Martin County probate help.

Clerk and filing

E-filing and records search

• The circuit directs most probate filings to the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. The original will, codicils and death certificates are filed on paper. circuit19.org
• Probate proposed orders go by email to [email protected] rather than to the judicial assistant. circuit19.org
• The clerk's online records search shows probate cases, indexes, dockets and non-confidential document images. martinclerk.com

Probate filing fees posted by the clerk

Source: Martin County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, Probate fee schedule, checked October 16, 2026. Each posted fee that has a § 28.2401 amount is $1 above that amount (plus the $4 petition charge where § 28.2401(3) applies).

Judges and divisions

19th Judicial Circuit. Serves Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties.

Courthouses that hear probate

• Martin County Courthouse, 100 SE Ocean Blvd, Stuart, FL 34994; 772-288-5576 circuit19.org probate assignment

• Florida Courts lists the Nineteenth Circuit as Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties. The circuit's own site lists the same four counties. flcourts.gov
• General magistrates appointed under AO 2025-06 may hear probate and guardianship matters. The appendix revised August 3, 2026 names Lindsay Stroke, Bruce Baillie, Adrienne Fleming and Kathryn Hill. circuit19.org
• Judge Sherwood Bauer is assigned all probate and guardianship cases in Martin County, along with juvenile dependency and delinquency, Baker Act and Marchman Act, risk protection order and Jimmy Ryce cases and 75% of circuit civil non-jury cases. circuit19.org
• Judge Bauer's courtroom is A1-5 in the Martin County Courthouse, Stuart. His procedures page lists the address as 100 East Ocean Blvd., Suite A371. circuit19.org

Administrative orders

Orders of the 19th Judicial Circuit that apply to probate and guardianship cases in Martin County. Circuit order index.

• AO 2026-03 (Amended), Judicial Assignments for 2026. Date: January 12, 2026 (effective January 12, 2026). Assigns the circuit's judges to divisions and counties for 2026, including the probate and guardianship judges in each of the four counties; supersedes AO 2025-08.
• AO 2025-06 (Amended), Magistrates and Hearing Officers. Date: September 25, 2025, amended October 20, 2025 (appendix revised August 3, 2026). Appoints the circuit's general magistrates, who may hear probate and guardianship matters under Probate Rules 5.095 and 5.697; the appendix lists Lindsay Stroke, Bruce Baillie, Adrienne Fleming and Kathryn Hill.
• AO 2026-06, Rescission of Administrative Order 2025-10; Use of Artificial Intelligence in Court Filings. Date: June 16, 2026 (effective June 15, 2026). Rescinds the circuit's artificial intelligence filing order; filers follow Rule 2.515 as amended, under which the signer is responsible for verifying every legal authority cited.

Local requirements and forms

Where and how to file

• A probate case is filed with the clerk in the proper county: the county of residence for a Florida resident (see the death certificate), or the county where the property is located for a non-resident. circuit19.org
• Most filings go through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. The original will, any codicils and original death certificates are filed on paper. circuit19.org
• The custodian of a will deposits it with the clerk in the county where the decedent lived. circuit19.org

Court submissions by email

• For Martin County, the Probate & Guardianship Division page lists [email protected] as the address for pleadings, proposed orders and communications. circuit19.org
• Each submission email carries a subject line with the case number, estate name and document type, a copy of the filed pleadings, the proposed order in Microsoft Word, the completed checklist for opening or closing an estate, and a description of the requested court action. circuit19.org
• A probate case must be opened before documents are submitted. The circuit states that no ex parte communications are forwarded to judges. circuit19.org

Forms

• The circuit's Forms and Checklists page offers these probate forms: Petition to Determine Homestead Intestate, Petition to Determine Exempt Property, Petition for Summary Administration Pro Se, and Exhibit A, Schedule of Creditors and Provision for Payment, all as Word files. circuit19.org

