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Glades County, FL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Category | Current rules |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court, Twentieth Judicial Circuit, Glades County; probate is a division of the Circuit Court, not a separate court |
| Filing office | Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller (Tami Pearce Simmons) |
| Courthouse | 500 Avenue J, Suite 102, Moore Haven, FL 33471 |
| Mailing address | Glades County Clerk of the Circuit Court, P.O. Box 10, Moore Haven, FL 33471 |
| Phone | (863) 946-6010 (Clerk); (863) 946-6031 (courthouse, for court and judge questions) |
| Fax | (863) 946-0560 |
| [email protected] | |
| Office hours | Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM; closed legal holidays |
| Filing fee | Set by statute under F.S. 28.2401: the Clerk's service charge is $395 for formal administration and $340 for summary administration of an estate of $1,000 or more, plus a $4 additional charge on the petition (statutory figures verified July 2026). Counties add mandatory statutory charges on top of the base, and Glades publishes no separate probate fee schedule, so confirm the current total with the Clerk before filing. |
| Local probate forms | None. The Clerk publishes no local probate forms, and Florida publishes no statewide self-help probate form set; probate filings are petitions prepared under the Florida Probate Rules, in most cases by an attorney. The Twentieth Circuit posts probate checklists for its Lee and Collier dockets only; no checklist applies in Glades |
| E-filing | Through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (myflcourtaccess.com); mandatory for attorneys, optional for self-represented filers, who may also file on paper at the Clerk's counter |
| Online case search | Statewide CiviTek Online Court Records Search for Glades County (county 22), with a public anonymous access option |
| Remote appearance | The Twentieth Judicial Circuit authorizes remote appearances (Administrative Order 2.41); whether a given Glades County hearing is held by video is set by the assigned judge's published procedures, so confirm with the court at (863) 946-6031 when a hearing is scheduled |
| Website | https://gladesclerk.com |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Glades County, know exactly what is in the estate. Which Florida path fits depends on whether there is a will and on the value and type of the assets: formal administration under F.S. Chapter 733, summary administration under F.S. 735.201 for a smaller estate, or disposition of personal property without administration under F.S. 735.301 for a limited class of estates with no real property. The dollar thresholds that separate these paths are statewide and are explained on the Florida state page; identify the estate first so you and your attorney file the right petition once.
Identify every bank and credit-union account, retirement plan, brokerage holding, life-insurance policy, vehicle, and parcel of real property, along with every debt, before you go to the Clerk. Whether the decedent's Moore Haven or rural Glades County home was homestead property matters, because Florida homestead often passes outside the probate estate and is not counted toward the summary-administration limit. Sunset's asset-discovery work, searching more than 2,300 financial institutions, exists for this step.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Twentieth Judicial Circuit serves Glades County along with Charlotte, Collier, Hendry, and Lee counties. Within Glades, the court covers the whole county, including Moore Haven (the county seat), Buckhead Ridge, Lakeport, Palmdale, Ortona, and the surrounding rural communities around Lake Okeechobee. Glades probate matters are filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at the courthouse at 500 Avenue J, Suite 102, in Moore Haven. The Twentieth Circuit's probate page states that no case management is provided for Glades County, so a Glades estate is filed and handled through the Clerk in Moore Haven and presented to the assigned circuit judge.
Venue for a decedent's estate is governed by F.S. 733.101. Administration is proper first in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, then, if the decedent had no Florida domicile, in a county where the decedent's property is located, and, if the decedent had neither domicile nor property in Florida, in the county where any debtor of the decedent resides. In practice, file in Glades County for a decedent who lived here. There is no separate probate department; probate is heard on the Circuit Court's general docket by the assigned judge.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the documents. Collect the original signed will (if any), a certified copy of the death certificate, the proposed personal representative's contact information and photo ID, the names and addresses of the beneficiaries and other interested persons, and a list of the assets and debts with values.
- Choose the path based on the estate. Depending on whether there is a will and on the value and type of assets, the route may be formal administration (F.S. Chapter 733), summary administration (F.S. 735.201), or disposition of personal property without administration (F.S. 735.301). The governing thresholds are statewide and are on the Florida state page.
