Clerk of the Circuit Court
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The contact page did not print the clerk’s personal name.
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Florida Probate Guide · Sixteenth Judicial Circuit
Monroe County Probate Court Guide2026 EDITION
Monroe County probate is filed with the Clerk of Courts. The contact page lists three clerk offices. The circuit courthouses are separate buildings.
Court details last reviewed October 29, 2026
Court information
Where is probate filed in Monroe County?
Probate filings go through the county Clerk of Court and are assigned within the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit. Check the Clerk’s current instructions before mailing documents or visiting in person.
Check the official court sourceKey West Clerk of Courts
- Address
- 500 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040
- Public counter hours
- Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
- Probate contact
- 305-292-3458
Current assignments
Who handles probate matters in Monroe 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 Key West clerk’s office is 500 Whitehead Street, phone 305-292-3458, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Marathon is 3117 Overseas Highway, phone 305-289-6027. Plantation Key is 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, Tavernier, phone 305-852-7145. The Freeman Justice Center at 302 Fleming Street is a court location, not the address on the clerk’s contact card. No probate fee table was verified. 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.
- 2Confirm which of the three clerk offices accepts an original will.
Are probate hearings remote?
The circuit pages checked on October 29, 2026, did not name a probate judge for this county. Court locations include the Freeman Justice Center, the Marathon courthouse, and the Plantation Key center. No hearing-format sheet was verified.
Can Lauren handle the case remotely?
An uncontested Monroe estate can often be e-filed. Confirm which Keys office takes an original will.
Process overview
How does a Monroe 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 Sixteenth 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 Monroe 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 figures combine the filing fees in Florida Statutes § 28.2401 with the additional $4 service charge that subsection (3) adds to formal, ancillary, and summary administration. A caveat is $40, and disposition without administration is $230. This clerk did not post a probate fee schedule that could be verified. Confirm the total before filing.
Clerk servicePosted fee
Formal or ancillary administration$399
Summary administration — estate under $1,000$234
Summary administration — estate $1,000 or more$344
Caveat$40
Disposition without administration$230
Straight answers
Monroe County probate FAQ
Where do I file probate in Monroe County?
The clerk’s Key West office is 500 Whitehead Street, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., phone 305-292-3458. Marathon is 3117 Overseas Highway, phone 305-289-6027. Tavernier is 88770 Overseas Highway, Suite 2, phone 305-852-7145. Confirm which office accepts probate filings.
Who is the Monroe 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 Monroe 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 Monroe 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
- Monroe Clerk — Contact
- Sixteenth Circuit — Court administration
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.