Clerk services for small estates and wills

• A disposition of personal property without administration (small estate proceeding) is governed by § 735.301, Florida Statutes, and the clerk states it cannot be used when real property is involved. martinclerk.com
• The clerk lists these items for a disposition: the original will if one exists, a certified death certificate, a copy of the funeral home statement showing who paid, signed and notarized consents from all heirs, and statements or documents for the assets to be transferred. martinclerk.com
• Clerk staff help complete the disposition petition and present it to the presiding probate judge. The filing fee is $231.00, plus $3.00 for one additional certified copy of the Order for Payment of Funds. martinclerk.com
• Section 732.901 requires a will to be deposited with the clerk within 10 days after the custodian learns of the death. The clerk charges $1.00 to index a deposited will and $1.00 per page plus $2.00 for a certified copy. martinclerk.com

Judge Bauer's probate procedures

• Probate inquiries other than setting a hearing, and probate proposed orders, go by email to [email protected]. Other communications for the judge's office go to the judicial assistant. circuit19.org
• Checklists are required to open and to close an estate (formal administration, closing a formal administration, summary administration, disposition of personal property with administration). circuit19.org
• An attorney signs each checklist personally; signature stamps are not allowed. The completed checklist, the proposed orders in Word format and a description of the documents and the action requested go to [email protected]. circuit19.org
• Original documents and money are not sent to the judge's office, which takes no responsibility for them. circuit19.org
• Motions are filed with the clerk before a hearing date is requested. Uniform motion calendar hearings are on the calendar at 9:00 a.m., last 10 minutes or less, and are non-evidentiary; they can be scheduled on the online calendar. circuit19.org
• Other motion hearings are not scheduled on the online calendar. The judicial assistant provides dates and times by email after the motion is filed. circuit19.org
• Hearing time is cleared with the opposing party, and the notice of hearing records that coordination. The notice states the title of the motion, the date it was filed and the time allotted. circuit19.org
• The motion, any proposed order in Word format and the notice of hearing are emailed within five working days of obtaining a possible date and time, or the time can be given to another matter. circuit19.org
• Proposed orders are due within two days after a hearing, in Word format, with a cover letter that certifies all parties agree or states the disagreement. circuit19.org
• All evidentiary hearings and trials are recorded by a court reporter that the moving party arranges. circuit19.org
• Zoom attendance may or may not be permitted, and the judge's page says not to assume it will be. A request is made by motion, or to chambers, at least 120 hours (five full days) before the hearing; a motion filed less than 120 hours out is not addressed and the hearing is in person. In person is the norm. circuit19.org

Forms and checklists

• Judge Bauer procedures and probate division requirements, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit
• Checklist for Opening a Formal Administration (Judge Bauer), Nineteenth Judicial Circuit
• Checklist for Closing a Formal Administration (Judge Bauer), Nineteenth Judicial Circuit
• Checklist for Summary Administration (Judge Bauer), Nineteenth Judicial Circuit
• Checklist for Disposition of Personal Property (Judge Bauer), Nineteenth Judicial Circuit
• Probate forms on the circuit's Forms and Checklists page (Word files), Nineteenth Judicial Circuit

Property and homestead

• A homestead exemption needs ownership and permanent residence as of January 1 of the tax year. Applications are due by March 1 by mail, in person or online. No minimum number of months of residence is required. pamartinfl.gov
• The appraiser lists these ways to lose a homestead exemption: an out-of-state residency based tax benefit, a driver's license from another state, and voter registration elsewhere. If either spouse owns other Florida property, even individually, only one property can have the homestead exemption. pamartinfl.gov
• The property appraiser's main office is at 3473 SE Willoughby Blvd., Suite 101, Stuart, (772) 288-5608, open Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Hobe Sound branch is open Monday and Tuesday and the Indiantown branch by appointment. pamartinfl.gov

Death certificates

• Death certificates are ordered through VitalChek, the only vendor the Department of Health authorizes online, or in person or by mail at the Stuart office. A copy of valid identification goes with every request. martin.floridahealth.gov
• The Martin County health department issues certificates for deaths in Florida from 2009 to the present. Earlier deaths are requested from the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville or through VitalChek. Cause of death is released to family members and legal representatives. martin.floridahealth.gov

