clerk's probate page posts packets for summary administration with or without a will and for a disposition of personal property without administration, with the Nineteenth Circuit's checklists.

Accepted payment

  • At the counterCash, Check, Money order, Credit card.Cash, money orders and cashier's checks are accepted, and personal checks are accepted in Probate. Credit card transactions carry a service charge.

Verified October 15, 2026 · Source

How Probate Works in St. Lucie 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 St. Lucie County, probate runs through the Clerk of Circuit Court at 201 South Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce. The court sits in the 19th Judicial Circuit. St. Lucie County shares the 19th Judicial Circuit with Indian River, Martin and Okeechobee.

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 St. Lucie County

What probate costs in St. Lucie 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 South Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce. The court is part of the 19th 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 St. Lucie County, Florida are filed at the Clerk of Circuit Court. The court sits in the 19th Judicial Circuit.

Beside the filing office, the court lists a separate line for 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 St. Lucie County Self-Filing Assessment.

St. Lucie 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

Proposed orders go to the judge's office by email after the circuit checklist is completed

The Nineteenth Circuit's summary administration and disposition checklists are signed by the attorney or petitioner once every item is accounted for. Proposed orders in Word format are then sent to the judge's office with a cover letter by email only, to ProbateSLC@circuit19.org.

Source

Only out-of-pocket final expenses support a disposition without administration

A disposition of personal property without administration typically reimburses the person who paid the decedent's final expenses, and the expenses must have been paid from that person's own funds. Prepaid funeral plans and bills paid by insurance do not qualify.

Source

Records Access

Verified service on a statement of claim

The Clerk charges a fee for verifying that a statement of claim was served and noting the date of service, and the verified statement is returned only after the fee is paid.

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 St. Lucie County

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

Vital Records Office Record

Local Registrar

St. Lucie County · Florida Department of Health in St. Lucie County, Vital Statistics

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-noon and 12:30 PM-4:30 PM

Office

5150 Northwest Milner Drive, Port St. Lucie, FL 34983

Certified copies

At the counter

Open in Google Maps

Fax

1-772-873-8592

Verified November 2, 2026 · Source

Coroner or Medical Examiner Record

District Medical Examiner

St. Lucie County · Office of the Medical Examiner - District 19

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:15 PM

Office

2500 South 35th Street, Building I, Fort Pierce, FL 34981

Serves this county

Office of the Medical Examiner - District 19 (District 19 (Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie Counties))

Open in Google Maps

Mail and offices

Fax

1-772-464-2409

Verified November 2, 2026 · Source

Transferring Property in St. Lucie 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 St. Lucie County are recorded with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 201 South Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34950. Phone: 1-772-462-6900. 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.

St. Lucie County accepts electronic recording through CSC, ePN, Hopdox and Simplifile.

Recording Office Record

Clerk of the Circuit Court

St. Lucie County

Hours

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

Office

201 South Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34950

Open in Google Maps

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 St. Lucie County

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

FirmPort St. Lucie, FL

Kulas Crawford & Smith

Serves 4 counties

Treasure Coast firm with offices in Port St. Lucie and Vero Beach, serving St. Lucie, Indian River, Martin, and Palm Beach county families. Handles probate, trust administration, Medicaid and elder law planning, guardianship, and special needs planning. A member firm of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 4 more

Office
2100 SE Hillmoor Drive, Suite 105Port St. Lucie, FL 34952

FirmJupiter, FL

The Siegel Law Firm, P.A.

Since 1982 · Serves 4 counties

Family-run Jupiter firm serving Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties, with offices in Port St. Lucie and Stuart. Handles formal, summary, and ancillary probate administration and trust administration. The practice has been registered in Florida since 1982 and is now led by Jason Siegel. Free initial consultation.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateAsset Protection

Office
801 Maplewood Drive, Suite 3Jupiter, FL 33458
Free consultation

Solo PracticePlantation, FL

Daniel T. Fleischer, P.A.

Since 2012 · Serves 3 counties

Plantation solo practice with Boca Raton and Aventura offices, serving Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade counties. Handles formal, summary, and ancillary administration for personal representatives, beneficiaries, creditors, and corporate fiduciaries, plus trust administration and probate and trust litigation. Daniel T. Fleischer has practiced estate and probate law since 2001 and is AV rated.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 8 more

Office
7805 SW 6th CtPlantation, FL 33324
Free consultation

FirmCoral Gables, FL

Dunwody White & Landon, P.A.

Serves 3 counties

Coral Gables firm whose practice is confined to trusts and estates, with companion offices in Naples and West Palm Beach. Handles estate planning, trust and estate administration, and probate and trust litigation for Miami-Dade, Collier, and Palm Beach families, alongside estate taxation and business planning.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 2 more

Office
550 Biltmore Way, Suite 810Coral Gables, FL 33134

FirmFort Myers, FL

Pavese Law Firm

Since 1949 · Serves 3 counties

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.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 2 more

Office
1833 Hendry StreetFort Myers, FL 33901

FirmFort Lauderdale, FL

Wintter Law

Serves 3 counties

Fort Lauderdale trust and estate firm with a West Palm Beach office, serving Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties. Handles probate, trust, and guardianship administration as well as the contested side of all three. Christopher Q. Wintter is board certified by The Florida Bar in Wills, Trusts, and Estates.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 2 more

Office
17 Rose DriveFort Lauderdale, FL 33316
See all 24 firms serving St. Lucie 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

Show 3 more sources

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

Browse vetted Florida attorneys handling probate matters.

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Notify Banks & Financial Institutions

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