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Indian River County, FL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Category | Current rules |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court, Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Indian River County (Probate and Guardianship Division); probate is a division of the Circuit Court, not a separate court |
| Filing office | Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller (Ryan L. Butler), Probate and Guardianship Division, Room 158 |
| Courthouse | Indian River County Courthouse, 2000 16th Avenue, Vero Beach, FL 32960 |
| Mailing address | Indian River County Clerk of the Circuit Court, P.O. Box 1028, Vero Beach, FL 32961-1028 |
| Phone | (772) 226-3164 (Probate and Guardianship Division); (772) 226-3100 (main Clerk line) |
| Fax | (772) 778-4748 (Clerk administration) |
| [email protected] | |
| Office hours | Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Vero Beach courthouse; the Sebastian branch office at 1921 U.S. Highway 1 is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM; closed legal holidays |
| Filing fee | Formal administration $400.00; summary administration $345.00 for an estate of $1,000 or more, $235.00 under $1,000; disposition of personal property without administration $231.00 (Indian River Clerk fee schedule, indianriverclerk.com/fees/, verified July 2026). These totals sit on the statutory base set by F.S. 28.2401 ($395 formal, $340 summary of $1,000 or more, plus a $4 additional charge on the petition) |
| Local probate forms | The Clerk publishes a Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration form and checklist and a Probate Statement of Claim. There is no local packet for formal or summary administration, and Florida publishes no statewide self-help probate form set; those petitions are prepared under the Florida Probate Rules, in most cases by an attorney |
| 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 | The Clerk's Online Case View (BenchmarkWeb), linked from the probate page as the Probate Name Search; searching cases and viewing case information is free and requires no registration, but probate document images are viewable only by registered users or the attorney of record |
| Remote appearance | Indian River judges in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit publish judge-specific Zoom procedures under Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.530; non-evidentiary hearings may be heard by Zoom on request, while evidentiary hearings are generally held in person, so check the assigned judge's memorandum on circuit19.org when a hearing is set |
| Website | https://www.indianriverclerk.com |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Indian River 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 Vero Beach, Sebastian, or other Indian River 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 Circuit Court of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit serves Indian River County along with Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie counties, and the circuit runs a dedicated Probate and Guardianship Division for estates, wills, trust litigation, and guardianships. Within Indian River, the court covers the whole county, including Vero Beach (the county seat), Sebastian, Fellsmere, Indian River Shores, Orchid, and the unincorporated communities. Indian River probate matters are filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller at the Indian River County Courthouse, 2000 16th Avenue, Vero Beach, and the Clerk also keeps a branch office in Sebastian.
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 Indian River County for a decedent who lived here. Probate is heard on the Nineteenth Circuit's Probate and Guardianship docket, not in a separate probate court.
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 Fla. Prob. R. 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 Indian River 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 Indian River has no local packet for these paths, so in most cases an attorney prepares and files the papers. For a disposition of personal property without administration, the Clerk publishes a local form and checklist you can use.
- 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 Probate and Guardianship counter in Room 158, 2000 16th Avenue, Vero Beach, or by mail to P.O. Box 1028, Vero Beach, FL 32961-1028. Original wills, codicils, and death certificates are filed in paper form, not electronically.
- Pay the filing fee. The Indian River Clerk's published fee is $400.00 for formal administration, $345.00 for summary administration of an estate of $1,000 or more ($235.00 under $1,000), and $231.00 for disposition of personal property without administration (Indian River Clerk fee schedule, indianriverclerk.com/fees/, verified July 2026). These totals sit on the statutory base set by F.S. 28.2401.
- 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).
- Submit papers for the judge and attend any hearing. Once the case is opened, the Nineteenth Circuit's Probate and Guardianship Division requires pleadings, proposed orders in Word format, and the completed estate opening or closing checklist to be emailed to [email protected], the Indian River address. The matter is heard by the circuit judge assigned to Indian River probate; non-evidentiary hearings may be heard by Zoom under the judge's published procedures, while evidentiary hearings are generally in person.
- 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 Indian River County
Florida publishes no statewide self-help probate form set: formal and summary administration 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. Because Fla. Prob. R. 5.030 requires a Florida-licensed attorney in most administrations, most Indian River estates do not self-file a probate packet: the attorney prepares the petition and files it through the statewide portal.