Records and help

• Section 735.201(2), Florida Statutes, sets the summary administration limit at $150,000, or a decedent dead more than two years (chapter 2026-57). flsenate.gov
• The clerk's Records Search covers civil, criminal, domestic relations, probate, special services and traffic cases online, with non-confidential document images. Printed copies cost $1 per page plus certification costs. martinclerk.com
• The clerk's mailing address is P.O. Box 9016, Stuart, FL 34995-9016. The clerk also lists a Hobe Sound branch and an Indiantown branch open Wednesdays and Fridays. martinclerk.com
• The circuit's court administration office is at 250 NW Country Club Dr., Suite 217, Port Saint Lucie, FL 34986. circuit19.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.
   • Fee for the opening of any estate of one document or more
   • not to exceed the following amounts
2. 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
3. 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.
4. Florida Courts, Trial Courts (Circuit) list, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Nineteenth Circuit - Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie

   Note: The circuit list is built by script on the page. The text was read in a browser on October 16, 2026.

5. Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, home page, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Serving Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, and Saint Lucie counties.
   • The Nineteenth Judicial Circuit serves the Indian River, Martin, St. Lucie, and Okeechobee counties.
   • 250 NW Country Club, Dr. Suite 217 Port Saint Lucie, FL 34986
6. Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Probate & Guardianship Division, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • The Probate Division covers estates, wills, trust litigation, and guardianships.
   • Hon. Steven J. Levin
   • Hon. Katherine Mish
   • Hon. Sherwood Bauer Jr.
   • Hon. Rebecca I. White
   • Hon. Laurie E. Buchanan
   • All pleadings, proposed orders, and communications must be submitted via email to the appropriate county address:
   • St. Lucie [email protected] Martin [email protected] Indian River [email protected] Okeechobee [email protected]
   • Subject line: Case number, estate name, and document type
   • Copy of filed pleadings
   • Proposed order in Microsoft Word
   • Completed checklist (for opening or closing estate)
   • Description of the requested court action
   • Note: You must open a probate case before submitting any documents. No ex parte communications will be forwarded to judges.
   • If the deceased was a Florida resident, file in the county of residence (see death certificate).
   • If not a Florida resident, file in the county where property is located.
   • Use the Florida Courts e-Filing Portal for most filings
   • Original Wills Original Codicils Original Death Certificates
   • Where do I file a will? With the Clerk's office in the county where the decedent lived.
   • Florida Probate Rules - Effective January 1, 2026 (PDF)
7. Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Administrative Orders, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • 2026-03 Amended Judicial Assignments for 2026 (PDF) - Order 2026-03 Amended
   • 2025-06 Amended Magistrates and Hearing Officers (PDF) - Order 2025-06 Amended
   • 2026-06 Rescission of Administrative Order 2025-10; Use of Artificial Intelligence in Court Filings (PDF) - Order 2026-06
8. Amended Administrative Order 2026-03, Judicial Assignments for 2026, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • AMENDED ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 2026-03
   • (Superseding Administrative Order 2025-08)
   • EFFECTIVE JANUARY 12, 2026
   • this 12th day of January, 2026
9. Amended Administrative Order 2025-06, Magistrates and Hearing Officers, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Probate and guardianship matters (Florida Probate Rules 5.095 and 5.697)
   • Each person listed in Appendix A is hereby appointed as a General Magistrate for the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit
   • 4:48 pm, Oct 20, 2025
10. Appendix to Administrative Order 2025-06 (revised August 3, 2026), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Originally issued: September 25, 2025 Revised: August 3, 2026
    • Lindsay Stroke Bruce Baillie Adrienne Fleming Kathryn Hill
11. Administrative Order 2026-06, Rescission of Administrative Order 2025-10, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Administrative Order 2025-10, In re: Use of Artificial Intelligence in Court Filings, is hereby RESCINDED, effective June 15, 2026
    • signers are reminded that they bear full responsibility for verifying the existence and accuracy of every legal authority cited in a filing
    • on this 16th day of June 2026
12. Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Forms and Checklists, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Petition to Determine Homestead Intestate
    • Petition to Determine Exempt Property
    • Petition for Summary Administration Pro Se
