The Treasure Coast counties of St. Lucie, Martin and Indian River are all in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, along with Okeechobee. Each county has its own clerk, courthouse and probate judge: Fort Pierce for St. Lucie, Stuart for Martin and Vero Beach for Indian River. Probate is filed in the county where the person lived. We meet clients in Indian Harbour Beach or by video.
The Treasure Coast is three counties that often feel like one community. People live in Port St. Lucie, work in Stuart and keep a boat in Vero Beach. For estate planning and probate, though, the county lines matter, because each county has its own clerk, its own courthouse, its own property appraiser and its own probate judge. This page sets the three side by side so you know where each step happens.
Communities we serve on the Treasure Coast
- Port St. Lucie and Fort Pierce (St. Lucie County)
- Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach and Hobe Sound (Martin County)
- Vero Beach and Sebastian (Indian River County)
Three counties, one circuit
St. Lucie, Martin and Indian River counties, together with Okeechobee County, make up the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit. The circuit assigns probate judges county by county, and each county's probate cases are handled through that county's clerk:
| County | Courthouse | Main cities |
|---|---|---|
| St. Lucie | 218 S. 2nd St., Fort Pierce | Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce |
| Martin | 100 SE Ocean Blvd., Stuart | Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach |
| Indian River | 2000 16th Ave., Vero Beach | Vero Beach, Sebastian |
Which county? The circuit's probate guidance is that a Florida resident's estate is filed in the county where they lived, and the estate of someone who lived outside Florida is filed in the county where the property is. So a Port St. Lucie resident's probate is filed in Fort Pierce even if they banked in Stuart.
How the Nineteenth Circuit handles probate paperwork
The circuit has its own working rules, and they shape how an estate moves:
- Each county has its own probate email address. Once a case is open, documents for the judge are sent to that county's probate inbox, with the case number, estate name and document type in the subject line, a proposed order in an editable format and a completed checklist.
- Originals are still paper. Original wills and certified death certificates are filed on paper with the clerk, not electronically.
- Self help forms exist, with limits. The circuit posts a handful of forms, including a pro se petition for summary administration and petitions to determine homestead and exempt property. A personal representative in Florida generally still needs a Florida attorney, so these are a guide rather than a substitute for counsel.
Summary administration is generally available when the non exempt estate is $150,000 or less, a limit raised from $75,000 by chapter 2026-57 effective July 1, 2026, or when the person died more than two years ago. Our Florida probate administration page explains formal and summary administration in full.
Depositing an original will
Section 732.901 requires whoever holds the original will of a person who has died to deposit it with the clerk within 10 days after learning of the death. On the Treasure Coast, that means the clerk in the county where the person lived. The Martin County Clerk lists a $1.00 fee to deposit a will and states that no attorney is needed to file one. The Indian River County Clerk lists a $1.00 index fee, with a receipt available for an additional charge. Deposit is not the same as opening probate, but it puts the will where the court can find it.
Homes, trusts and homestead on the Treasure Coast
If your plan moves your home into a revocable living trust, two county offices are involved. The clerk records the new deed in the county's Official Records, and each Treasure Coast clerk offers a property fraud alert service that notifies you when a document is recorded under your name. The property appraiser handles the homestead exemption, due by March 1 under section 196.011.
The three property appraisers do not handle trust owned homes identically. Indian River's Property Appraiser accepts applications online or at its Vero Beach and Sebastian offices and requires Florida residency on January 1. Martin and St. Lucie have their own trust documentation requirements, and a deed into a trust can count as a change of title that calls for a new application. We confirm the current requirement with your county before the deed is recorded, so the exemption is not lost in the transfer.
Homestead also carries constitutional limits on who can inherit the home when a spouse or minor child survives. Our Florida homestead planning page explains them, and our will vs. trust guide helps you compare the two main approaches.
Documents most Treasure Coast families consider
- A Florida will, signed at the end before two witnesses.
- A revocable living trust with a pour over will.
- A durable power of attorney, signed before two witnesses and a notary.
- A health care surrogate designation and a living will.
How we work with Treasure Coast clients
Treasure Coast clients can meet with an attorney at our Indian Harbour Beach office, about 40 minutes north of Vero Beach, or by phone or video. Your first consultation is free, and because the firm limits its caseload, you work directly with an attorney from the first call to the signing. For families just north of the county line, our Melbourne and Brevard County page covers the local steps there. Contact us to get started.
