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Sumter County, FL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Category | Current rules |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court, Fifth Judicial Circuit, Sumter County; probate is a division of the Circuit Court, not a separate court |
| Filing office | Clerk of Court and Comptroller (Erin C. Munz), Probate Division, Sumter County courthouse complex in Bushnell |
| Courthouse | 215 East McCollum Avenue, Bushnell, FL 33513 |
| Mailing address | Sumter County Clerk of Court and Comptroller, Courts / Official Records, PO Box 2587, Bushnell, FL 33513; include an attention line to the Probate Division |
| Phone | (352) 569-6600 (reception, all divisions including probate); (352) 569-6810 (automated attendant) |
| Fax | (352) 569-6991 (Civil Courts, the courts side that includes probate); the Clerk's administration and marriage-license fax is (352) 569-6623 |
| The Clerk publishes no dedicated probate email; [email protected] is the office's general address. Call (352) 569-6600 for probate case questions | |
| Office hours | Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, except posted holidays. The Villages Annex and the Sumterville service center keep the same hours but offer limited services; the Sumterville center closes daily from 1:00 to 2:00 |
| Filing fee | Per the Clerk's published probate fee schedule (verified July 2026): 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. These totals reflect the statutory service charges of F.S. 28.2401 ($395 formal, $340 summary of $1,000 or more, plus a $4 additional charge) plus mandatory add-ons; the schedule prints no effective date, so confirm the current total with the Clerk before filing |
| Local probate forms | One: the Clerk's forms page publishes a Statement of Claim form for probate creditors. There is no local administration packet and no statewide self-help probate form set; probate filings are petitions prepared under the Florida Probate Rules, in most cases by an attorney, though the Clerk's staff will help complete a disposition of personal property without administration petition |
| 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 in Bushnell |
| Online case search | Statewide CiviTek Online Court Records Search for Sumter County (county 60), with anonymous public access alongside attorney, registered-user, and party tiers. Under F.S. 28.2221(5)(a), images of records governed by the Florida Probate Rules are not displayed online to the general public, so probate documents are viewed at the Clerk's office or through an authorized account |
| Remote appearance | The Fifth Judicial Circuit publishes Zoom resources for court proceedings; whether a probate hearing can be heard remotely depends on the matter and the assigned judge's procedures (Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.530) |
| Website | https://www.sumterclerk.com |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Sumter 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 home in The Villages, Bushnell, Wildwood, or elsewhere in Sumter County 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 Fifth Judicial Circuit serves Sumter County along with Citrus, Hernando, Lake, and Marion counties, with circuit administration in Ocala. Within Sumter, the court covers the whole county, including Bushnell (the county seat), Wildwood, Coleman, Center Hill, Webster, Sumterville, Lake Panasoffkee, Oxford, and the Sumter County portion of The Villages, which holds most of that community. Sumter probate matters are filed with the Clerk of Court and Comptroller at the courthouse complex at 215 East McCollum Avenue in Bushnell, and Sumter estates are heard locally rather than sent to another county in the circuit.
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 Sumter County for a decedent who lived here. Note that The Villages spans three counties, Sumter, Lake, and Marion, so confirm which county the decedent's Villages address actually sits in before filing; most of the community is in Sumter, but the Lake and Marion portions file with those counties' Clerks instead.
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.
- Deposit the original will. If there is a will, the custodian must deposit the original with the Clerk within 10 days of learning of the death (F.S. 732.901), together with the date of death or the decedent's Social Security number; the Sumter Clerk also requires a death certificate with the original will. Deposit it in person at the Probate Division in Bushnell; the Clerk directs all mailed correspondence to Courts / Official Records, PO Box 2587, Bushnell, FL 33513, with an attention line, so call (352) 569-6600 before mailing an original will. There is no fee, and the Clerk issues a Receipt for Deposit of Will with the file number, filing date, and seal (verified July 2026).
- 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 Sumter 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 Sumter County has no local administration packet, so in most cases an attorney prepares and files the papers. For the smallest estates with no real property, the Clerk's staff will help complete a disposition of personal property without administration petition at the Probate Division in Bushnell.