- Confirm whether an attorney is required. Under Florida Probate Rule 5.030, the personal representative must be represented by a Florida-licensed attorney unless the personal representative remains the sole interested person (or is the only beneficiary with no other interested persons), or is a Florida-licensed attorney. Because most administrations involve more than one interested person, most Glades estates are filed through counsel.
- Prepare the petition. For a formal or summary administration, prepare the petition and supporting documents under the Florida Probate Rules (Fla. Prob. R. 5.010 to 5.530). Florida publishes no statewide self-help probate form set and Glades has no local packet, so in most cases an attorney prepares and files the papers.
- Deposit the original will. The custodian of a will must deposit the original with the Clerk within 10 days of learning of the death (F.S. 732.901). The original will is filed on paper with the Clerk in Moore Haven, not uploaded, and the Clerk requires a death certificate to be filed with it. There is no charge to deposit a will; the depositor receives a Receipt for Deposit of Will and one courtesy certified copy, and further certified copies of the will are $1.00 per page plus a $2.00 certification charge (Clerk's probate page, verified July 2026).
- File with the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Attorneys must e-file through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (myflcourtaccess.com). A self-represented filer may register and e-file through the portal or file on paper at the Clerk's counter at 500 Avenue J, Suite 102, Moore Haven, or by mail to P.O. Box 10, Moore Haven, FL 33471.
- Pay the filing fee. The Clerk's service charge under F.S. 28.2401 is $395 for formal administration and $340 for summary administration of an estate of $1,000 or more, plus a $4 additional charge on the petition; counties add mandatory statutory charges on top of the base, and Glades publishes no separate probate fee schedule, so confirm the current total with the Clerk (verified July 2026).
- Give notice and publish. The personal representative serves notice on interested persons and publishes a notice to creditors, which opens the creditor-claim period. A creditor must file its claim by the later of 3 months after first publication or 30 days after being served (F.S. 733.702), and in all events within 2 years of death (F.S. 733.710).
- Attend the hearing if one is set. The petition is presented to a Twentieth Judicial Circuit judge. The circuit authorizes remote appearances under Administrative Order 2.41, but whether a given Glades matter is heard by video is set by the assigned judge's published procedures, so confirm the format with the court at (863) 946-6031 when a hearing is scheduled.
- Receive the authority document. On appointment the court issues Letters of Administration, the proof of the personal representative's authority to act, in every case, whether or not there is a will. Request enough certified copies for the banks and institutions involved.
- Administer and close. Inventory the assets, pay valid claims in statutory priority, account to the interested persons, distribute the remaining assets, and close the estate.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Glades County
Glades County publishes no local probate forms of its own, and Florida publishes no statewide self-help probate form set: probate filings are petitions prepared under the Florida Probate Rules (Fla. Prob. R. 5.010 to 5.530), and Florida Courts Help states that it does not provide probate forms. The Clerk's probate page describes the disposition of personal property without administration process and lists the documents it can require, such as the original will or death certificate, a funeral home statement, notarized consents from the heirs, and an affidavit of heirs, but it does not post downloadable probate forms or a probate fee schedule. For that limited no-real-property path, the Clerk's staff can help complete the petition and present it to the probate judge, with the filing fee due when the petition is filed. The Twentieth Circuit posts probate checklists for its Lee and Collier dockets only; no checklist applies in Glades. Because Florida Probate Rule 5.030 requires a Florida-licensed attorney in most administrations, most estates do not self-file a probate packet: the attorney prepares the petition and files it through the statewide portal. For questions about local intake, filing in person versus by mail, or what the Moore Haven counter needs, call the Clerk of the Circuit Court at (863) 946-6010.
| Resource | What it provides |
|---|---|
| Glades County Clerk of the Circuit Court, Probate | The local probate page: department overview, which assets are subject to probate, the disposition-without-administration process, the 10-day will-deposit rule, and certified-copy costs, plus local intake questions by phone |
| Florida Courts Help, probate (flcourts.gov) | The judiciary's probate self-help page; it explains that no statewide probate forms are provided and points to the Florida Probate Code and local resources |
| Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (myflcourtaccess.com) | The statewide portal for filing probate documents; mandatory for attorneys, optional for self-represented filers |
Local nuance
Glades County-specific considerations
No probate case management, and no local checklist. The Twentieth Judicial Circuit's probate case-management page posts probate checklists for Lee and Collier counties only. Glades has its own entry stating that no case management is provided for the county and directing filers to the Glades Clerk of Court. A Glades estate is therefore filed and handled through the Clerk in Moore Haven, without the checklist step used on the circuit's Lee and Collier dockets.
