Seminole County probate help.

Clerk and filing

E-filing and records search

• The ePortal gives e-filing with a single statewide login; support is the Florida Association of Court Clerks' Services Group at 850-577-4609. seminoleclerk.org
• Proposed orders are e-filed through the ePortal proposed-order function, directly to the judge, in Microsoft Word (.docx), with a blank PDF page as the cover letter. seminoleclerk.org
• The e-signature codes JJJJ (judge signature) and DDDD (signature date) go on the proposed order. seminoleclerk.org
• The circuit's formal administration checklist requires all orders to be e-filed through the e-portal. flcourts18.org

Probate filing fees posted by the clerk

Source: Seminole County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller 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

18th Judicial Circuit. Serves Brevard and Seminole counties.

Courthouses that hear probate

• Juvenile Justice Center, 190 Eslinger Way, Sanford, FL 32773; (407) 665-4300 seminoleclerk.org

• The Judges Directory lists Judge Orth (JUV/P/MH/G, designation B, location code CJC) and Judge Galluzzo (JUV/P/MH/G, designation P, location code JJC). Their biography pages say each holds court at the Juvenile Justice Center, 190 Eslinger Way, Sanford. flcourts18.org
• The biography page for Judge Orth lists (407) 665-5342 and the Juvenile Justice Center at 190 Eslinger Way, Sanford. flcourts18.org
• The biography page for Judge Galluzzo lists (407) 665-5398 and the Juvenile Justice Center at 190 Eslinger Way, Sanford. flcourts18.org
• The circuit lists the Seminole Civil Justice Center at 301 N. Park Ave., Sanford, (407) 665-4200. flcourts18.org
• The Florida Courts site lists the Eighteenth Circuit as Brevard and Seminole counties. flcourts.gov
• The Probate Division also hears Jimmy Ryce Act proceedings. flcourts18.org

Administrative orders

Orders of the 18th Judicial Circuit that apply to probate and guardianship cases in Seminole County. Circuit order index.

• AO 26-28-S Amended, Seminole County circuit division assignments. Date: Signed October 1, 2026. Sends new probate, guardianship and mental health cases to Divisions B (even case numbers) and P (odd case numbers), keeps a probate case with any pending guardianship case for the same person, and names Judges Orth and Galluzzo.
• AO 25-28, Probate and Guardianship - Reporting by Guardians; Use of Corporate Credit Cards by Professional Guardians. Date: 2025. Requires electronic fingerprints from nonprofessional proposed guardians and electronic re-printing every five years for professional guardians, circuit-wide, replacing AO 17-46-B.
• AO 15-40, Probate and Guardianship - Filing Annual Guardianship Reports. Date: September 15, 2015. Puts guardians of property on a fiscal-year basis, with each annual accounting due by the first day of the fourth month after the letters anniversary.
• AO 17-37, Mental Health - Confidentiality of Examining Committee Reports. Date: 2017. Makes examining committee reports in incapacity cases confidential, open only to the court, clerk, petitioner and counsel, and the alleged incapacitated person and counsel.
• AO 93-16, Trusts - Filing of Court Cases. Date: February 9, 1993. Requires every case on the administration of a trust to be filed in the Probate Division of the circuit court (recorded in Seminole County on 2-12-93).
• AO 26-24, Administrative Orders - Rescinds Administrative Order 26-10. Date: June 1, 2026. Rescinds AO 26-10, the circuit's own order on generative AI in filings, and relies on Rule 2.515(d)(2).

Local requirements and forms

Filing and venue

• Probate is filed with the clerk, usually in the county where the decedent lived. seminoleclerk.org
• The clerk lists Juvenile and Probate services at the Juvenile Justice Center, 190 Eslinger Way, Sanford; the probate line is 407-665-4369. seminoleclerk.org
• New probate, guardianship and mental health cases are assigned to Division B when the case number ends in an even number and to Division P when it ends in an odd number. flcourts18.org
• A probate case for a person with a pending guardianship goes to the division that holds the guardianship, unless the guardianship is closed. flcourts18.org
• If a guardianship for the decedent was filed in any court of any state, the attorney in the probate case files a Notice of Related Cases in both cases. flcourts18.org
• Cases on the administration of trusts are filed in the Probate Division. flcourts18.org