- File with the Clerk. 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 215 East McCollum Avenue, Bushnell.
- Pay the filing fee. The Sumter 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 (verified July 2026). These totals reflect the statutory service charges of F.S. 28.2401 plus mandatory add-ons; the schedule prints no effective date, so confirm the current total with the Clerk before filing.
- 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). The Clerk publishes a Statement of Claim form for creditors on its forms page.
- Attend the hearing if one is set. Probate cases in Sumter County are assigned to a Fifth Judicial Circuit judge sitting in Bushnell; under the circuit's 2026 assignment order that judge is Circuit Judge Mary P. Hatcher. The circuit publishes Zoom resources for court proceedings, and remote appearance is governed by Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.530; ask the assigned judge's office whether your matter will be heard by Zoom or in person in Bushnell.
- 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 Sumter County
Sumter County publishes one local probate form, a Statement of Claim for creditors, on the Clerk's forms page, and links the Fifth Judicial Circuit's forms for alleged incapacitated persons. There is no local administration packet, 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 circuit's Sumter County Self-Help Center assists with family law (domestic relations) matters only, by phone and email, not probate. Because Fla. Prob. R. 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. The exception is the smallest estates: for a disposition of personal property without administration (F.S. 735.301), the Clerk's staff will help you complete the petition at the Probate Division in Bushnell. For questions about local intake, filing in person versus by mail, or what the Bushnell counter needs, call the Clerk at (352) 569-6600.
| Resource | What it provides |
|---|---|
| Sumter County Clerk forms page (sumterclerk.com) | The Clerk's published forms, including the Statement of Claim form for probate creditors and circuit-linked forms for alleged incapacitated persons |
| Sumter County Clerk, probate (sumterclerk.com) | The Clerk's probate page: will deposit, the staff-assisted disposition of personal property without administration process and its document list, and the probate fee schedule |
| 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. The Sumter County Clerk's own published fee schedule totals are below (verified July 2026).
| Filing | Fee | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Formal administration (also ancillary administration, curatorship, and conservatorship) | $400.00 | Sumter Clerk published probate fee schedule (sumterclerk.com), verified July 2026 |
| Summary administration, estate value $1,000 or more | $345.00 | Sumter Clerk published probate fee schedule (sumterclerk.com), verified July 2026 |
| Summary administration, estate value under $1,000 | $235.00 | Sumter Clerk published probate fee schedule (sumterclerk.com), verified July 2026 |
| Disposition of personal property without administration | $231.00, plus $3.00 for one certified copy of the Order for Payment of Funds | Sumter Clerk published probate fee schedule (sumterclerk.com), verified July 2026 |
| Petition to admit a foreign (out-of-state) will to record | $231.00 | Sumter Clerk published probate fee schedule (sumterclerk.com), verified July 2026 |
| Caveat or notice of trust | $41.00 | Sumter Clerk published probate fee schedule (sumterclerk.com), verified July 2026 |
| Reopening a closed estate | $50.00 | Sumter Clerk published probate fee schedule (sumterclerk.com), verified July 2026 |
| Depositing a will | No fee | Sumter Clerk published probate fee schedule (sumterclerk.com), verified July 2026 |
| Exemplified certificate | $7.00 | Sumter Clerk published probate fee schedule (sumterclerk.com), verified July 2026 |
The Clerk's schedule prints no effective date, so confirm the current total on the probate and guardianship fee schedule at sumterclerk.com or by calling (352) 569-6600 before filing. Certified copies of a will or other court record cost $1.00 per page plus $2.00 per document certification.
Local nuance
Sumter County-specific considerations
The Villages spans three counties; venue follows the county line. Most of The Villages sits in Sumter County, and those estates are filed with the Sumter Clerk in Bushnell, but the community also extends into Lake and Marion counties. Venue under F.S. 733.101 follows the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, so confirm which county the decedent's Villages address actually sits in, from the deed, the property-tax bill, or the county property appraiser, before filing. A Villages estate on the Lake or Marion side is filed with that county's Clerk, not in Bushnell.