File to a post office box or at the counter. The Clerk's physical courthouse is 500 Avenue J, Suite 102, Moore Haven, but mail is directed to P.O. Box 10, Moore Haven, FL 33471. Attorneys e-file through the statewide portal; a self-represented filer may e-file, mail the papers to the post office box, or file in person at the counter. The custodian of a will deposits the original on paper with the Clerk within 10 days of learning of the death (F.S. 732.901), with a death certificate, at no charge; certified copies of the will are $1.00 per page plus a $2.00 certification charge.
Case search runs through the statewide CiviTek system. Glades County does not run its own docket portal. Court records are searched through the statewide CiviTek Online Court Records Search for Glades County (county 22), which offers a public anonymous access option. To confirm a filing, you can also call the Clerk's office directly at (863) 946-6010.
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: July 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely path in Glades County | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse, co-owned home | If the Moore Haven or rural Glades County home was the decedent's homestead, Florida homestead protections usually let it pass to the surviving spouse outside the probate estate, often confirmed by a petition to determine homestead status filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court. If other assets must be administered, the spouse (through counsel, unless she is the sole interested person under Florida Probate Rule 5.030) files a summary administration, which ends in an order distributing the assets, or a formal administration, in which she is appointed personal representative and issued Letters of Administration. | Asset discovery to confirm how title is held and what else is in the estate. Packet generation for the qualifying paperwork. A vetted attorney referral where Florida Probate Rule 5.030 requires counsel. |
| Out-of-state adult child, small estate | A smaller estate that meets the statewide threshold can proceed by summary administration under F.S. 735.201, which appoints no personal representative and ends in an order distributing the assets; a very limited estate with no real property may qualify for disposition of personal property without administration (F.S. 735.301). Both are filed with the Glades Clerk, and an out-of-state filer can work with Florida counsel through the statewide e-filing portal without repeated trips to Moore Haven. | Asset discovery to confirm the estate qualifies and to locate accounts from out of state. Packet generation for the petition, prepared in advance so an out-of-state filer can proceed largely remotely. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Because the estate holds real property that must be sold, it generally proceeds through formal administration under F.S. Chapter 733: the parent, represented by counsel under Florida Probate Rule 5.030, petitions the Clerk of the Circuit Court, is appointed personal representative, receives Letters of Administration, and can then sell the home and distribute the proceeds. The matter is heard by the assigned Twentieth Circuit judge. | Asset discovery for the child's accounts and property. Packet generation for the formal administration filing. Attorney referral, and help if the sale or an heir dispute turns contested. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it offers |
|---|---|
| Glades County Clerk of the Circuit Court, (863) 946-6010 (gladesclerk.com) | The filing office for probate; local intake questions, filing by mail or in person, hours, case search, and the Probate and Guardianship department |
| Twentieth Judicial Circuit of Florida (ca.cjis20.org) | Court administration for Glades County, judicial assignments, the probate case-management page, and the circuit's administrative orders on remote hearings |
| Florida Courts Help, probate (flcourts.gov/Courts-System/florida-courts-help/other-resources/probate) | The judiciary's probate self-help page, with plain-language information on the probate process |
| Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (myflcourtaccess.com) | Registration and self-help for e-filing probate documents, the option available to self-represented filers |
| Florida Rural Legal Services, (888) 582-3410 (frls.org) | Free civil legal help for income-eligible residents, serving Glades County and the surrounding rural counties of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit |
| The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service, (800) 342-8011 (floridabar.org) | Statewide referrals to Florida-licensed probate attorneys, plus the consumer pamphlet Probate in Florida |
When to hire an attorney
Florida makes counsel the norm in probate. Under Florida Probate Rule 5.030, the personal representative must be represented by a Florida-licensed attorney unless the personal representative remains the sole interested person, or is the only beneficiary with no other interested persons, or is a Florida-licensed attorney. Because most Glades estates have more than one interested person, most formal and summary administrations here are handled through counsel, who also e-files through the statewide portal. Consider an attorney early when the estate holds real property that must be sold, when a will contest or heir dispute is likely, when the estate is insolvent or creditors are pressing, or when the estate includes a business interest or out-of-state property. Sunset can connect families to a vetted Florida probate attorney serving Glades County and the Twentieth Judicial Circuit.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and public records to surface bank and credit-union accounts, retirement plans, brokerage holdings, life insurance, Glades County real estate, and unclaimed property, so you know the estate's value and which Florida estate settlement path fits before you file.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset assembles the petition and supporting paperwork for your path, ready to file with the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Moore Haven through the statewide e-filing portal or on paper.