Wills

• The custodian files the original will for safekeeping within ten days of the notice of death; there is no fee, and a receipt costs $7.00. seminoleclerk.org
• The clerk says a death certificate comes from the Health Department of the county where the decedent died, and an account held jointly can be moved by recording a certified death certificate without the cause of death. seminoleclerk.org

Small estates and summary administration

• A disposition of personal property without administration asks for the will (filed for safekeeping), an itemized paid funeral bill, paid receipts for medical expenses in the 60 days before death, a statement of the asset, identification of the filer and the fee; the order allows or disallows release. No real property. seminoleclerk.org
• The clerk page limits that disposition to assets up to $6,000.00 or reasonable funeral expenses; § 735.301 states no dollar limit. flsenate.gov
• The clerk states summary administration fits an estate of $150,000 or less, or a decedent dead more than two years, matching § 735.201(2). seminoleclerk.org
• The clerk says a personal representative of an estate typically has legal representation, and posts packets for formal administration (intestate and testate) and summary administration (with and without a will). seminoleclerk.org
• The court requires an Affidavit of Heirs in all intestate estates; the circuit posts a form marked Brevard only. flcourts18.org

Proposed orders and scheduling

• Proposed orders go through the ePortal proposed-order function, in Word (.docx), with a blank PDF page as cover letter and the JJJJ and DDDD signature codes. seminoleclerk.org
• Attorneys schedule hearings through the circuit's scheduling portal by judge or court name, and can cancel or reschedule only the hearings they set. flcourts18.org
• The Seminole probate division judges, Orth and Galluzzo, each list a number and point attorneys to the attorney scheduling instructions. flcourts18.org

Guardianship and checklists

• Annual accountings by guardians of property follow a fiscal year tied to the letters, due by the first day of the fourth month after the anniversary (AO 15-40). flcourts18.org
• Nonprofessional proposed guardians submit fingerprints electronically with the application (AO 25-28). flcourts18.org
• Examining committee reports in incapacity cases are confidential, open only to the court, the clerk, the petitioner and counsel, and the alleged incapacitated person and counsel (AO 17-37). flcourts18.org
• After a petition for incapacity is filed, the court appoints an attorney for the alleged incapacitated person and an examining committee within 5 days; the committee reports within 15 days, and the court sets the hearing within 14 days after the reports. flcourts18.org
• The circuit posts checklists for summary administration, formal administration, guardian advocate, guardian of a minor and mental health incapacity, and says it does not provide probate forms. flcourts18.org

Forms and checklists

• Petition for Administration Intestate Packet and Testate Packet, Seminole County Clerk
• Petition for Summary Administration, with and without a will, Seminole County Clerk
• Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration, Seminole County Clerk
• Summary Administration Checklist, Eighteenth Judicial Circuit
• Formal Probate Administration Checklist (Rev 8/12/26), Eighteenth Judicial Circuit
• Guardian advocate, guardian of a minor and mental health incapacity checklists, and guardian advocate manual, Eighteenth Judicial Circuit
• Attorney Scheduling Instructions, Eighteenth Judicial Circuit

Property and homestead

• The deadline to apply for a homestead exemption is March 1; January 1 is the date of assessment for all property. scpafl.org
• The Seminole County Property Appraiser is at 1101 E. 1st Street, Sanford, open 8 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday; exemption issues go to 407-665-7512. scpafl.org

Death certificates

• Death certificates cover deaths in Florida from 2009 to the present; earlier deaths go to the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville or VitalChek. Cause of death is released to family members and legal representatives. seminole.floridahealth.gov
• The Sanford main office lists birth and death certificates and Vital Statistics at 407-665-3226. seminole.floridahealth.gov