Indian River County does publish a small set of its own probate forms for the limited matters a family can handle directly: a Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration form and its checklist, for estates that qualify for that path under F.S. 735.301, and a Probate Statement of Claim for creditors. For questions about local intake, filing in person versus by mail, or what the Room 158 counter needs, call the Probate and Guardianship Division at (772) 226-3164.
| Resource | What it provides |
|---|---|
| Indian River Clerk, Probate and Guardianship | The Clerk's probate page: the Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration form and checklist, the Probate Statement of Claim, contact information, and the Probate Name Search link |
| Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Probate and Guardianship Division (circuit19.org) | The circuit's probate page: the estate opening and closing checklists, the email-submission requirements for pleadings and proposed orders ([email protected] for Indian River), and judge assignments |
| 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 |
Fees
Florida sets the Clerk's base probate service charges by statute (F.S. 28.2401): formal administration $395, summary administration $340 for an estate of $1,000 or more, and disposition of personal property without administration $230, plus a $4 additional service charge on administration petitions. On top of that statutory base, counties add further mandatory statutory charges, so the Clerk's published total is higher than the bare base and is set county by county. The Indian River Clerk's own published fee schedule totals are below (verified July 2026).
| Filing | Fee | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Formal administration (the schedule groups it with guardianship, ancillary administration, curatorship, conservatorship, and trusts) | $400.00 | Indian River Clerk fee schedule, indianriverclerk.com/fees/, verified July 2026 |
| Summary administration, estate value $1,000 or more | $345.00 | Indian River Clerk fee schedule, indianriverclerk.com/fees/, verified July 2026 |
| Summary administration, estate value under $1,000 | $235.00 | Indian River Clerk fee schedule, indianriverclerk.com/fees/, verified July 2026 |
| Disposition of personal property without administration | $231.00 | Indian River Clerk fee schedule, indianriverclerk.com/fees/, verified July 2026 |
| Caveat | $41.00 plus postage | Indian River Clerk fee schedule, indianriverclerk.com/fees/, verified July 2026 |
Confirm the current total on the Clerk's fee schedule at indianriverclerk.com/fees/ before filing, since counties adjust these charges over time. Certified copies, recording, and audit charges on inventories and accountings are billed separately under the same schedule.
Local nuance
Indian River County-specific considerations
A dedicated Probate and Guardianship Division in Room 158. The Clerk keeps a distinct Probate and Guardianship Division at the Indian River County Courthouse, 2000 16th Avenue, Room 158, Vero Beach, reachable at (772) 226-3164, separate from the main Clerk line. The Nineteenth Judicial Circuit runs the Probate and Guardianship Division for Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie counties.
Probate papers for the judge go by email. Once a case is opened, the Nineteenth Circuit's Probate and Guardianship Division requires pleadings, proposed orders in Word format, and the completed estate opening or closing checklist to be emailed to the county-specific address, [email protected] for Indian River, with the case number, estate name, and document type in the subject line. The circuit's published probate assignment for Indian River County is Judge Rebecca I. White.
A branch office in Sebastian. In addition to the Vero Beach courthouse, the Clerk operates a Sebastian branch office at 1921 U.S. Highway 1, Sebastian, FL 32958, (772) 226-1147, open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The Probate and Guardianship counter itself is in Room 158 at the Vero Beach courthouse, and mail for probate is directed to the Clerk at P.O. Box 1028, Vero Beach, FL 32961-1028.
The Clerk publishes a few local probate forms. Unlike many Florida counties, the Indian River Clerk posts a Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration form and checklist and a Probate Statement of Claim. There is still no local packet for formal or summary administration, which are attorney-prepared under the Florida Probate Rules.
Case search is public; probate document images need registration. The Clerk's probate page links a Probate Name Search, which opens the Clerk's Online Case View records system (BenchmarkWeb). Searching cases and viewing case information is free and requires no registration, but document images in probate, guardianship, mental health, and family cases are viewable only by registered users or the attorney of record. To confirm a filing quickly, you can also call the Probate and Guardianship Division at (772) 226-3164.
