Florida Probate Guide · Twelfth Judicial Circuit
Manatee County probate is filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Bradenton. Administrative Order 2026-05b.4, effective September 3, 2026, assigns Manatee probate to Judge Charles E. Williams.
Court details last reviewed October 29, 2026
Court information
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 sourceCurrent assignments
Judicial assignments and staff contacts can change. These names were checked against official court sources on October 29, 2026.
Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
The clerk site also styles her Angelina “Angel” Colonneso. Probate and guardianship are 941-741-4037. The main line is 941-749-1800. Mail goes to P.O. Box 25400, Bradenton, FL 34206.
Official sourceCircuit Judge
Assigned to Manatee probate and guardianship, and also to Sarasota and South County probate. The judge phone list places him at the Judge Lynn N. Silvertooth Judicial Center, Courtroom 8B. Judicial assistant Lisa Fudge-Schustik, 941-861-7942. That number is not the Bradenton clerk counter.
Official sourceLocal procedure
The clerk’s filing counter is 1115 Manatee Avenue West. The circuit’s Manatee County Judicial Center is the separate building at 1051 Manatee Avenue West. Use the clerk’s address for filing. The fee table cites Florida Statutes § 735.201 on the summary-administration lines and is used below. Administrative Order 2019-4.5 says a Manatee adversary probate trial expected to last more than half a day is transferred to the civil division when it is ready for a trial calendar. Pretrial motions stay with the probate division. No separate Manatee proposed-order sheet was verified.
Administrative Order 2019-4.5, still listed as effective, transfers a Manatee adversary probate proceeding to the civil division only when the trial is expected to last more than half a day, meaning more than three hours. Pretrial motions on those cases stay with the probate division. The probate division hears shorter adversary matters.
An uncontested Manatee estate can often be e-filed without a trip to Bradenton. Hearing format still depends on the assigned judge.
Process overview
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.
File the petition, original will when applicable, death certificate, and required supporting documents.
The Clerk processes the filing and the assigned division reviews petitions, checklists, and proposed orders.
Address notices, creditors, inventory, taxes, property, and distributions required for the selected process.
After court requirements are met, distribute the remaining assets and complete the steps needed to close.
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
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 Manatee Clerk’s posted probate lines. The summary lines cite Florida Statutes § 735.201 and split at $1,000. Guardianship lines on the same page are not listed here.
Straight answers
File with Clerk Angelina M. Colonneso at 1115 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The probate and guardianship phone is 941-741-4037. Mail goes to P.O. Box 25400, Bradenton, FL 34206. The judicial center at 1051 Manatee Avenue West is a different building.
Administrative Order 2026-05b.4, effective September 3, 2026, assigns Manatee probate and guardianship to Hon. Charles E. Williams. His judicial assistant is Lisa Fudge-Schustik at 941-861-7942. The 2027 assignment order does not take effect until January 4, 2027.
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.
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Verification record
Last checked October 29, 2026
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.
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