Access Martin County Probate Court Records

Martin County probate court records are filed and maintained by the Martin County Clerk of Courts in Stuart, serving a southeast Florida county of roughly 164,000 residents along Florida's Treasure Coast. The 19th Judicial Circuit handles all estate, guardianship, and trust matters for Martin County, along with Indian River, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie counties.

Martin County Clerk of Courts

The Martin County Clerk of Courts handles all probate filings, records maintenance, and copy requests in the county. The main office is in downtown Stuart at the courthouse on East Ocean Boulevard. The clerk's website at www.martinclerk.com provides online access to case records, official records, and court forms.

The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers statewide directory also lists Martin County alongside every other Florida county clerk, and is a useful backup if you need to confirm contact details.

This directory is maintained by the statewide clerks association and is updated regularly with current addresses and phone numbers for all Florida county clerk offices.

How to Search Martin County Probate Records

Martin County probate records are searchable online through the clerk's portal at www.martinclerk.com. The case search tool lets you look up cases by the decedent's name, case number, or personal representative. Results include the case type, filing date, and the parties listed in the file.

For certified copies, older records, or records not yet available online, contact the clerk's office directly. Call (772) 288-5576 to ask about what is available and what it costs. Plain copies and certified copies are both available at the clerk's office. Certified copies carry the court seal and are required by banks and financial institutions when transferring assets.

The Florida Court Clerks association also maintains information on probate record access at the statewide level. Visit www.flclerks.com to find statewide resources and confirm you are working with the correct county office.

This page explains how Florida probate records are kept, what is public, and how to get copies from any county clerk in the state, including Martin County.

Types of Probate in Martin County

Florida law provides three paths for administering an estate. Martin County courts handle all three through the 19th Judicial Circuit. The correct type depends on how much the estate is worth and when the person died.

Formal Administration

Formal administration is the standard process for estates worth more than $75,000. It requires a Florida-licensed attorney to represent the personal representative throughout. The steps are: filing a petition to open the estate, publishing notice to creditors, filing an inventory of assets, resolving debts, and distributing what remains under court approval. Martin County has a significant retiree and second-home population, which means many estates include real property and investment accounts that require formal administration. The process can take six months to over a year. The governing law is Florida Statutes Chapter 733.

Summary Administration

Summary administration is available when the estate's non-exempt value is $75,000 or less, or when the decedent has been dead for two or more years. No personal representative is appointed. The court issues a summary order that directs how assets get transferred. This is the most common path for smaller or older estates. It is faster and cheaper than formal administration. The rules for summary administration are in Florida Statutes Chapter 735.

Disposition Without Administration

This applies when the estate has no real property and non-exempt assets do not exceed $6,000. There is no formal court proceeding. The clerk issues a letter that allows direct asset transfers. It is the quickest and lowest-cost option when it fits. Ask the clerk or an attorney whether the estate qualifies before pursuing a more involved process.

The 19th Judicial Circuit

Martin County is part of the 19th Judicial Circuit, which covers Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie counties along Florida's Treasure Coast and inland areas. Circuit judges handle probate and guardianship matters for all four counties.

Martin County is the second-most populated county in the circuit after St. Lucie. Probate hearings for Martin County are held at the Stuart courthouse. The circuit is known for serving a mix of coastal communities and rural inland areas, which means the types of estates it processes vary widely in size and complexity.

If a case raises issues that need to be resolved at the circuit level outside of Martin County, the 19th Circuit's administrative office can help you find the right contact. But most routine probate matters stay at the county courthouse in Stuart.

Florida Probate Statutes and Legal Resources

Florida's probate law covers all counties equally. The main statutes are Chapters 731 through 735 of the Florida Statutes. Chapter 733 governs formal administration from start to finish. Chapter 735 covers summary administration and the disposition without administration procedure. Chapter 732 addresses the rights of surviving spouses, heirs, and creditors during the process.

The Florida Courts website has free probate forms and self-help guides. These apply statewide and are useful whether you are handling a simple estate or preparing questions for your attorney.

Martin County residents who need low-cost legal help can contact Legal Aid Society of the Palm Beaches or the Florida Rural Legal Services organization, both of which operate in the Treasure Coast area. The Florida Bar's Lawyer Referral Service is another option for connecting with a probate attorney who handles 19th Circuit cases.

Given Martin County's affluent coastal population, there are many estate planning and probate attorneys based in Stuart who handle complex estates with real property, business interests, and retirement accounts. Getting advice early in the process can save time and cost later.

What Martin County Probate Records Include

Probate records in Florida are public. A typical Martin County estate file contains the petition to open the estate, the decedent's will (if one was admitted), the appointment of a personal representative, creditor notices, an inventory of assets, and the final order closing the estate. Beneficiaries are named in these documents.

Certified copies carry the court's official seal. They are required by banks, title companies, and other institutions when transferring estate assets. Plain copies cost less and are acceptable for personal reference. The clerk sets the fee schedule. Call (772) 288-5576 to get the current rates before requesting a large number of documents.

Most recent cases in Martin County are accessible through the clerk's online portal. Older archived records may require an in-person visit or a written request. The clerk can confirm availability and turnaround time for archived files when you contact the office.

Cities in Martin County

Stuart is the county seat and the largest city in Martin County, with a population of approximately 17,000. Hobe Sound, Jensen Beach, Palm City, and Sewall's Point are other communities in the county. Indiantown is a smaller inland community. None of the cities in Martin County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated records page. All probate cases in Martin County, regardless of where the decedent lived, are filed through the Martin County Clerk of Courts in Stuart.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Martin County along Florida's southeast and Treasure Coast region. St. Lucie and Indian River share the 19th Judicial Circuit with Martin County.