Monroe County Probate Guide
16th Judicial Circuit · Updated January 2026
Filing & Fees
Complete Fee Schedule
Source ↗Probate Filing Fees
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
Formal Administration Standard probate for larger estates | $401 |
Summary Administration (under $1,000) Simplified probate for smaller estates | $236 |
Disposition Without Administration For very small estates | $232 |
Ancillary Administration For out-of-state decedents with property in this state | $401 |
Caveat File notice to prevent probate without notification | $42 |
Notice of Trust Required filing when settlor dies | $42 |
Accepted Payment: Cash, Check, Money Order, Credit Card
Note: Fees per Florida Statutes 28.2401 (2023). Counties may add small document/technology surcharges per local administrative orders.
Guardianship Fees
Document Fees
Ongoing Estate Fees
Annual Accounting (by estate value)
Inventory Audit Fee
Court Registry Fee
Fee for holding funds in court registry
Formula: 3% of first $500 + 1.5% of each subsequent $100
Fees per Florida Statutes 28.2401 (2023). Counties may add small document/technology surcharges per local administrative orders.
Required Documents
- Petition for Administration (Form 500.100)
- Certified Death Certificate
- Original Will (if any)
- Oath of Personal Representative (Form 500.300)
- Designation of Resident Agent (Form 500.400)
- Bond (if required by will or court)
- Notice of Administration (Form 500.600)
- Inventory (Form 500.500)
- Accounting (Form 500.700)
E-Filing & Filing Methods
Source ↗Timelines & Proceedings
Deadlines & Creditor Claims
Key Deadlines
- Will Deposit
- 10 days
- Creditor Claims
- 3 months
- Known Creditor Notice
- 30 days
Creditor Claims
- Period Starts
- first publication of Notice to Creditors
- Statute
- F.S. 733.702
Publication Requirements
Notice to Creditors
- Newspaper
- Florida Keys Keynoter
- Duration
- Once a week for 2 consecutive weeks
- Deadline
- Within 60 days of appointment
- Est. Cost
- $100-$200
Alternatives: Key West Citizen
Notice of Petition/Administration
Must be sent within 90 days to:
- Beneficiaries
- Known creditors
- Surviving spouse
Related Proceedings
Property Recording
Source ↗Recording Fees
- First Page
- $10.00
- Additional Pages
- $8.50
Documentary Stamps
- Deed Rate
- $0.60 per $100 of consideration
- Mortgage Rate
- $0.35 per $100 of debt
Guardianship
Guardianship is a legal process where a court appoints someone to manage the affairs of an incapacitated person or minor.
Filing Fees
- Person Only
- $236
- Property/Estate
- $401
plenary guardian
Full guardianship - exercises all delegable legal rights and powers of the ward
limited guardian
Partial guardianship - exercises only specific rights designated by court order
Guardian Training
Report Deadlines
- Initial Plan
- 60 days
- Annual Plan
- 90 days
- Inventory
- 60 days
Preneed Guardian Declaration
Allows a person to designate their preferred guardian before incapacity occurs.
⚠ Attorney required for guardianship proceedings
Sources (8)
- https://monroe-clerk.com/
- https://keyscourts.net/
- https://keyscourts.net/programs-services/family-court-services/
- https://keyscourts.net/about-the-court/court-hours-holidays/
- https://keyscourts.net/courthouse-locations-and-maps/
- https://www.flclerks.com/page/findaclerk
- Florida Statutes Title XLII (Estates and Trusts)
- Florida Statutes 28.2401 - Service charges and filing fees in probate matters