Sumter County probate help.

Clerk and filing

E-filing and records search

• Judge Hatcher's probate procedures call for proposed orders by U.S. Mail only, with e-mailed orders refused and portal e-filing of proposed orders not to be attempted. circuit5.org
• The circuit proposed-order page lists Sumter among the counties that accept proposed orders through the portal, in Word (.docx). Judge Hatcher's page says the opposite for her office, so the two pages conflict; her U.S. Mail rule is the judge-specific one, and her office at 352-569-6937 can confirm it. circuit5.org
• Original wills and death certificates go directly to the clerk, which also requires a death certificate to be filed with the original will. sumterclerk.com

Probate filing fees posted by the clerk

Source: Sumter 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), except the $7.00 exemplified certificate, which matches it.

Judges and divisions

5th Judicial Circuit. Serves Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter counties.

Courthouses that hear probate

• Sumter County Courthouse, 215 East McCollum Avenue, Bushnell, FL 33513; (352) 569-6950 circuit5.org probate assignment

• The circuit lists Sumter County Courthouse at 215 East McCollum Avenue, Bushnell, (352) 569-6950. circuit5.org
• The Florida Courts site lists the Fifth Circuit as Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter counties. flcourts.gov

Administrative orders

Orders of the 5th Judicial Circuit that apply to probate and guardianship cases in Sumter County. Circuit order index.

• AO S-2025-58-A, Amended Order of Judicial Assignments for Sumter County Circuit Judges, County Judges, General Magistrate and Hearing Officer for the Year 2026. Date: Signed May 14, 2026; circuit assignments effective June 29, 2026. Assigns probate to Circuit Judge Mary P. Hatcher and guardianship to Circuit Judge Erin Daly.
• AO A-2026-13-A, Amended Administrative Order In Re The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Court Filings and Proceedings and The Protection of Confidential Information. Date: 2026. Applies to every filing in Sumter, Citrus, Hernando, Lake and Marion counties and reminds each signer that Rule 2.515(d)(2) requires the cited legal authorities to exist and be accurately cited.

Local requirements and forms

Filing and venue

• The clerk files every probate proceeding at the Sumter County Courthouse in Bushnell. sumterclerk.com
• The circuit assigns Sumter County probate to Circuit Judge Mary P. Hatcher and guardianship to Circuit Judge Erin Daly for 2026 (AO S-2025-58-A). circuit5.org

Wills

• The original will goes to the clerk, with a death certificate, within 10 days of the custodian learning of the death; there is no filing fee. sumterclerk.com
• Original wills and death certificates go directly to the clerk, not to the judge's office. circuit5.org
• Certified copies of a will cost $1.00 per page plus $2.00 for certification. sumterclerk.com

Small estates

• Disposition of personal property without administration cannot be used when real property is involved; the clerk points to § 735.301. sumterclerk.com
• The clerk lists the usual documents: the original will if any, the death certificate, the funeral home statement showing who paid, notarized consents from heirs, and asset statements. sumterclerk.com
• The $231.00 filing fee is due with the petition, and one certified copy of the Order for Payment of Funds is $3.00. sumterclerk.com

Proposed orders

• Proposed probate orders go to Judge Hatcher's office by U.S. Mail with a cover letter, a portal-stamped checklist, a portal-stamped motion or petition and the proposed order with a certificate of service. circuit5.org
• The court holds proposed orders ten days for missing documents; submissions are not sent to the clerk, e-mailed, or e-filed as proposed orders. circuit5.org
• For Sumter proposed orders, the circuit page listing Sumter as a portal county and Judge Hatcher's page (U.S. Mail only, no portal e-filing) differ; Judge Hatcher's page is the more specific rule. circuit5.org
• Payment goes to the clerk, never the judge's office; certified copies are bought from the clerk after the order is served. circuit5.org

Hearings and evidence

• Hearing time is requested by phone or e-mail to Judge Hatcher's office, first come, first served, after the motion is filed; cross-noticing a hearing needs the court's approval. circuit5.org
• Only the party who scheduled a hearing, or the court, can cancel it. circuit5.org
• Judge Hatcher does not accept remote evidence; evidentiary hearings are in person, with exhibits exchanged at least five business days ahead. circuit5.org
• Hearing notebooks without evidence (case law) are submitted in hard copy at least five business days before the hearing. circuit5.org

Checklists and forms

• The court posts checklists for opening formal administration, closing formal administration, summary administration and determining homestead status, and forms for the Affidavit of Heirs, Notice Regarding Original Will, orders and petitions. circuit5.org
• Every filing in the five counties falls under the circuit order on artificial intelligence (AO A-2026-13-A). circuit5.org
• An Alleged Incapacitated Person coversheet applies to Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter counties. circuit5.org

Forms and checklists

• Checklists, Affidavit of Heirs, Notice Regarding Original Will, orders and petitions (circuit probate forms), Fifth Judicial Circuit
• Statement of Claim (probate), Sumter County Clerk
• Alleged Incapacitated Person Coversheet (five-county circuit form), Fifth Judicial Circuit
• Circuit sample proposed orders and instructions, Fifth Judicial Circuit

