Glades County probate help.

Clerk and filing

E-filing and records search

• The clerk's probate page links the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. Judge Hill's profile requires proposed orders through the portal, with supporting documents viewable on the clerk's site first. ca.cjis20.org
• The clerk's Online Court Records Search offers anonymous public access to court records; attorney, registered-user and party access need a user ID and password. civitekflorida.com
• The clerk posts a registration agreement for people who want to view records online. glades-clerk.s3.amazonaws.com

Probate filing fees posted by the clerk

Source: Glades County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller fee schedule, checked October 16, 2026. The Glades clerk's probate page posts two amounts: no charge to deposit a will, and $1.00 per page plus $2.00 for certification on a certified copy. It says the filing fee for a disposition without administration is due when the petition is filed and gives no figure. The other amounts in the table are the § 28.2401 caps the clerk may charge; ask the clerk for the total before filing.

Judges and divisions

20th Judicial Circuit. Serves Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties; the circuit's probate information page has a section for each.

Courthouses that hear probate

• Glades County Courthouse, 500 Avenue J, Moore Haven, FL 33471; (863) 946-6031; Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ca.cjis20.org probate assignment

• The order assigning the Hendry County Judge to Glades County courts names Judge Darrell R. Hill as Administrative Circuit Judge. ca.cjis20.org
• Judge Hill's circuit profile lists Glades and Hendry Counties with General Civil 100% and Guardianship 100% and no probate line. ca.cjis20.org

Administrative orders

Orders of the 20th Judicial Circuit that apply to probate and guardianship cases in Glades County. Circuit order index.

• AO 5.3, Approval of Commercial Delivery Services Pursuant to Fla. Prob. R. 5.040. Date: December 18, 2003. Approves Federal Express, United Parcel Service, Airborne Express and DHL Worldwide Express as commercial delivery services requiring a signed receipt for formal notice in Twentieth Circuit proceedings.
• AO 5.1, Guardianship Financial Returns. Date: February 14, 1995. Sets annual guardianship plans and accountings on a fiscal-year basis unless the court orders calendar-year filing.
• AO 5.2, Appointment of Public Defender to Represent Respondents in Baker Act Proceedings. Date: Listed June 19, 2000 on the circuit index. Appoints the Public Defender to represent each person who is the subject of a Baker Act petition.
• AO 20.27, Temporary Assignment Order, Judge Robert L. Ostrov, Glades County. Date: Effective January 9, 2026; through December 31, 2026. Assigns the Hendry County Judge to temporary service, as needed, in the Circuit Court and County Court of Glades County.

Local requirements and forms

Wills

• The custodian of the original will files it with the clerk within 10 days after learning of the death and supplies the date of death and the Social Security number; the clerk also asks for the death certificate with the original will. gladesclerk.com
• Depositing a will costs nothing. The depositor receives a Receipt for Deposit of Will with the case number, filing date and the clerk's seal, plus one courtesy certified copy of the will. gladesclerk.com
• The custodian of a will must deposit it within 10 days after learning of the death, and the clerk keeps the original for at least 20 years (§ 732.901). flsenate.gov

Filing

• When the decedent solely owned real property, the estate goes through probate to transfer title, and the clerk tells beneficiaries and heirs to seek an attorney. gladesclerk.com
• The circuit's probate page says Glades County has no case management for probate and sends questions to the clerk. ca.cjis20.org

Disposition without administration

• The form is not used when real property is involved. gladesclerk.com
• Required: the original will if one exists, the death certificate (original or certified copy, no copies), the funeral home statement showing who paid, signed and notarized consents from all heirs, if any, a copy of the bank statement, stock certificates, insurance checks, policy value information forms, or related information on the assets being transferred, and an affidavit of heirs. gladesclerk.com
• A clerk helps complete the petition and presents it to the presiding probate judge. The filing fee is due when the petition is filed, and the court then enters an Order for Payment of Funds if the judge approves. gladesclerk.com

Proposed orders

• Judge Hill takes proposed orders through the E-Filing Portal, no later than three business days before an event, and only after the supporting documents are viewable on the clerk's site. ca.cjis20.org

Forms and checklists

• Circuit Probate Information page for Glades County, Twentieth Judicial Circuit
• Clerk probate page with the disposition without administration requirements, Glades County Clerk
• Registration agreement to view court records online, Glades County Clerk

Property and homestead

• Initial exemption applications are made between January 1 and March 1 of the year for which the exemption is sought, in person at the property appraiser's office. Late filing with an explanation is possible. qpublic.net
• A homestead exemption goes to a person who owns and lives on the property on January 1 and makes it a permanent residence, up to $50,000. qpublic.net
• The widow's or widower's exemption is $5,000; remarriage ends eligibility. qpublic.net