Probate has a named assigned judge. Under the Fifth Judicial Circuit's amended 2026 judicial assignment order for Sumter County (Administrative Order S-2025-58-A, signed May 14, 2026), probate cases are assigned to Circuit Judge Mary P. Hatcher, with circuit-court assignments effective June 29, 2026. Assignments change periodically, so confirm the current assignment on circuit5.org or with the Clerk when your case is opened.
The Clerk's staff helps with the smallest estates. For a disposition of personal property without administration (F.S. 735.301), the Clerk's probate page states that its staff will assist in completing the petition and will present it to the presiding probate judge. Bring the original will if one exists, the death certificate, the funeral home's statement showing who paid the bill, signed and notarized consents from all heirs, and the bank statements, stock certificates, insurance checks, or policy-value paperwork for the assets involved. The filing fee is $231.00 plus $3.00 for one certified copy of the Order for Payment of Funds (Clerk fee schedule, verified July 2026). This path cannot be used when real property is involved.
Probate is filed in Bushnell; the Villages-area offices are limited-service. The Clerk operates The Villages Annex at 8033 E CR-466, The Villages, FL 32162, (352) 689-4625, and the Gloria Rowe Hayward Sumterville Service Center at 215 Gloria Rowe Hayward Way, Sumterville, both flagged as limited-services locations (marriage licenses, for example, are issued at all three offices). No Clerk page offers probate filing at either annex: handle probate at the Probate Division at 215 East McCollum Avenue in Bushnell, by mail to PO Box 2587, or through the statewide e-filing portal, and call (352) 569-6600 before making a trip to an annex for anything probate-related.
Recent updates
| Date | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | The Clerk launched a redesigned sumterclerk.com (announced July 11, 2026); probate information now lives under Courts, Civil, Probate, and the probate and guardianship fee schedule under Court Fees. | sumterclerk.com |
| June 2026 | Probate cases in Sumter County are assigned to Circuit Judge Mary P. Hatcher under the circuit's amended 2026 judicial assignment order (Administrative Order S-2025-58-A, signed May 14, 2026; circuit-court assignments effective June 29, 2026). | circuit5.org |
| January 2025 | Erin C. Munz took office as Sumter County Clerk of Court and Comptroller after winning the 2024 election, succeeding longtime Clerk Gloria Hayward. She is the elected Clerk who runs the probate filing office. | sumterclerk.com |
Page last reviewed: July 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely path in Sumter County | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse, co-owned home | If the home in The Villages, Bushnell, Wildwood, or elsewhere in Sumter County 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. 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), which the Sumter Clerk's staff helps complete at the Bushnell counter. Both are filed with the Sumter Clerk, and an out-of-state filer can work with Florida counsel through the statewide e-filing portal without repeated trips to Bushnell. | 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, is appointed personal representative, receives Letters of Administration, and can then sell the home and distribute the proceeds. The Fifth Judicial Circuit uses Zoom for some hearings, subject to the assigned judge's procedures. | 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 |
|---|---|
| Sumter County Clerk of Court and Comptroller, (352) 569-6600 (sumterclerk.com) | The filing office for probate; local intake questions, filing by mail or in person, hours, the original will deposit, the staff-assisted disposition without administration process, and the published fee schedule |
| Fifth Judicial Circuit of Florida (circuit5.org) | Court administration for Sumter County, judicial assignments, Zoom resources, and general court information |
| Sumter County Self-Help Center, remote access only, (352) 569-6949, [email protected] (circuit5.org) | The circuit's self-help office for self-represented litigants; it assists with family law (domestic relations) matters only, by phone and email, and offers no probate forms or legal advice |
| 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 |
| Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, helpline (800) 405-1417 (legalaccessforall.org) | Free civil legal help for income-eligible residents; its published service area includes Sumter County, its help topics include wills, estates, and powers of attorney, and the nearest office is in Inverness at 106 N. Osceola Avenue, (352) 726-8512, open by appointment only |
| 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 Sumter 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 Sumter County and the Fifth 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, Sumter County real estate, and unclaimed property, so you know the estate's value and which Florida path fits for estate settlement before you file.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset assembles the petition and supporting paperwork for your path, ready to file with the Clerk of Court and Comptroller in Bushnell 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 Sumter County and the Fifth 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 Sumter County?