    • Exhibit A - Schedule of Creditors and Provision for Payment
    • The following checklists are provided to assist litigants in managing the filing of forms related to their court cases.
13. Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Courthouse Locations, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Okeechobee County Courthouse
    • 312 N.W. 3rd St., Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-763-2131
    • St Lucie County Courthouse - Main
    • 218 S 2nd St., Fort Pierce, FL 34950 772-462-6900
    • Indian River County Courthouse
    • 2000 16th Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32960 772-770-5185
    • Martin County Courthouse
    • 100 SE Ocean Blvd, Stuart, FL 34994 772-288-5576
14. Martin County Clerk, Probate & Guardianship, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Please refer to Florida Statute 735.301 to determine if you are eligible for this type of process. This form may not be used when real property is involved.
    • Original Last Will and Testament of the decedent, if one exists
    • Death Certificate, certified copy
    • Copy of the statement from funeral home showing by whom the bill was paid
    • Signed and notarized consents from all heirs, if any
    • will present it to the presiding probate judge.
    • The filing fee of $231.00 is due at the time the Petition is filed.
    • There is also a $3.00 charge for one additional certified copy of the Order for Payment of Funds
    • must be deposited with the Clerk of the Circuit Court having venue of the estate of the decedent within 10 days after receiving information that the testator
    • there is a charge of $1.00, indexing fee, to deposit a will
    • at the rate of $1.00 per page, plus a $2.00 charge for certification
    • Probate Cases Email Phone: 772-288-5539
    • Probate is not needed if all assets were jointly held and one of the joint holders is the survivor.
15. Martin County Clerk, Office Directory, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • 100 SE Ocean Boulevard Courthouse Stuart, FL 34994
    • Mailing Address P.O. Box 9016 Stuart, FL 34995
    • Phone: 772-288-5576 Hours 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday
16. Martin County Clerk, Probate, Guardianship & Trust fee schedule, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • For the opening of any estate of one document or more, but not to include the issuance of letters or orders of summary administration $231
    • Petitions to admit foreign wills, authenticated or exemplified copies or transcripts of record $231
    • Caveat or Notice of Trust $41
    • Disposition of personal property without administration $231
    • Estate Administration: Summary Administration - less than $1,000 $235
    • Estate Administration: Summary Administration - $1,000 or more $345
    • Estate Administration: Formal, Ancillary, Curatorship, Conservatorship $400
    • Guardianship of Person Only $235
    • Trusts $400
    • Reopen Fee $50
    • Indexing Wills $1
    • Courthouse Stuart Office 100 SE Ocean Boulevard Stuart, FL 34994 Phone: 772-288-5576 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday
    • Probate Cases Phone: 772-288-5539
    • Hobe Sound Branch Office 11730 SE Federal Highway Hobe Sound, FL 33455 Phone: 772-546-1308 8 am to Noon, 1 pm to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday
    • Indiantown Branch Office 16550 SW Warfield Boulevard Indiantown, FL 34956 Phone: 772-223-7921 8 am to 1 pm, 2 pm to 4:30 pm Wednesdays and Fridays
    • Mailing Address Post Office Box 9016 Stuart, FL 34995-9016
17. Martin County Clerk, Records Search, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Online - Search and view court records, indexes, dockets and non-confidential document images for civil, criminal, domestic relations, probate, special services and traffic cases.
    • Printed copies of available court records are provided upon request at the statutory cost of $1 per page, plus additional costs for certified copies.
18. Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Judge Sherwood Bauer Jr., checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Judge Sherwood Bauer, Jr.
    • Circuit Judge
    • 100 East Ocean Blvd. Suite A371. Stuart, FL 34994
    • Courtroom: A1-5
    • Any Probate inquires, other than setting of a hearing, should be directed to [email protected] .
    • Submission Method: By email to [email protected] EXCEPT PROBATE, THAT SHOULD BE EMAILED TO [email protected]
    • Checklists are required for both Opening and Closing Estates.
    • Attorneys must verify completion and correctness of the Checklists by personal signature. No signature stamps are allowed.
    • Proposed Order(s) in word format; and A description of the documents being provided, as well as the action you wish to be taken.
    • Original documents and monies are not to be sent to the Judge's office, and the Judge's office take no responsibility for such items.
    • UMC HEARINGS: UMC dates are on the calendar at 9:00 a.m.
    • UMC Hearings are 10 minutes or less and are non-evidentiary in nature.