Death certificates

• Death certificates are ordered through VitalChek, the only vendor the Department of Health authorizes online, or at the Moore Haven office, which sells certified death certificates for deaths in Glades County from 1963 to the present. glades.floridahealth.gov
• The page asks the applicant to be the child named on the certificate and over 18, the parent, guardian or legal representative, or to have a court order, and to bring photo identification. glades.floridahealth.gov

Records and help

• The clerk's list of court records covers estates of deceased persons, trusts and guardianships, and Baker Act and Marchman Act cases. gladesclerk.com
• Section 735.201(2) in the 2026 Florida Statutes reads $150,000 for summary administration, as amended by chapter 2026-57. flsenate.gov
• Chapter 2026-57, Laws of Florida, took effect July 1, 2026. laws.flrules.org
• The clerk's administrative orders page sends readers to the Twentieth Circuit website for the orders. gladesclerk.com
• The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service takes calls at 800-342-8011, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. floridabar.org

Sources

Last checked: October 16, 2026. Each source shows the text that supports the facts above.

1. Florida Statutes § 28.2401, probate service charges and filing fees (2026), checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Fee for formal administration, guardianship, ancillary, curatorship, or conservatorship proceedings .......... $395
   • Fee for summary administration - estates valued at $1,000 or more .......... $340
   • Fee for summary administration - estates valued at less than $1,000 .......... $230
   • Charge for caveat .......... $40
   • Fee for disposition of personal property without administration .......... $230
   • Fee for guardianship proceedings of person only .......... $230
   • Charge for exemplified certificates .......... $7
   • An additional service charge of $4 on petitions seeking summary administration, formal administration, ancillary administration, guardianship, curatorship, and conservatorship shall be paid to the clerk.
   • Recording shall be required for all petitions opening and closing an estate; petitions regarding real estate; and orders, letters, bonds, oaths, wills, proofs of wills, returns, and such other papers as the judge shall deem advisable to record or that shall be required to be recorded under the Florida Probate Code.
2. Florida Statutes § 732.901, production of wills (2026), checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • The custodian of a will must deposit the will with the clerk of the court having venue of the estate of the decedent within 10 days after receiving information that the testator is dead.
   • the clerk shall retain and preserve the original will in its original form for at least 20 years
3. Florida Statutes § 735.201, summary administration (2026), checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • does not exceed $150,000 or that the decedent has been dead for more than 2 years
   • s. 7, ch. 2026-57
4. Chapter 2026-57, Laws of Florida, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Section 7. Subsection (2) of section 735.201, Florida Statutes, is amended
   • Section 14. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
5. The Florida Bar, Lawyer Referral Service, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Call 800-342-8011, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
6. Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal serves as a single, statewide access point connecting thousands of users to Florida's court system.
7. Twentieth Judicial Circuit, home page, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Court Schedules
   • Lee County
   • Charlotte County
   • Collier County
   • Glades County
   • Hendry County
8. Twentieth Judicial Circuit, Probate Information, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Probate Information
   • Lee County Probate Information:
   • Charlotte County Probate Information:
   • Collier County Probate Information:
   • Hendry County Probate Information:
   • Glades County Probate Information:
   • No case management is provided. Contact the Glades Clerk of Court for more information:
9. Twentieth Judicial Circuit, Administrative Orders index, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Guardianship Financial Returns (2/14/95)
   • Appointment Of Public Defender (6/19/00)
   • Commercial Delivery Services (12/18/03)
   • Temporary Assignment Order for Judge Robert L. Ostrov – appointed and assigned to temporary service, as may be needed, to the Circuit Court and County Court of Glades County, Florida – effective January 9, 2026
10. Twentieth Circuit AO 5.1, Guardianship Financial Returns, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • each Guardian of the person shall file with the Court an annual guardianship plan within 90 days after the last day of the anniversary month the Letters of Guardianship were signed
11. Twentieth Circuit AO 5.2, Public Defender in Baker Act proceedings, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • the Public Defender is hereby appointed to represent each person who is the subject

    Note: The index lists the order as 6/19/00. The PDF is a scan; its clerk certification stamp reads June 20, 2001 and its order-date line is not legible, so the order date is stated as the index lists it.