Property and homestead

• Homestead and widow or widower exemption applications are due March 1. The Sumter appraiser has offices in Bushnell and Wildwood, open 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Monday to Friday, (352) 569-6800. sumterpa.com
• The appraiser posts an online homestead application and a brochure on the homestead exemption, and one on the assessment limitation and portability transfer. sumterpa.com

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. sumter.floridahealth.gov
• The Bushnell main clinic lists birth and death certificates and is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. sumter.floridahealth.gov
• The Villages vital statistics office is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed noon to 1 p.m. sumter.floridahealth.gov

Records and help

• The clerk's office-locations page prints 8:30 to 5:00 for the Main Office and 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM under Hours of Operation; the Main Office phone is (352) 569-6600. sumterclerk.com
• The clerk page does not state a summary administration dollar limit; § 735.201(2) reads $150,000 under chapter 2026-57. flsenate.gov
• Chapter 2026-57, Laws of Florida, took effect July 1, 2026. laws.flrules.org
• 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 § 28.241, filing fees for trial and appellate proceedings (2026), checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Reopen fees are due at the time a party files a pleading to reopen a proceeding if at least 90 days have elapsed since the filing of a final order or final judgment with the clerk.
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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.
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. 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.
8. Fifth Judicial Circuit, home page, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Citrus County
   • Hernando County
   • Lake County
   • Marion County
   • Sumter County
9. Fifth Judicial Circuit, Administrative Orders index, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Administrative Orders are directives that are necessary to properly administer the court's affairs
   • Orders are grouped by their jurisdiction: circuit-wide and individual counties.
   • For the current list of Orders and Rules, please call 352-401-7841
10. Florida Courts, Trial Courts - Circuit, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Fifth Circuit - Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, and Sumter
11. Fifth Judicial Circuit, AO A-2026-13-A Use of Artificial Intelligence in Court Filings (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • AMENDED ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. A-2026-13-A
    • This Order applies to all filings and written materials submitted through the Florida Courts e-Filing Portal or otherwise presented to any division in Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, and Sumter Counties.
    • require each signer of a filing to represent that they have read the document, that there are good grounds supporting the document, and that the legal authorities identified in the filing exist and are accurately cited

    Note: Scanned PDF with no text layer. Quoted text read by OCR on 2026-10-16.

12. Fifth Judicial Circuit, Submitting Proposed Orders, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • The following Fifth Circuit Counties DO ACCEPT Proposed Orders via Florida's E-filing Portal:
    • Citrus
    • Hernando
    • Marion
    • Sumter
    • LAKE COUNTY - DOES NOT ACCEPT Proposed Orders via Florida's E-Filing Portal.
    • Proposed Orders must be SUBMITTED IN WORD FORMAT (.docx) ONLY
    • COVER LETTERS are OPTIONAL. Cover Letters must be in Adobe .pdf format.

    Note: This page lists Sumter as a portal county. The Sumter County Probate Division page (Judge Hatcher) says to send proposed orders by U.S. Mail only and not to e-file them through the portal. The two pages conflict.