With the Clerk of Court and Comptroller's Probate Division at the Sumter County courthouse complex, 215 East McCollum Avenue, Bushnell, FL 33513, or by mail to Courts / Official Records, PO Box 2587, Bushnell, FL 33513, attention Probate Division. Sumter is in the Fifth Judicial Circuit. Florida has no separate probate court; probate is a division of the Circuit Court.
My parent lived in The Villages. Do I file in Sumter County?
Usually, but check the address first. Most of The Villages sits in Sumter County, and those estates are filed with the Sumter Clerk in Bushnell. The community also extends into Lake and Marion counties, and venue under F.S. 733.101 follows the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, so confirm which county the home actually sits in (the deed, tax bill, or county property appraiser will say) before filing.
Can I handle probate at The Villages annex instead of driving to Bushnell?
No Clerk page offers probate filing at The Villages Annex (8033 E CR-466) or the Sumterville service center; both are listed as limited-services locations. Probate is handled by the Probate Division in Bushnell, but you rarely need to travel: attorneys and self-represented filers can use the statewide e-filing portal, and papers can be mailed to PO Box 2587, Bushnell, FL 33513. Call (352) 569-6600 before making a trip.
Do I have to e-file probate in Sumter 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 Bushnell.
Do I need an attorney for probate in Sumter 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. One exception in practice: for a disposition of personal property without administration (F.S. 735.301), the Sumter Clerk's staff will help you complete the petition without an attorney.
What does it cost to file probate in Sumter County?
Per the Clerk's published fee schedule, $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, plus $3.00 for one certified copy of the Order for Payment of Funds (verified July 2026). These totals reflect the statutory service charges of F.S. 28.2401 plus mandatory add-ons; the schedule prints no effective date, so confirm the current total with the Clerk at (352) 569-6600 before filing. Depositing a will costs nothing.
Can I look up a Sumter County probate case online?
You can find the case, but not read the papers. Court records are searched through the statewide CiviTek Online Court Records Search for Sumter County (county 60), which offers anonymous public access alongside attorney, registered-user, and party tiers. Under F.S. 28.2221(5)(a), images of records governed by the Florida Probate Rules are not displayed online to the general public: view the documents in person at the Clerk's office in Bushnell, request copies through the Clerk at (352) 569-6600, or use an authorized account.
Who is the probate judge in Sumter County?
Under the Fifth Judicial Circuit's amended 2026 judicial assignment order for Sumter County (Administrative Order S-2025-58-A), probate cases are assigned to Circuit Judge Mary P. Hatcher, effective June 29, 2026. Judicial assignments change periodically, so confirm the current assignment on circuit5.org or with the Clerk when your case is opened.
Can I appear remotely for a Sumter County probate hearing?
Sometimes. The Fifth Judicial Circuit publishes Zoom resources for court proceedings, and remote appearance is governed by Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.530. Whether a remote appearance is available depends on the matter and the assigned judge, so check the judge's procedures when a hearing is set.
Where do I deposit the original will in Sumter County?
The custodian of a will must deposit the original with the Clerk within 10 days of learning of the death (F.S. 732.901), with the date of death or the decedent's Social Security number; the Sumter Clerk also asks for a death certificate with the original will. Deposit it in person at the Probate Division at 215 East McCollum Avenue, Bushnell; if you cannot come in person, call (352) 569-6600 first, because the Clerk directs mailed correspondence to PO Box 2587, Bushnell, FL 33513, with an attention line for the division. There is no fee, and the Clerk issues a Receipt for Deposit of Will with the file number, filing date, and seal.
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.