Probate for a St. Petersburg, Clearwater or other Pinellas County resident is filed with the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller and heard in the Sixth Judicial Circuit. Cases are assigned to a probate section in Clearwater or St. Petersburg, generally by the filing attorney's ZIP code. We consult by phone or video.
Pinellas County is a peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf. Homes, condos and family property here often pass from one generation to the next, which is why so many of the questions we hear from Pinellas families are about probate and about the family home. We help with both, and with the planning that makes the next transfer easier.
Communities we serve in Pinellas County
- St. Petersburg
- Clearwater
- Largo
- Dunedin
- Palm Harbor
- Seminole
Probate attorney in St. Petersburg and Pinellas County
When a Pinellas County resident dies, probate is generally filed with the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller and heard in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, which serves Pasco and Pinellas counties. Under the circuit's Administrative Order 2025-035, effective December 8, 2025, Pinellas probate cases are assigned to a probate section in Clearwater or one in St. Petersburg, generally based on the ZIP code of the petitioner's attorney, or of the petitioner if unrepresented. So a St. Petersburg estate is not automatically heard in St. Petersburg. The person named to settle the estate, the personal representative, generally must be represented by a Florida attorney.
The first question is usually which kind of administration applies:
- 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. It is usually the shorter route.
- Formal administration applies to other estates. It includes publishing a notice to creditors, after which creditors generally have three months from first publication to file claims.
We explain which path fits the estate and guide the personal representative through each step of probate administration.
First steps after a loss in the family
If someone close to you has died, you do not need to have every answer before you call. A few practical steps make the first conversation more useful:
- Look for the original will and any trust documents. Copies help, but the original will is what the court generally needs.
- Make a simple list of what the person owned and how it was titled, such as the home, bank accounts and vehicles.
- Keep track of bills and mail that arrive, since creditors may later file claims.
- Talk with an attorney before selling or giving away estate property.
We can then tell you whether probate is needed, which form of administration may apply and what the personal representative's duties are.
When the estate includes a Pinellas home
A family home raises its own questions. Under the Florida Constitution, a homestead is protected from most creditors, and there are restrictions on how it can be left by will when the owner is survived by a spouse or a minor child. If a will tried to leave the home in a way those rules do not allow, the result can be different from what the will says. We review how the property was titled and how homestead rules apply before the estate moves forward.
The property tax side is handled by a different office. The homestead exemption is applied for through the Pinellas County Property Appraiser, and section 196.011, Florida Statutes, sets a deadline of March 1 of the tax year. When a home changes hands after a death, the new owner generally needs to apply in their own right.
Estate planning attorney in Clearwater and across Pinellas
A thoughtful plan can spare your family much of the work described above. Most Pinellas families consider:
- A will, signed at the end before two witnesses, ideally with a self proving affidavit so the witnesses do not need to be located later.
- A revocable living trust with a pour over will, so that property titled in the trust passes without probate.
- A durable power of attorney, signed before two witnesses and a notary.
- A health care surrogate designation and a living will, each signed before two adult witnesses, at least one of whom is not your spouse or a blood relative.
- A homestead review of how your home is titled.
Florida has no state estate tax and no inheritance tax. Federal estate tax can still apply to large estates, and we factor that in where it is relevant.
How to meet with us from Pinellas County
Our offices are in Fort Lauderdale, Indian Harbour Beach and Orlando. Pinellas County clients can meet with an attorney by phone or video, so you can talk from home in St. Petersburg or Clearwater without making a trip. Your first consultation is free. Call (954) 707-0530 during office hours or use our contact page, tell us briefly whether you need a plan or help with an estate, and we will set up a time. Because the firm limits its caseload, you work directly with an attorney throughout.
