Clerk of the Circuit Court
Nadia K. Daughtrey
Elected in November 2016 and sworn in on January 3, 2017.
Official sourceStaff review draft · Not indexed
Florida Probate Guide · Twelfth Judicial Circuit
DeSoto County Probate Court Guide2026 EDITION
DeSoto County probate is filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Arcadia. Administrative Order 2026-05b.4, effective September 3, 2026, assigns DeSoto probate to Judge Don T. Hall.
Court details last reviewed October 29, 2026
Court information
Where is probate filed in DeSoto County?
Probate filings go through the county Clerk of Court and are assigned within the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. Check the Clerk’s current instructions before mailing documents or visiting in person.
Check the official court sourceDeSoto County Courthouse
- Address
- 115 East Oak Street, Room 101, Arcadia, FL 34266Room 101
- Public counter hours
- Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., closed 12:00–1:00 p.m.
- Probate contact
- 863-993-4876
Current assignments
Who handles probate matters in DeSoto County?
Judicial assignments and staff contacts can change. These names were checked against official court sources on October 29, 2026.
Circuit Judge
Hon. Don T. Hall
DeSoto administrative judge. The 2026 assignment order gives him circuit civil other than Divisions R and T, unified family, circuit criminal, juvenile, and probate and guardianship. Judicial assistant Anita Bowles, Suite 201, 863-993-4644. That number is the judge’s office, not the clerk counter.
Official sourceLocal procedure
What local probate rules apply?
The clerk accepts a will for deposit after death and lists no fee for that service. Disposition of personal property without administration may be filed without an attorney when the estate does not exceed preferred funeral expenses and the expenses of the last 60 days of the last illness. The fee table is used below. Its summary lines are “less than $1,000” and “more than $1,000.01,” so an estate of exactly $1,000 is not labeled. Administrative Order 2019-4.5 says the DeSoto probate division hears adversary probate proceedings that require a trial.
Proposed-order checklist
- 1E-file the petition through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
- 2A will may be deposited with the clerk after death. The clerk lists no fee for that deposit.
- 3For an adversary probate matter that needs a trial, Administrative Order 2019-4.5 leaves the case in the DeSoto probate division.
Are probate hearings remote?
Administrative Order 2019-4.5, still listed as effective, says the DeSoto probate division hears adversary probate proceedings that require a trial, including pretrial motions and the trial. No separate DeSoto proposed-order sheet was verified.
Can Lauren handle the case remotely?
An uncontested DeSoto estate can often be e-filed without a trip to Arcadia. Hearing format still depends on the assigned judge.
Process overview
How does a DeSoto 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 Twelfth 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 DeSoto 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 DeSoto Clerk’s posted probate lines. Guardianship and audit lines on the same table are not listed here. The summary lines do not label an estate of exactly $1,000. Confirm that line before filing.
Clerk servicePosted fee
Formal administration$400
Summary administration — less than $1,000$235
Summary administration — more than $1,000.01$345
Disposition without administration$231
Petition to administer a foreign will$231
Caveats and trusts$41
Straight answers
DeSoto County probate FAQ
Where do I file probate in DeSoto County?
File with Clerk Nadia K. Daughtrey at the DeSoto County Courthouse, 115 East Oak Street, Room 101, Arcadia. The clerk lists hours as Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed from noon to 1:00 p.m. The phone is 863-993-4876.
Who is the DeSoto County probate judge?
Administrative Order 2026-05b.4, effective September 3, 2026, assigns DeSoto probate and guardianship to Hon. Don T. Hall. His judicial assistant is Anita Bowles at 863-993-4644. The 2027 assignment order does not take effect until January 4, 2027.
What estates qualify for Florida Summary Administration in DeSoto 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 DeSoto 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
- Administrative Order 2026-05b.4 — Fourth Amended Judicial Assignments 2026, effective September 3, 2026
- Administrative Order 2019-4.5 — Assignment of adversary probate proceedings
- DeSoto Clerk — Probate and guardianship
- DeSoto Clerk — Filing fees, probate section
- DeSoto Clerk — Contact
- DeSoto Clerk — Meet the Clerk
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.