    • Do not use the online calendar system to schedule any motion hearing time (except UMC hearing time).
    • All (excluding UMC motions) hearings must be scheduled by contacting Judicial Assistant
    • All motions must have been filed with the Clerk of Court Before you contact this office for hearing time.
    • Hearing time must be cleared with opposing counsel/party and a certificate that the date and time was coordinated with the opposing counsel/party must be clearly reflected on your Notice of Hearing
    • The notice of hearing must contain the title of the motion to be heard; the date when the motion to be heard was filed in the court file; and the time allotted for the hearing.
    • within 5 (five) working days of obtaining the possible date/time
    • Proposed orders must be submitted within 2 days after any hearing.
    • All proposed orders must be accompanied by a cover letter either (1) certifying that all parties agree to the order or (2) containing a statement identifying any disagreement of the parties as to the proposed order.
    • All evidentiary matters (both trials and hearings) must be recorded by a court reporter.
    • The Court requires that the motion must be filed with an email copy to the Court at least 120 hours (5 full days) before the scheduled hearing time or it will not be addressed and the hearing will be in person.
    • Platform Used: ZOOM
    • Martin: All Juvenile Dependency and Delinquency Cases including Detention and Shelter Hearings;
    • All Probate and Guardianship Cases;
    • Remote Appearance Procedure: ... Requirements: Zoom attendance at Court Hearings may or may not be permitted by first requesting via motion / obtaining permission at the time of setting the hearing or at least 120 hours before the hearing once the case is set, from the Court, by request to chambers at [email protected]
    • Do not assume that you may appear by Zoom.
    • Exceptions will be made, if justified. In person will be the norm, as the Court finds good cause for the reasons stated herein.
19. Martin County Property Appraiser, home page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Martin County Property Appraiser
    • Homestead Exemption
20. Martin County Property Appraiser, Homestead Exemption general information, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • if you own property and make the property your permanent residence as of January 1st of the tax year, you may qualify for homestead exemption
    • either by mail, in person, or online by March 1st.
    • A common misconception is that you must reside on the property for a certain number of months each year in order to qualify for homestead exemption. There is no such requirement.
    • Maintain or obtain an out-of-state residency based tax exemption, reduction, benefit, credit, etc.
    • Maintain or obtain a driver's license in any other state.
    • Registered to vote elsewhere.
    • If either spouse own other Florida property, even individually, only one property can have the homestead exemption.
21. Martin County Property Appraiser, Office Locations, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Property Appraiser's Main Office 3473 SE Willoughby Blvd., Suite 101 Stuart, FL 34994 Phone : (772) 288-5608 Monday - Friday, 8:00AM - 5:00PM
    • Hobe Sound Branch 11726 SE Federal Hwy. Hobe Sound, FL 33455 Phone : (772) 288-5608 Open Monday & Tuesday, 8am - 5pm.
    • Indiantown Branch Government Complex 16550 Warfield Blvd. Indiantown, FL 34956 Phone : (772) 288-5608 By appointment. Please Call .
22. Florida Department of Health in Martin County, Death Certificates, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Order death certificates online through VitalChek
    • the only vendor authorized by the Florida Department of Health
    • Death Certificates are available for deaths occurring in the state of Florida from 2009 to present.
    • A legible copy of a valid driver's license, passport, state-issued ID, or military identification card must accompany all requests.
    • You must be a family member or legal representative when requesting cause of death.
    • $15 Death Certificate $15 Additional Certificates $10 Rush Fee $10 Search Fee
    • Florida Department of Health in Martin County 772-221-4000
    • Mailing Address 3441 SE Willoughby Blvd. Stuart, FL 34994
23. Checklist for Opening a Formal Administration (Judge Bauer), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Checklist for Opening a Formal Administration
    • Sherwood Bauer, Circuit Judge
24. Checklist for Closing a Formal Administration (Judge Bauer), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Checklist for Closing a Formal Administration
    • Sherwood Bauer, Circuit Judge
25. Checklist for Summary Administration (Judge Bauer), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Checklist for Summary Administration
    • Sherwood Bauer, Circuit Judge
26. Checklist for Disposition of Personal Property (Judge Bauer), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Checklist for Disposition of Personal Property
    • Sherwood Bauer, Circuit Judge