Find Probate Records in Pinellas County

Probate court records in Pinellas County are filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court and heard by judges of the 6th Judicial Circuit, which covers Pinellas and Pasco counties. The county seat is Clearwater, where the main courthouse handles the bulk of probate filings. Pinellas County has a large retired population, and the probate division processes a significant number of estate cases each year, including formal administrations, summary proceedings, and ancillary matters for out-of-state residents who owned property here.

Pinellas County Probate Court

Ken Burke serves as Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller for Pinellas County. The Clerk's office receives all probate filings, maintains case records, collects fees, and issues official documents such as Letters of Administration. The main courthouse at 315 Court St in Clearwater is the primary filing location. Pinellas County also maintains a north county branch at 14250 49th St N in Clearwater, which handles some civil court functions and may process certain probate-related requests.

The 6th Circuit is shared with neighboring Pasco County, but each county files probate cases separately. A decedent who lived in Pinellas County had their estate filed in Pinellas, even if heirs live in Pasco or elsewhere. Do not confuse the two county systems when searching records.

The Florida Courts statewide clerk directory confirms current Pinellas County contact information and links to local court resources.

The Florida Courts clerk finder page lists all 67 county clerks, including Pinellas.

This resource is maintained by the Office of the State Courts Administrator and reflects current clerk information for Pinellas County.

How to Search Probate Records in Pinellas County

Pinellas County offers online case search through the clerk's website at pinellasclerk.org. The search tool lets you look up cases by party name, case number, or date range. Results show case status, docket entries, and the parties involved. Some document images are available online, but others are restricted under Florida law, which prohibits posting certain probate records on publicly accessible websites.

If the online search doesn't give you what you need, the next step is an in-person visit to the Clearwater courthouse. The clerk's civil division staff can pull physical case files. You can review the file and request copies. Bring the decedent's full name and, if possible, the approximate year of death. That narrows the search considerably.

Written mail requests are accepted for certified copies. Address your request to the Pinellas County Clerk, Circuit Civil Division, 315 Court St, Clearwater, FL 33756. Include the case name, case number if known, and a check or money order for the estimated copy fees. Staff will contact you if the actual cost differs from your payment.

For older records, some Pinellas County estates may be in an archived format and not visible in the online system. The clerk's office can advise you on how to access historical probate files from prior decades.

Types of Probate Cases Filed

Pinellas County courts handle all Florida probate case types. Given the county's large senior population and numerous seasonal residents, all four types appear frequently.

Formal Administration is required for estates with a gross value over $75,000. The court appoints a personal representative, who manages the estate through the full supervised process. This includes notice to creditors, an inventory of estate assets, payment of valid debts, and a final accounting. Florida law generally requires an attorney to represent the estate in formal administration unless the personal representative is the only beneficiary of the estate.

Summary Administration is the right choice when the estate is worth $75,000 or less, or when the decedent has been dead for more than two years. There is no personal representative. The court simply issues an order directing who gets what. This process is significantly faster than formal administration and works well for many Pinellas County families dealing with modest estates or older deaths.

Disposition Without Administration is the simplest option. It applies when the estate has no real property, the only outstanding debts are funeral and final medical bills, and the total personal property to be distributed does not exceed $6,000. A petition is filed directly with the clerk with no court hearing required in most cases.

Ancillary Administration covers out-of-state decedents who owned real or personal property in Pinellas County. Given the area's popularity with seasonal residents from the Northeast and Midwest, this is a fairly common proceeding here. The primary estate is handled in the decedent's home state, and the ancillary case addresses only the Florida assets.

Filing Fees and Costs

Pinellas County follows the Florida statutory fee schedule for all probate filings. Fees are set by the Legislature under section 28.241, Florida Statutes, and are the same across all 67 counties. The base filing fee for formal administration starts at $400 for small estates and scales up based on estate value. Summary administration carries a flat filing fee of $235. Disposition without administration is also $235.

Certified copies of probate documents cost $2.00 per page plus a $1.00 certification fee. Letters of Administration are commonly needed in multiple certified copies. Banks, brokerage firms, and real estate companies each typically want their own original certified set. Order as many as you think you will need upfront to avoid paying multiple times.

Publication of the creditor notice is a required cost in formal administration. The notice must run in a newspaper of general circulation in Pinellas County for two consecutive weeks. Costs vary by newspaper but generally fall in the $100 to $200 range. The clerk's office can suggest approved publications, or you can search the Florida Press Association's list of qualified newspapers.

Attorney fees in formal administration are governed by Florida Probate Code section 733.6171 and are based on a percentage of the estate's value. These statutory percentages represent a presumptively reasonable fee, meaning courts will generally approve them without detailed review unless a beneficiary objects.

The Probate Process in Pinellas County

The first step in any Pinellas County probate case is filing with the Clerk of the Circuit Court. If a will exists, Florida law requires the person holding it to deposit it with the clerk within 10 days of learning of the death, per section 732.901, Florida Statutes. This requirement applies even if the family does not plan to open a formal probate right away.

Once the petition is filed, a judge reviews it and sets a hearing date if needed. In uncontested cases where all parties agree, the court may admit the will and appoint the personal representative without a hearing. The appointed personal representative then receives Letters of Administration from the clerk. These letters are the key documents that allow the representative to access accounts, sell property, and manage the estate.

Notice to creditors must be published in a local newspaper for two weeks. Creditors have 90 days from first publication to file claims, or 30 days from when they receive direct notice, whichever is later. After the claims period ends, the personal representative files a final accounting with the court. The judge reviews the accounting and, if approved, issues an order of discharge. That order closes the estate and releases the personal representative from further liability.

Uncontested formal administrations in Pinellas County generally take between six and twelve months. Summary administrations in good order can close in a few weeks. Cases with litigation, missing heirs, or unclear title to real estate take longer, sometimes well over a year.

Legal Resources and Self-Help

The Pinellas County Clerk's office provides self-help guidance for people navigating probate without an attorney. Staff cannot give legal advice but can direct you to the correct forms and explain filing procedures. The Florida Courts website also has a self-help section with downloadable probate forms and instructions at flcourts.gov.

Bay Area Legal Services serves Pinellas County residents who cannot afford an attorney. They handle civil matters including some probate cases for qualifying applicants. Call (727) 820-0998 for their Pinellas office. Eligibility is based on income and household size.

Legal Aid of Pinellas County may also assist with estate matters for low-income residents. Check their current services and intake process by calling the Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 342-8011, which covers the entire state and can match you with a local probate attorney.

The Florida Probate Code spans Chapters 731 through 735 of the Florida Statutes. You can read the full text for free through the Florida Legislature's website. Chapter 733 covers the administration process in detail, including duties of personal representatives, creditor claim procedures, and distribution rules.

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