Probate for a Tampa or Hillsborough County resident is filed with the Clerk's Probate, Guardianship, and Trust Department and heard in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, in a Tampa or East division depending on where the person lived. A personal representative generally needs a Florida attorney. We consult with Hillsborough families by phone or video.
Hillsborough County covers the city of Tampa and the communities around it, from Brandon and Riverview to Plant City. Many families here are busy with careers and children, and estate planning keeps sliding down the list. Others reach out because a parent has died and they have been named personal representative with no idea where to start. We help with both: putting a plan in place, and carrying one out through probate.
Communities we serve in Hillsborough County
- Tampa
- Brandon
- Riverview
- Plant City
- Temple Terrace
- Carrollwood
Probate attorney for Tampa families
If someone close to you lived in Hillsborough County and has died, probate is generally filed with the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court's Probate, Guardianship, and Trust Department and heard in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. Under the circuit's Administrative Order S-2024-013, the clerk assigns new probate cases to Tampa divisions unless the person was domiciled within the East Division boundaries, in which case the case goes to an East division. The Clerk offers an address lookup tool to show which division applies. Being named personal representative can feel overwhelming, so here is what to expect in general terms:
- Choosing the right process. Summary administration is generally available when the non exempt estate is $150,000 or less (raised from $75,000 by chapter 2026-57, effective July 1, 2026), or when the person died more than two years ago. Other estates go through formal administration.
- Getting legal help. A personal representative in Florida generally must be represented by a Florida attorney, except in limited cases.
- Notifying creditors. In formal administration, a notice to creditors is published. Creditors generally have three months from first publication to file claims.
- Distributing the estate. Once claims and expenses are addressed, the remaining assets go to the beneficiaries named in the will, or to heirs under Florida's intestate succession statutes if there was no will.
Our probate administration page walks through these steps in more detail. If the person had a revocable trust, the Hillsborough Clerk notes that a Notice of Trust is filed with the Clerk when the settlor dies, giving the settlor's name and date of death, the trust's title and date, and the trustee's name and address.
Estate planning attorney in Tampa
Seeing a family go through probate is often what prompts people to plan for themselves. Most Hillsborough families consider these documents:
- Will, to name beneficiaries, a personal representative and a guardian for minor children.
- Revocable living trust, so assets titled in the trust pass without probate. The parts of the trust that take effect at death must be signed with the same formalities as a will.
- Durable power of attorney, so someone can manage your finances if you cannot.
- Health care surrogate, so someone you trust can make medical decisions for you.
- Homestead planning, because Florida restricts how a primary residence can be left by will when you are survived by a spouse or minor child.
Young families often start with a will, guardian nominations and incapacity documents. Homeowners and people with larger estates frequently add a trust to keep property out of probate. Florida has no state estate tax and no inheritance tax, though federal estate tax can still apply to large estates.
If you own your home, remember that the homestead property tax exemption is handled by the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser, and under section 196.011, Florida Statutes, the application is due on or before March 1 of the tax year. That exemption is separate from the homestead rules that shape your estate plan.
Planning for a young family
If you are raising children in Tampa, Brandon or Riverview, the most important part of your plan may be the part you hope is never used. In a will you can nominate a guardian for minor children. You can also leave their inheritance in a trust, so that a child does not receive everything outright at a young age and someone you choose manages the money for them. Without a will, Florida's intestate succession statutes decide who inherits, and nobody you chose is in charge. A will, a durable power of attorney and a health care surrogate designation are a sensible starting point for a young family, and a trust can be added as your home equity and savings grow.
How to meet with us from Hillsborough County
Our offices are in Fort Lauderdale, Indian Harbour Beach and Orlando, and Hillsborough County clients can meet with an attorney by phone or video. That means no drive and no time off work just to get started. Here is how it works:
- Reach out. Call (954) 707-0530 or use our contact page to request a free consultation.
- Talk with an attorney. We schedule a phone or video call at a time that suits you, including Saturday hours.
- Review your options. We explain how Florida law generally applies and what your plan or the probate process would involve.
- Sign correctly. If you go ahead, we explain the signing requirements for each document so that the formalities Florida requires are met.