13. Fifth Judicial Circuit, Alleged Incapacitated Persons forms, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Alleged Incapacitated Person Coversheet (Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, and Sumter)
14. Fifth Judicial Circuit, Sumter County court page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Sumter County Courthouse 215 East McCollum Avenue Bushnell, Florida 33513 (352) 569-6950
15. Fifth Judicial Circuit, Sumter County Probate Division, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • (See Sumter County Clerk's website for applicable filing fees.)
    • Honorable Mary P. Hatcher, Circuit Judge
    • Sumter County Courthouse 215 E. McCollum Avenue Bushnell, FL 33513
    • 352-569-6937
    • Procedures for submitting proposed probate orders directly to Judge Hatcher's office:
    • Cover letters must be mailed directly to the appropriate Judge's office along with the following:
    • A Portal Stamped Submission Copy of the completed corresponding Checklist
    • A Portal Stamped Submission Copy of the Motion or Petition
    • Proposed Order with a Certificate of Service
    • Proposed orders received will be held for ten (10) days pending receipt of all applicable documentation
    • Please DO send your proposed orders to the Judicial Assistant via US Mail ONLY (orders via email will not be accepted).
    • Please DO NOT send proposed orders to the Clerk.
    • Please DO NOT attempt to e-file proposed orders through the e-portal.
    • Please DO send Original Wills and/or Death Certificates directly to the Clerk of Court.
    • Please DO NOT send ANY form of payment to the Judges office
    • Please DO contact the Clerk of Court, Probate Division, for Certified Copies of your order AFTER you have received service of same .
    • Hearing availability may be obtained by calling or emailing Judge Hatcher's office.
    • Dates are provided on a first come, first serve basis.
    • The Motion must be filed prior to obtaining hearing time.
    • Cross-notice of a hearing without the Court's approval is not permitted.
    • Only the party that scheduled the hearing, or the Court, has the authority to cancel the hearing.
    • Judge Hatcher does not accept remote evidence. All evidentiary hearings require an in-person court appearance.
    • Attorneys and parties should exchange exhibits at least five (5) business days in advance of the scheduled hearing.
    • Hearing notebooks that do not contain evidence (ie. case law) should be submitted in hard copy at least five (5) business days prior to the hearing.
    • Checklist for Opening Formal Administration
    • Checklist for Closing Formal Administration
    • Checklist for Summary Administration
    • Checklist for Determining Homestead Status of Real Property in Formal and Summary Administration
    • Affidavit of Heirs
    • Notice Regarding Original Will
    • Disposition of Personal Property without Administration
    • Joinder Waiver and Consent
    • Notice of Trust
    • Oath of Witness to Will
    • Order Admitting Will to Probate
    • Petition for Summary Administration with Will
    • Petition for Summary Administration without Will
    • Proof of Will
16. Fifth Judicial Circuit, AO S-2025-58-A Judicial Assignments for Sumter County 2026 (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO.: S-2025-58-A
    • AMENDED ORDER OF JUDICIAL ASSIGNMENTS FOR SUMTER COUNTY CIRCUIT JUDGES, COUNTY JUDGES, GENERAL MAGISTRATE AND HEARING OFFICER FOR THE YEAR 2026
    • As to the Circuit Court assignments (paragraphs I, II, and III), Monday, June 29, 2026.
    • The Honorable Erin Daly, Circuit Judge of Sumter County, is hereby assigned the following cases:
    • Guardianship;
    • The Honorable Mary P. Hatcher, Circuit Judge of Sumter County, is hereby assigned the following cases:
    • Probate.
    • on this 14th day of May, 2026.
17. Sumter County Clerk, Probate, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • This form may not be used when real property is involved.
    • Please refer to Florida Statute 735.301
    • Original Last Will and Testament of the decedent, if one exists
    • Copy of the statement from the funeral home showing by whom the bill was paid
    • Signed and notarized consents from all heirs, if any
    • The filing fee of $231.00 is due at the time the Petition is filed.
    • There is also a $3.00 charge for one certified copy of the Order for Payment of Funds
    • within 10 days after receiving information that the testator
    • also requires that a death certificate be filed with the original will
    • there is no charge or filing fee to deposit a will
    • at the rate of $1.00 per page, plus a $2.00 charge for certification
    • Deposit of Will N/C
    • Opening Any Estate $231.00
    • Caveat/Notice of Trust $41.00
    • Petition and Order to Admit Foreign Wills, Authenticated Copies, Exemplified Copies, or Transcript to Record $231.00
    • Disposition of Personal Property $231.00
    • Summary Administration Less Than $1,000 $235.00
    • Summary Administration Greater Than $1,000 $345.00
    • Formal Administration, Guardianship Ancillary, Curatorship, or Conservatorship $400.00
    • Foreign Guardian to Manage a Property $231.00
    • Determination of Incompetency $231.00
    • Reopen Fee $50.00
    • Exemplified Certificates $7.00
    • Maintain Professional Guardian File $7.50
18. Sumter County Clerk, Office Locations, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Main Office 215 E McCollum Ave Bushnell, FL 33513 8:30 to 5:00 (352) 569-6600
    • Hours of Operation Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

    Note: The same page prints 8:30 to 5:00 in the office list and 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM under Hours of Operation. The office-list hours are used.

19. Sumter County Clerk, Forms, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Statement of Claim
    • Probate
20. Sumter County Property Appraiser, Important Dates, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • The following Exemption applications are due March 1st .
    • $5,000 - Widow's Exemption
    • $5,000 - Widower's Exemption
    • please call the Property Appraiser's Office at 352-569-6800
    • Primary Bushnell Office 218 E McCollum Avenue Bushnell, Florida 33513 Phone: 352-569-6800 Hours: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM (Mon-Fri)
    • Wildwood Office 7375 Powell Rd Wildwood, Florida 34785 Phone: 352-569-6800 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM (Mon-Fri)

    Note: The page prints $25,000 for the homestead exemption in its list of March 1 deadlines. That amount is not used on this page.

21. Sumter County Property Appraiser, home page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • ONLINE HOMESTEAD APPLICATION
    • Property Tax Exemption for Homestead Property
    • Portability Transfer
22. Florida Department of Health in Sumter 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
    • A legible copy of a valid driver
    • You must be a family member or legal representative when requesting cause of death.
    • Bushnell location
    • Villages location
    • Florida Department of Health in Sumter County 352-569-3102
    • Mailing Address P.O. Box 98 Bushnell, FL 33513
23. Florida Department of Health in Sumter County, Main Clinic, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Physical Address: 415 East Noble Ave, Bushnell, FL 33513
    • Phone: 352-569-3102
    • Birth and Death Certificates
    • Monday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
24. Florida Department of Health in Sumter County, The Villages Location, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Physical Address: 8015 E. County Road 466, The Villages, FL 32162
    • Phone: 352-689-4675
    • Birth and Death Certificates
    • The office is closed from noon
    • Monday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.