Records and help

• Chapter 2026-57, Laws of Florida, took effect July 1, 2026, raising the § 735.201(2) summary administration limit to $150,000. laws.flrules.org
• Section 735.201(2) in the 2026 Florida Statutes reads $150,000, as amended by chapter 2026-57. flsenate.gov
• 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. 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.
6. 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.
7. Florida Statutes § 735.301, disposition without administration (2026), checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • No administration shall be required or formal proceedings instituted upon the estate of a decedent leaving only personal property exempt under the provisions of s. 732.402
   • nonexempt personal property the value of which does not exceed the sum of the amount of preferred funeral expenses and reasonable and necessary medical and hospital expenses of the last 60 days of the last illness
8. Florida Courts, Trial Courts - Circuit, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Eighteenth Circuit - Brevard and Seminole
9. Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, home page, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Courts
   • Brevard Court Administration 2825 Judge Fran Jamieson Way Viera, FL 32940-8006 321-633-2171
   • Seminole Court Administration 301 N. Park Avenue Sanford, FL 32771-1292 407-665-4200
10. Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, Administrative Orders, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Only Active Administrative Orders from 1978 to the present are available online
11. Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, Courthouse Locations, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Titusville Historic Courthouse
    • 506 S. Palm Ave.
    • Civil Justice Center
    • 301 N. Park Ave.
    • Moore Justice Center
    • 2825 Judge Fran Jamieson Way
12. Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, Probate & Guardianship, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • The Probate Division of the Circuit Court has jurisdiction of proceedings relating to the settlement of the estates of decedents and minors, the granting of wills, guardianship, involuntary hospitalization, and the determination of competency.
    • The Probate Division also has jurisdiction over proceedings relating to the Jimmy Ryce Act (sexual predator)
    • The Eighteenth Judicial Circuit does not provide any forms related to the Probate process.
    • Affidavit of Heirs (Brevard Only)
    • Summary Administration Checklist
    • Formal Probate Administration Checklist
    • Guardian Advocate Checklist
    • Guardian of Minor Checklist
    • Mental Health Incapacity Checklist
    • Once the Petition for Incapacity is filed with the court, the court, within five (5) days, will appoint an attorney to represent the AIP and an examining committee to conduct an evaluation
    • Once the Petition for Incapacity is filed with the court, the court, within five (5) days, will appoint an attorney to represent the AIP and an examining committee to conduct an evaluation.
    • The examining committee will complete their evaluations and submit their reports back to the court within fifteen (15) days.
    • The court will then set a hearing to be held within fourteen (14) days after receiving the reports from the examining committee.
    • Brevard Guardian Advocate Manual
    • Seminole Guardian Advocate Manual
13. Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, Judges Directory, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • (TC-2nd) BALLOU, TESHA (P/G) HELEN COPE (321) 264-6756 P
    • (JJC) GALLUZZO, JOHN D. (JUV/P/MH/G) STEPHANIE MCNEAL (407) 665-5398 P
    • (CJC) ORTH, WILLIAM S. (JUV/P/MH/G) DEBBIE WHITEHEAD (407) 665-5342 B
14. Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, AO 25-28 Reporting by Guardians and Fingerprinting (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO.: 25-28
    • SUPERSEDES 17-46-B
    • This Administrative Order revokes and replaces Administrative Order 17-46-B and is a circuit-wide applicable Order.
    • All nonprofessional proposed guardians shall submit fingerprints electronically at the time of initial application to be appointed guardian.
    • Professional guardians, including employees of professional guardians, shall submit fingerprints electronically and must be electronically reprinted every five (5) years.
15. Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, AO 15-40 Annual Guardianship Reports (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • IN RE: PROBATE AND GUARDIANSHIP - FILING ANNUAL GUARDIANSHIP REPORTS
    • Annual accountings shall be filed by guardians of property on a fiscal year basis.
    • Each annual accounting shall be filed on or before the first day of the fourth month after the anniversary date of the letters of guardianship.
    • DONE and ORDERED this 15th day of September, 2015.
16. Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, AO 17-37 Confidentiality of Examining Committee Reports (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • MENTAL HEALTH
    • CONFIDENTIALITY OF EXAMINING COMMITTEE REPORTS
    • Examining committee reports filed in mental health cases in conjunction with a Petition to Determine Incapacity are deemed confidential and are subject to inspection only by the court, the clerk or the clerk's representative, the petitioner, the petitioner's attorney, the alleged incapacitated person and the alleged incapacitated person's attorney.
17. Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, AO 93-16 Trusts, Filing of Court Cases (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • IN RE: TRUSTS - Filing of Court Cases
    • All cases relating to the administration of trusts shall be filed in the Probate Division of the Circuit Court.
18. Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, AO 26-24 Rescinding AO 26-10 (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO.: 26-24
    • RESCINDS 26-10
    • Administrative Order 26-10 is hereby rescinded.
    • DONE AND ORDERED this 1st day of June, 2026
19. Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, Summary Administration Checklist (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • SUMMARY ADMINISTRATION CHECKLIST