Find a local probate attorney. Because Florida Probate Rule 5.030 requires a Florida-licensed attorney in most administrations, Sunset connects families to a vetted Florida probate attorney serving Glades County and the Twentieth Judicial Circuit.
Sunset is free for families. Revenue comes from bank partners that pay Sunset while estate funds sit in an FDIC-insured estate account ($3M coverage).
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file for probate in Glades County?
With the Clerk of the Circuit Court at the Glades County courthouse, 500 Avenue J, Suite 102, Moore Haven, FL 33471, or by mail to P.O. Box 10, Moore Haven, FL 33471. Glades is in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit. Florida has no separate probate court; probate is a division of the Circuit Court.
Do I have to e-file probate in Glades County?
Attorneys must e-file through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com. A self-represented filer may register and e-file through the same portal or file on paper at the Clerk's counter in Moore Haven or by mail to the Clerk's post office box.
Do I need an attorney for probate in Glades County?
Usually yes. Under Florida Probate Rule 5.030, the personal representative must be represented by a Florida-licensed attorney unless the personal representative is the sole interested person (or the only beneficiary with no other interested persons), or is a Florida-licensed attorney. Because most estates have more than one interested person, most Glades administrations are handled through counsel.
Is there a probate checklist to file in Glades County?
No. The Twentieth Judicial Circuit posts probate checklists for its Lee and Collier dockets only; none exists for Glades. The circuit's probate case-management page states that no case management is provided for Glades and directs filers to the Glades Clerk of Court, so a Glades estate is filed and handled through the Clerk in Moore Haven without that step.
Can I appear remotely for a Glades County probate hearing?
Sometimes. The Twentieth Judicial Circuit authorizes remote appearances under Administrative Order 2.41, but whether a given hearing is held by video depends on the assigned judge's published procedures. Confirm the format with the court at (863) 946-6031 when a hearing is scheduled.
Can I look up a Glades County probate case online?
Yes. Court records are searched through the statewide CiviTek Online Court Records Search for Glades County (county 22), which offers a public anonymous access option. To confirm a filing you can also call the Clerk of the Circuit Court at (863) 946-6010.
What forms do I need for probate in Glades County?
Glades County publishes no local probate forms, and Florida publishes no statewide self-help probate form set. Probate filings are petitions prepared under the Florida Probate Rules, and in most cases an attorney prepares the petition. The Clerk's probate page describes the disposition-without-administration process but does not post downloadable forms.
What does it cost to file probate in Glades County?
The Clerk's service charge under F.S. 28.2401 is $395 for formal administration and $340 for summary administration of an estate of $1,000 or more, plus a $4 additional charge on the petition (statutory figures verified July 2026). Counties add mandatory statutory charges on top of the base, and Glades publishes no separate probate fee schedule, so confirm the current total with the Clerk at (863) 946-6010 before filing.
Do I have to travel to Moore Haven to settle an estate there?
Not always. Attorneys and self-represented filers can file through the statewide e-filing portal, and papers can be mailed to the Clerk at P.O. Box 10, Moore Haven, FL 33471. Where a hearing is required, the Twentieth Circuit authorizes remote appearances under Administrative Order 2.41; confirm with the court at (863) 946-6031 whether your hearing can be held by video.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.