12. Twentieth Circuit AO 5.3, Commercial Delivery Services under Probate Rule 5.040, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • ORDERED that the following commercial delivery services requiring a signed receipt may be used for providing formal notice pursuant to Florida Probate Rule 5.040 in proceedings pending in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit
    • 1. Federal Express
    • 2. United Parcel Service
13. Twentieth Circuit order assigning Judge Ostrov to Glades County courts, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • County Judge for Hendry County, is hereby appointed and assigned to temporary service, as may be needed, to the Circuit Court and County Court of Glades County, Florida, through December 31, 2026.
    • Honorable Darrell R. Hill, Administrative Circuit Judge
14. Twentieth Judicial Circuit, Glades County Courthouse, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Glades County Courthouse
    • Rt 27, 500 Avenue "J" Moore Haven, FL 33471 Phone: (863) 946-6031
    • Mon. - Fri. 8am - 5pm
15. Twentieth Judicial Circuit, Judge Darrell R. Hill profile, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Division Glades & Hendry Counties Criminal 100% General Civil 100% Juvenile Dependency 100% Domestic Relations 100% Guardianship 100%
    • All orders should be submitted through the E-portal at https://www.myflcourtaccess.com .
    • DO NOT SEND THE PROPOSED ORDER UNTIL THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENT(S) ARE VIEWABLE ON THE CLERK’S SITE.
    • the order must be submitted for the judge’s review no later than three business days before the event is scheduled to occur. Orders received outside of this timeframe will not be considered.
16. Glades County Clerk, Probate page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • The Probate division of the Clerk’s Office maintains court records of the assets or estates of deceased persons, trusts, appointments of guardians of minors, incapacitated persons, and adults who voluntarily request the appointment of a guardian of their property.
    • the beneficiaries or heirs would need to seek the assistance of an attorney
    • This form may not be used when real property is involved.
    • must file and deposit the Will with the Clerk of the Circuit Court having venue of the estate of the decedent within 10 days after receiving information that the testator
    • the custodian of the will must supply the clerk with the date of death and Social Security number of the testator upon deposit.
    • requires that a death certificate be filed with the original will
    • there is no charge or filing fee to deposit a will with
    • the depositor will receive a Receipt for Deposit of Will which includes the case number, date of filing, and the seal of the Glades County Clerk of the Circuit Court.
    • you will receive 1 courtesy certified copy of the Will on deposit
    • certified copies of the will at the rate of $1.00 per page, plus a $2.00 charge for certification
    • Original Last Will and Testament of the decedent, if one exists
    • Death Certificate (original or certified copy from the Official Records Dept, no copies)
    • Copy of the statement from the funeral home showing by whom the bill was paid
    • Signed and notarized consents from all heirs, if any
    • Affidavit of heirs
    • will assist you in completing the petition for this procedure and will present it to the presiding probate judge. The filing fee is due at the time the Petition is filed.
    • an Order for Payment of Funds will be entered by the probate court
    • (863) 946-6010 Hours of Operation Monday – Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
    • Court Records
    • E-File
    • CCIS User Agreement
    • Copy of the bank statement, stock certificates, insurance checks, policy value information forms, or any related information regarding the assets that you are attempting to transfer with this procedure
17. Glades County Clerk, Contact Us, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Phone: (863) 946-6010
    • Office Address: 500 Avenue J, Suite 102 Moore Haven, Florida 33471
    • P.O. Box 10 Moore Haven, Florida 33471
    • Hours of Operation Monday – Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
18. Glades County Clerk, Administrative Orders, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Visit the 20th Judicial Circuit Official Website to view Administrative Orders.
19. Glades County Clerk, Online Court Records Search (OCRS), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Glades County OCRS Online Court Records Search
    • Public This option allows for anonymous access to court records.
20. Glades County Clerk, Registration Agreement to view records online, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • REGISTRATION AGREEMENT TO VIEW RECORDS ONLINE
21. Glades County Property Appraiser, home page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Glades County Property Appraiser
22. Glades County Property Appraiser, Exemption Information, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Generally, initial applications for property tax exemption must be made between January 1 and March 1 of the year for which the exemption is sought.
    • The Initial application should be made in person at the property appraiser's office.
    • Every person who owns and resides on real property in Florida on January 1 and makes the property his or her permanent residence is eligible to receive a homestead exemption up to $50,000.
    • $5000 Widow's and Widower's Exemption
    • On remarriage, the widow or widower is ineligible for the exemption.
23. Glades County Property Appraiser, Contact Us, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Street address: 500 Ave. J, #202 Moore Haven, Florida 33471 Office Phone: (863) 946-6025
    • Post Office Box 1106
24. Florida Department of Health in Glades County, Death Certificates, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Order death certificates online through VitalChek
    • The Florida Department of Health in Glades County Vital Statistics office has online access to and sells certified death certificates of persons who have died in Glades County from 1963 to the present.
    • Be the child named on the certificate Over 18 years old
    • Be the parent, guardian, or legal representative of the person named on the certificate
    • Have a court order
    • You must bring photo identification.
    • Hours Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
    • Fees $9.00 a copy
    • Phone: 863-946-0707
    • 1021 Health Park Drive Moore Haven, FL 33471