Search Indian River County Probate Court Records

Indian River County probate court records are maintained by the Clerk of Court in Vero Beach and cover all estate administration cases, will filings, guardianship petitions, and related proceedings filed under Florida probate law in the 19th Judicial Circuit. This page covers how to search those records and what to expect from the filing process.

Indian River County Clerk of Court

The Clerk of Court in Vero Beach handles all probate filings for Indian River County. This includes petitions to open an estate, wills offered for probate, inventories, creditor claims, final accountings, and orders of discharge. The clerk's office is open weekdays and accepts both in-person and mailed filings.

Indian River County is in the 19th Judicial Circuit, which also covers Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie counties. The 19th Circuit's court website is at jud19.flcourts.org. It provides general resources, local forms, and contact details for probate judges in each of the four counties.

The clerk's main courthouse is in Vero Beach. Some services may also be available at branch locations. Check the clerk's website for current branch hours and available services before visiting.

The screenshot below shows the clerk's official website, which includes online case search, fee schedules, and forms for self-represented filers.

The clerk's site is updated regularly and includes a link to the online case search portal where you can look up active and closed probate cases by name or case number.

How to Search Indian River County Probate Records

Indian River County probate records are public under Florida law. Most case documents can be accessed in several ways.

Online search. Visit indianriverclerk.com and look for the case search or online records portal. You can often search by the decedent's name, the case number, or the petitioner's name. Online access is free for basic searches, though copies of documents may carry a per-page fee.

In person. Go to the clerk's office in Vero Beach during business hours. Staff can pull up records in the case management system and print copies on request. Bring the full name of the deceased person and the approximate year of death to speed up the search.

By phone. Call (772) 770-5185. Clerk staff can confirm whether a case is open or closed and provide a case number. They do not give legal advice but can tell you what documents are in the file and how to get copies.

By mail. Send a written request to P.O. Box 1028, Vero Beach, FL 32961. Include the decedent's name, date of death if known, and the specific records you need. Include a check for the estimated copy fee or request a cost estimate before sending payment.

The Florida clerks statewide directory also lists contact and access information for every Florida county clerk, including Indian River.

Use the statewide find-a-clerk tool at flclerks.com to confirm current contact details and any updates to office locations or hours before you visit.

Types of Probate in Indian River County

Florida law provides three ways to handle a deceased person's estate. The right process depends mainly on the value of the assets and how long the person has been deceased. All three are available to Indian River County residents and governed by Chapters 731 through 735 of the Florida Statutes.

Formal Administration

Formal administration applies when the probate estate exceeds $75,000. This is the full court-supervised process. A personal representative is appointed by the court. That person files an inventory of the deceased's assets, notifies creditors, pays valid debts, and submits a final accounting before the estate can close. Chapter 733, Florida Statutes governs this entire process, from opening to discharge.

Formal administration in Indian River County usually takes at least six months because Florida law requires creditors to have a minimum period to file claims. Larger or contested estates can take considerably longer. Most people going through formal administration hire a probate attorney, given the volume of required filings and the personal liability that can fall on the representative if errors are made.

Summary Administration

Summary administration is faster and simpler. It is available when the estate's non-exempt assets are worth $75,000 or less, or when the deceased person has been dead for two or more years regardless of the estate's size. Chapter 735, Florida Statutes governs this process. No personal representative is appointed. Instead, the court issues an order of summary administration that allows beneficiaries to receive assets directly. A petition must still be filed, and the court will review it before issuing the order.

Disposition Without Administration

This is the smallest and least formal process. It is used when the estate contains only personal property and the total value does not exceed the cost of last illness and funeral expenses, typically limited to around $6,000. No real property can be in the estate for this option to apply. The clerk can authorize disposition without full court proceedings under Chapter 735. It is mainly used to reimburse family members or others who paid for the deceased's final expenses out of pocket.

Florida Probate Statutes and Rules

All probate proceedings in Indian River County follow the Florida Statutes and the Florida Probate Rules. Chapter 731 sets definitions and general rules. Chapter 732 covers what happens when someone dies without a valid will, known as intestate succession. Chapter 733 handles formal administration in detail. Chapter 735 covers summary administration and disposition without administration.

One important aspect of Florida probate law is the creditor notice requirement. The personal representative must publish a notice to creditors in a local newspaper and directly notify any known creditors. Creditors then have three months from the publication date to file claims. This waiting period is one reason formal administration takes at least six months to complete.

Florida's homestead rules also affect how estates are handled. Real property that qualifies as homestead under Florida law may pass outside of probate entirely, but different rules apply depending on whether the deceased had a surviving spouse or minor children. Getting these details right matters, especially in Indian River County where real estate values are significant.

The Florida Courts website is the official source for statewide probate rules and court forms. The self-help resources there explain the statutes in plain language and link to approved court forms for each type of proceeding.

Legal Aid and Attorney Resources

Indian River County residents have access to several resources when navigating probate cases.

Florida Courts self-help. The Florida Courts self-help page has official forms, step-by-step guides, and explanations of each probate process. This is a good first stop for people handling a small estate without an attorney.

Legal aid. Legal Aid Society of the Treasure Coast serves Indian River County and may assist low-income residents with probate matters. Eligibility is income-based. Contact them through the 19th Circuit's self-help center for a referral.

Florida Bar referral. The Florida Bar's lawyer referral service at floridabar.org can connect you with a licensed probate attorney in the Vero Beach area. Many attorneys offer a free or low-cost initial consultation.

19th Circuit court resources. Visit jud19.flcourts.org for local administrative orders, judge contact information, and hearing schedules for the Indian River County probate division.

Cities in Indian River County

Indian River County's largest city is Vero Beach, where the courthouse is located. Other communities include Sebastian, Fellsmere, Gifford, and Roseland. None of the cities in the county currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city records page. All residents file probate cases with the Indian River County Clerk of Court in Vero Beach regardless of which city they live in.

Nearby Counties

Indian River County borders several other Florida counties along the Treasure Coast and inland. Each has its own clerk's office and probate division. Click any link below for county-specific probate records information.