    • does not exceed $150,000 or that the decedent has been dead for more than 2 years
    • The court requires that an Affidavit of Heirs be filed in all intestate estate.
    • Death Certificate - A copy of an official record of the death of a decedent shall be filed at any time prior to entry of the order of summary administration.
    • Original Last Will and Testament shall be deposited with the Court.
20. Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, Formal Probate Administration Checklist (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • FORMAL PROBATE ADMINISTRATION CHECKLIST
    • The court requires that an Affidavit of Heirs be filed in all intestate estates.
    • All orders are required to be e-filed through the e-portal
    • Rev 8/12/26
    • Oath of Personal Representative
    • Designation of Resident Agent and Acceptance
    • Letters of Administration
21. Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, AO 26-28-S Amended, Seminole Circuit Division Assignments (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • III. PROBATE, GUARDIANSHIP, AND MENTAL HEALTH (CP)
    • The probate, guardianship, and mental health cases will be assigned to Divisions B and P.
    • Division B: cases ending in an even number
    • Division P: cases ending in an odd number
    • All probate cases involving the same individual in any pending guardianship matter will be reassigned to the division with the corresponding guardianship case sua sponte by the Clerk, unless the guardianship case has been closed.
    • If there is no pending guardianship case, then it will be assigned according to paragraph III.B. above.
    • the attorney in the probate action will be required to file a Notice of Related Cases in both the probate action and the guardianship case
    • The circuit judges assigned to the divisions of the court from July 1, 2026, until June 30, 2028, are as follows:
    • Division B: William Orth - Juvenile/Probate/Guardianship/Mental Health
    • Division P: John Galluzzo - Juvenile/Probate/Guardianship/Mental Health
    • DONE AND ORDERED this 1st day of October, 2026.
22. Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, Judge William S. Orth, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Orth Holds Court at the Juvenile Justice Center in Seminole County
    • 190 Eslinger Way Sanford, FL 32773
    • (407) 665-5342
    • Attorney Scheduling Instructions
23. Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, Judge John D. Galluzzo, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Galluzzo Holds Court at the Juvenile Justice Center in Seminole County
    • 190 Eslinger Way Sanford FL, 32773
    • (407) 665-5398
    • Attorney Scheduling Instructions
24. Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, Attorney Scheduling Instructions (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Attorneys can only cancel or reschedule hearings that they set.
    • Once selected, the Attorney will be redirected to the Court's scheduling page.
    • The attorney can search by judge or court name.
    • If you do not have a login, click Register an Account
25. Seminole County Clerk, Probate, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Probate proceedings are filed with the clerk of the circuit court, usually in the county in which the decedent lived at the time of his or her death.
    • A filing fee is required and should be paid to the clerk.
    • There are two types of probate administration under Florida law: formal administration and summary administration.
    • There is also a non-court supervised administration proceeding called
    • Juvenile Justice Center Location: 190 Eslinger Way, Sanford, FL 32773 Phone Number: 407-665-4369
    • Seminole County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller Post Office Box 8099 Sanford, FL 32772-8099
26. Seminole County Clerk, Estates, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Petition for Administration Intestate Packet
    • Petition for Administration Testate Packet
    • This type of proceeding is used when the value of the entire estate does not exceed $150,000 or the decedent has been deceased over two years.
    • Petition for Summary Administration (With Will)
    • Petition for Summary Administration (Without Will)
    • This type of proceeding is used to request the release of assets of the deceased up to $6,000.00 or reasonable funeral expenses to the person who paid the final expenses
    • These assets cannot include real property.
    • If the decedent has a will, it must be filed with the Clerk of Court for safekeeping within ten days of the notice of death;
    • An itemized, paid funeral bill;
    • Paid receipts for any medical expenses incurred sixty days prior to death;
    • A statement regarding the type of asset to be released;
    • Identification of the person filing;
    • After this information is filed, the Court will enter an Order either allowing or disallowing the release of assets.
    • it is important and typically required that the personal representative of an Estate have legal representation
    • There is no fee to deposit a will. If a receipt is requested, the fee is $7.00.
    • No. Death certificates must be obtained from the Health Department of the county where the decedent died.
    • you should record a certified copy of the death certificate in the Official Records of the county which does not include the cause of death section
    • $400.00 For formal and ancillary formal administration, curatorship, conservatorship or guardianship of property (including voluntary guardian property)
    • $400.00 Trust Probate
    • $345.00 For summary administration greater than $1,000.00 and ancillary summary administration
    • $235.00 For summary administration less than or equal to $1,000.00
    • $231.00 Disposition of Personal Property without Administration
    • $231.00 To admit foreign will, authenticated copies, Exemplified copies or transcripts of record but not letters issued.
    • $231.00 To open safe deposit box, to enter rooms and places
    • $41.00 Caveats & Notice of Trust
    • $50.00 Re-open fee
    • $395.00 To file counter petitions
    • $8.50 Bond approval fee
    • $3.50 Administer an oath (must present ID)

