Clerk of the Circuit Court
Staff review draft · Not indexed
Florida Probate Guide · Twentieth Judicial Circuit
Charlotte County Probate Court Guide2026 EDITION
Charlotte County probate is filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court. The probate page lists a probate phone and a fee table. It does not name the probate judge.
Court details last reviewed October 29, 2026
Court information
Where is probate filed in Charlotte County?
Probate filings go through the county Clerk of Court and are assigned within the Twentieth Judicial Circuit. Check the Clerk’s current instructions before mailing documents or visiting in person.
Check the official court sourceMurdock Administration Building
- Address
- 18500 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte, FL 33948
- Public counter hours
- Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
- Probate contact
- 941-637-2210
Current assignments
Who handles probate matters in Charlotte County?
Judicial assignments and staff contacts can change. These names were checked against official court sources on October 29, 2026.
Local procedure
What local probate rules apply?
The probate phone on the clerk’s probate page is 941-637-2210. The clerk also lists the Justice Center at 350 E. Marion Avenue, Punta Gorda, and an Englewood annex. Confirm which counter takes probate filings. The fee table labels summary administration as less than $1,000 and $1,001 and over, so an estate of exactly $1,000 is unlabeled. Disposition without administration is listed at $235 on that table. The circuit pages checked on October 29, 2026, did not name a probate judge for this county.
Proposed-order checklist
- 1E-file the petition through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
- 2Call 941-637-2210 before visiting, and confirm whether the filing counter is in Port Charlotte or Punta Gorda.
Are probate hearings remote?
The circuit pages checked on October 29, 2026, did not name a probate judge for this county. No Charlotte proposed-order sheet was verified.
Can Lauren handle the case remotely?
An uncontested Charlotte estate can often be e-filed. Confirm the counter before you bring an original will.
Process overview
How does a Charlotte County probate move forward?
The exact path depends on the estate and the court’s orders. This overview shows the common sequence for a matter filed in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit; it is not a filing checklist or a promise of timing.
- 01
Open the estate
File the petition, original will when applicable, death certificate, and required supporting documents.
- 02
Court review
The Clerk processes the filing and the assigned division reviews petitions, checklists, and proposed orders.
- 03
Administer assets
Address notices, creditors, inventory, taxes, property, and distributions required for the selected process.
- 04
Distribute and close
After court requirements are met, distribute the remaining assets and complete the steps needed to close.
2026Threshold
Florida Summary Administration may be available when the estate subject to administration, less exempt property, does not exceed $150,000 or the decedent has been dead for more than two years, subject to the other requirements of Florida Statute § 735.201.
Court costs
What does probate cost in Charlotte County?
Court filing fees are separate from attorney fees. Lauren reviews the estate before confirming the legal scope and whether flat-fee representation is available.
These are the Charlotte Clerk’s posted probate lines. Guardianship lines on the same table are not listed. An estate of exactly $1,000 is not labeled. Confirm that line, and confirm the disposition amount, before filing.
Clerk servicePosted fee
Formal, ancillary, curatorship, or conservatorship$400
Summary administration — less than $1,000$235
Summary administration — $1,001 and over$345
Disposition without administration$235
Caveat$41
Petition and order to admit a foreign will$231
Opening an estate, if not for letters or an order of summary administration$231
Straight answers
Charlotte County probate FAQ
Where do I file probate in Charlotte County?
The probate phone is 941-637-2210. Clerk Roger D. Eaton’s site lists the Murdock Administration Building at 18500 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte, and the Justice Center at 350 E. Marion Avenue, Punta Gorda. Posted hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Confirm which building accepts probate filings.
Who is the Charlotte County probate judge?
The circuit pages checked on October 29, 2026, did not name a probate judge for this county.
What estates qualify for Florida Summary Administration in Charlotte County?
Under Florida Statutes § 735.201, summary administration is available when the decedent has been dead for more than two years, or when the value of the estate subject to administration in Florida, less the value of property exempt from the claims of creditors, does not exceed $150,000.
Clear next steps after a difficult loss.
Call for a free 15-minute consultation about a Charlotte County probate. Lauren Richardson Law serves families throughout Florida, including people managing an estate from another state.
Verification record
Official sources
Last checked October 29, 2026
- Florida Statutes § 735.201 — Summary administration
- Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
- Florida Statutes § 28.2401 — Service charges and filing fees in probate matters
- Charlotte Clerk — Probate
This guide provides general information, not legal advice. Court assignments, procedures, fees, and hearing formats can change. Confirm current requirements with the Clerk and assigned division before acting.