Glades County Probate Court Records

Glades County probate court records include estate filings, wills, guardianship cases, and related proceedings handled by the Clerk of Courts in Moore Haven, a small south-central Florida county seat near Lake Okeechobee. This page covers how to search those records, what types of probate apply under Florida law, and where to get help.

Glades County Clerk of Courts

The Glades County Clerk of Courts in Moore Haven is the official office for all probate case filings in the county. The office maintains records for every estate, guardianship, and trust case filed in Glades County. Probate records are public under Florida law. Any person can request to review a case file during normal business hours.

The clerk receives and records petitions, issues letters of administration and letters testamentary, and keeps documents filed throughout each case. Staff at the clerk's office can help you find a case or confirm whether a probate was opened for a specific person. They cannot give legal advice. For that, contact a licensed Florida attorney or seek help from a legal aid organization.

Glades County is one of the smallest counties in Florida by population. Online case search tools may be limited. Calling (863) 946-6010 before you visit is the most efficient first step. Staff can often confirm whether a case exists and provide a case number over the phone.

The 20th Judicial Circuit's case access system may also provide some search capability. The 20th Circuit Court Administration website is shown below and covers all five counties in the circuit, including Glades.

The 20th Circuit Administration website shown above serves Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee counties. It is a starting point for finding case information and learning about probate procedures across the circuit.

How to Search Glades County Probate Records

Searching probate records in Glades County usually means calling the clerk or visiting in person. Moore Haven is a small town, and the courthouse is straightforward to find at 500 Avenue J. An in-person visit gives you the best access to complete case files.

Call (863) 946-6010 first. Tell the clerk's staff the name of the person whose estate you are searching and the approximate year of death. In most cases, staff can confirm whether a case was opened and provide the case number. From there, you can decide whether to visit in person.

When you visit, bring the decedent's name, the case number if you have it, and a valid photo ID. Staff can pull the file for you to review. You can take notes or pay for copies. Ask the clerk about current copy fees before you visit. Certified copies are typically needed for property transfers and bank account closures after someone dies.

The Florida Clerks of Court statewide directory is shown below and is a reliable resource for current contact information for the Glades County Clerk and any other Florida county clerk office.

The statewide directory shown above is maintained by the Florida Association of Court Clerks and Comptrollers. It covers all 67 Florida counties and is updated when contact details change. Use it if you need to search records in multiple counties.

The Florida Courts self-help page has free information on probate procedures and links to approved forms. It is a useful resource if you are unfamiliar with the process and want to understand your options before contacting the clerk or an attorney.

Types of Probate in Glades County

Florida law provides three types of probate. Glades County uses all three, handled through the 20th Judicial Circuit Court. The right process depends on the value of the estate's non-exempt assets and how long the decedent has been dead.

Formal Administration

Formal administration is required when non-exempt estate assets exceed $75,000. This is the complete probate process under Florida Statutes Chapter 733. The court appoints a personal representative who takes charge of estate assets, notifies creditors, pays valid debts, and distributes what remains to beneficiaries. Florida law requires a licensed attorney to represent the personal representative throughout this process. Formal administration takes at least six months and often runs a year or more.

In Glades County, agricultural land and ranch property are common. The value of these assets can push an estate over the $75,000 threshold even if the owner lived modestly. All filings in a formal administration case are public record and are maintained by the Glades County Clerk in Moore Haven.

Summary Administration

Summary administration is available under Florida Statutes Chapter 735 when non-exempt assets are $75,000 or less, or when the person has been dead for more than two years. No personal representative is appointed. Beneficiaries petition the court directly. The court issues an order directing asset distribution. This process is much faster and cheaper than formal administration and is well-suited to smaller estates with a clear set of beneficiaries and few creditor disputes.

Summary administration filings are public records at the Glades County Clerk. They can be searched by case number or party name once you contact the office.

Disposition Without Administration

This is the simplest form of estate closure available under Chapter 735. It applies when there is no real property and non-exempt personal property does not exceed the total of final expenses such as medical bills and funeral costs. The general cap on non-exempt personal property is around $6,000. A surviving spouse or close family member files a petition with the clerk. No hearing is required in most cases. The process can often be completed in a few weeks.

The 20th Judicial Circuit Court

Glades County falls within Florida's 20th Judicial Circuit, which also covers Charlotte, Collier, Hendry, and Lee counties. The circuit court handles all probate, guardianship, and trust cases for Glades County. The 20th Circuit Court Administration website has information on court divisions, judges, local rules, and administrative orders that govern probate practice in the circuit.

Local rules and administrative orders from the 20th Circuit can affect filing requirements and scheduling. Always check current local requirements before submitting probate paperwork. The clerk at (863) 946-6010 can confirm what forms are currently needed and whether any recent orders affect your case type.

The Florida Courts statewide website provides approved forms for probate proceedings across Florida. Most are free to download and represent the standard forms used in Glades County courts. The site also links to self-help resources and circuit-specific information.

Legal Resources for Glades County Probate

Finding legal help in a rural county like Glades requires reaching out to nearby urban centers. Attorneys in Fort Myers (Lee County), LaBelle (Hendry County), and West Palm Beach handle probate cases for Glades County residents. The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service can connect you with a licensed attorney in the 20th Circuit area, often for a low-cost initial consultation.

Legal aid organizations serving southwest Florida may help residents with limited incomes. The Florida Courts self-help information page is a free resource covering the basics of probate and linking to standard forms. It is not a replacement for legal advice but is a solid starting point for understanding the process.

Florida's probate statutes are available online and free to read. Chapter 733 covers formal estate administration. Chapter 735 governs summary administration and disposition without administration. Reading these sections gives you a clear picture of what the process involves before you pay for an attorney consultation.

The Florida Clerks directory is useful when you need contact information for the Glades County Clerk or any neighboring county clerk involved in a multi-county estate.

Cities in Glades County

Glades County is one of Florida's most sparsely populated counties. Moore Haven is the county seat and the only incorporated municipality of any size. Other small communities include Palmdale and Ortona. None of these communities approach the 100,000 population threshold for a dedicated city records page on this site. All probate cases for residents throughout Glades County are filed with the clerk's office at 500 Avenue J in Moore Haven.

Nearby Counties

Glades County is landlocked near Lake Okeechobee in south-central Florida. It borders a number of other counties, each with its own clerk of courts. If an estate includes real property in more than one county, separate probate proceedings may be needed in each county where that property is located.