    Note: The page limits a disposition without administration to assets up to $6,000.00 or reasonable funeral expenses; § 735.301 states no dollar limit.

27. Seminole County Clerk, Locations & Hours, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Juvenile Justice Center
    • Juvenile and Probate services.
    • Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
    • 190 Eslinger Way, Sanford, FL 32773 (407) 665-4300
    • Criminal Justice Center Primary location for Civil, Criminal and Traffic court services.
    • 101 Eslinger Way, Sanford, FL 32773 (407) 665-4300
    • Casselberry Branch Civil, Criminal, Traffic, Marriage and some Recording services.
    • Official Records Juvenile & Probate Commission Records Records Center

    Note: The locations page lists Juvenile and Probate services at the Juvenile Justice Center. It is not clear from the page how the probate counter hours differ from the 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM listed there.

28. Seminole County Clerk, E-File A Case, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • The ePortal is a web site that provides eFiling capability with a single statewide login.
    • Proposed Orders, which are eFiled directly to the Judge and are eFiled differently than documents that are eFiled to the Clerk
    • Proposed orders must be submitted in Microsoft Word docx format
    • Submit a blank PDF page as your cover letter
    • JJJJ = Judge Signature
    • DDDD = Judge Signature Date
    • For technical support, including password resets, contact the Florida Association of Court Clerks' Services Group at 850-577-4609
29. Seminole County Property Appraiser, Important Dates, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • January 1 Date of Assessment for all property.
    • March 1 Deadline to apply for Homestead Exemption or Agricultural Classification.
30. Seminole County Property Appraiser, Location, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Seminole County Property Appraiser's Office 1101 E. 1st Street Sanford FL, 32771-1468
    • Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm
    • Customer Service Phone: 407-665-7506
    • Exemption Issues or fraud: 407-665-7512
31. Seminole County Property Appraiser, Homestead, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Homestead
    • Exemptions
    • Portability
32. Florida Department of Health in Seminole County, Death Certificates, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Death certificates are available for deaths occurring in the state of Florida from 2009 to present.
    • Any death prior to 2009 must be requested from
    • All requests must include a legible copy of a valid driver
    • You must be a family member or legal representative when requesting cause of death.
    • main office in Sanford
    • Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    • Vital Statistics 407-665-3226
33. Florida Department of Health in Seminole County, Sanford Main Office, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Physical Address: 400 W. Airport Blvd., Sanford, FL 32773
    • Birth and Death Certificates
    • Vital Statistics: 407-665-3226
    • Monday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

    Note: The death certificate page says the main office is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; the location page lists 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.