Recent updates
| Date | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| July 2023 | Ryan L. Butler took office as Indian River County's eighth Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller on July 1, 2023. | indianriverclerk.com/about-us |
Page last reviewed: July 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely path in Indian River County | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse, co-owned home | If the Vero Beach, Sebastian, or other Indian River 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 Fla. Prob. R. 5.030) files a summary or formal administration and is 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 Fla. Prob. R. 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), for which the Indian River Clerk publishes a local form and checklist. Both are filed with the Indian River Clerk, and an out-of-state filer can work with Florida counsel through the statewide e-filing portal without repeated trips to Vero Beach. | 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 Fla. Prob. R. 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 in the Nineteenth Circuit's Probate and Guardianship Division. | 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 |
|---|---|
| Indian River Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, (772) 226-3164 (indianriverclerk.com) | The filing office for probate; local intake questions, the Probate and Guardianship Division, local forms, the Probate Name Search, filing by mail or in person, and hours |
| Nineteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida (circuit19.org) | Court administration for Indian River County, the Probate and Guardianship Division, judicial assignments, and general information 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, Treasure Coast office, Port St. Lucie, (772) 466-4766 (frls.org) | Free civil legal help for income-eligible residents; its 13-county service area includes Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie counties |
| 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 Fla. Prob. R. 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 Indian River 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 Indian River County and the Nineteenth 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, Indian River County real estate, and unclaimed property, so you know the estate's value and which Florida path fits before you file.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset assembles the petition and supporting paperwork for your estate settlement path, ready to file with the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Vero Beach through the statewide e-filing portal or on paper.
Find a local probate attorney. Because Fla. Prob. R. 5.030 requires a Florida-licensed attorney in most administrations, Sunset connects families to a vetted Florida probate attorney serving Indian River County and the Nineteenth 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 Indian River County?
With the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, Probate and Guardianship Division, at the Indian River County Courthouse, Room 158, 2000 16th Avenue, Vero Beach, FL 32960, or by mail to P.O. Box 1028, Vero Beach, FL 32961-1028. Indian River is in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit. Florida has no separate probate court; probate is a division of the Circuit Court.
Do I have to e-file probate in Indian River 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 Probate and Guardianship counter in Vero Beach or by mail to the Clerk's post office box.
Do I need an attorney for probate in Indian River County?
Usually yes. Under Fla. Prob. R. 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 Indian River administrations are handled through counsel.
Who hears probate cases in Indian River County?
A judge assigned to the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit's Probate and Guardianship Division, which serves Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie counties; the circuit's published probate assignment for Indian River County is Judge Rebecca I. White. Indian River matters are filed with the Clerk at the Vero Beach courthouse and heard on the circuit's probate docket.
Can I appear remotely for an Indian River County probate hearing?
Sometimes. Indian River judges publish judge-specific Zoom procedures under Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.530: non-evidentiary hearings may be heard by Zoom on request, while evidentiary hearings are generally held in person. Check the assigned judge's remote-appearance memorandum on circuit19.org, or ask the Probate and Guardianship Division at (772) 226-3164 when a hearing is set.
Can I look up an Indian River County probate case online?
Yes. The Clerk offers a Probate Name Search through its Online Case View records system (BenchmarkWeb). Searching cases and viewing case information is free and requires no registration, but probate document images are viewable only by registered users or the attorney of record. To confirm a filing you can also call the Probate and Guardianship Division at (772) 226-3164.
What forms do I need for probate in Indian River County?
For formal or summary administration, Florida publishes no statewide self-help probate form set and Indian River has no local packet; the petition is prepared under the Florida Probate Rules, in most cases by an attorney. For a disposition of personal property without administration, the Clerk publishes a local form and checklist, and it also posts a Probate Statement of Claim for creditors.
What does it cost to file probate in Indian River County?
The Indian River Clerk's published fee schedule lists $400.00 for formal administration, $345.00 for summary administration of an estate of $1,000 or more ($235.00 under $1,000), and $231.00 for disposition of personal property without administration (Indian River Clerk fee schedule, indianriverclerk.com/fees/, verified July 2026). These totals sit on the statutory base set by F.S. 28.2401 ($395 formal, $340 summary of $1,000 or more, plus a $4 additional charge). Confirm the current total with the Clerk at (772) 226-3164 before filing.
Do I have to travel to Vero Beach to settle an estate there?
Not always. Attorneys and self-represented filers can file through the statewide e-filing portal, papers can be mailed to the Clerk at P.O. Box 1028, Vero Beach, FL 32961-1028, and papers for the judge are emailed to [email protected] once the case is open. Where a hearing is required, non-evidentiary matters may be heard by Zoom under the assigned judge's published procedures, so ask the Probate and Guardianship Division at (772) 226-3164.
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.