Clerk of the Circuit Court
Grant Maloy
The October 14, 2026 archive of the clerk site says he was elected in November 2016 and began serving on January 3, 2017. The live site did not load on October 29, 2026.
Official sourceStaff review draft · Not indexed
Florida Probate Guide · Eighteenth Judicial Circuit
Seminole County Probate Court Guide2026 EDITION
Seminole County probate is filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Sanford. Administrative Order 26-28-S Amended, ordered October 1, 2026, splits new probate cases between two judges by case number.
Court details last reviewed October 29, 2026
Court information
Where is probate filed in Seminole County?
Probate filings go through the county Clerk of Court and are assigned within the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit. Check the Clerk’s current instructions before mailing documents or visiting in person.
Check the official court sourceJuvenile Justice Center
- Address
- 190 Eslinger Way, Sanford, FL 32773
- Public counter hours
- Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
- Probate contact
- 407-665-4300
Current assignments
Who handles probate matters in Seminole County?
Judicial assignments and staff contacts can change. These names were checked against official court sources on October 29, 2026.
Circuit Judge
Hon. William Orth
Division B. New probate, guardianship, and mental-health cases ending in an even number are assigned here. The assignment runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. The order does not name a judicial assistant.
Official sourceCircuit Judge
Hon. John Galluzzo
Division P. New probate, guardianship, and mental-health cases ending in an odd number are assigned here. The assignment runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. The order does not name a judicial assistant.
Official sourceLocal procedure
What local probate rules apply?
The archived estates page still describes summary administration and disposition of personal property with older dollar figures. This guide uses Florida Statutes § 735.201 and does not repeat those figures. The same page says a will is deposited with the clerk within ten days after the custodian learns of the death, with the date of death or the last four digits of the Social Security number if available. There is no fee to deposit a will. A receipt, if requested, is $7. An attorney is not required just to deposit the will. The Civil Courthouse at 301 North Park Avenue has no customer counter and is open for scheduled hearings. Mail to the clerk may go to P.O. Box 8099, Sanford, FL 32772-8099.
Proposed-order checklist
- 1E-file the petition through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
- 2Deposit an original will within ten days after learning of the death. The archived clerk page lists no fee, and a $7 fee if a receipt is requested.
- 3New probate cases ending in an even number go to Division B. Odd numbers go to Division P, unless a pending guardianship involving the same person changes the assignment.
Are probate hearings remote?
Administrative Order 26-28-S Amended, ordered October 1, 2026, assigns Seminole probate to Division B (Hon. William Orth) and Division P (Hon. John Galluzzo). No Seminole proposed-order or hearing sheet was verified, so this guide does not describe how to set a hearing. The Civil Courthouse at 301 North Park Avenue is for scheduled hearings and has no customer counter.
Can Lauren handle the case remotely?
An uncontested Seminole estate can often be e-filed without a trip to Sanford. Depositing an original will is still a clerk-counter task. Hearing format was not verified.
Process overview
How does a Seminole 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 Eighteenth 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 Seminole 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.
The filing fees are the statutory totals in Florida Statutes § 28.2401, including the $4 service charge on formal, ancillary, and summary administration. The archived clerk fee page did not post those probate lines. The $7 figure is the clerk’s fee for a will-deposit receipt. Confirm both 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
Will-deposit receipt, if requested$7
Straight answers
Seminole County probate FAQ
Where do I file probate in Seminole County?
The October 14, 2026 archive of the clerk’s locations page lists juvenile and probate services at the Juvenile Justice Center, 190 Eslinger Way, Sanford, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The phone on that page is 407-665-4300. The Civil Courthouse at 301 North Park Avenue has no customer counter. The live clerk site did not load on October 29, 2026, so confirm the counter before you go.
Who are the Seminole County probate judges?
Administrative Order 26-28-S Amended, ordered October 1, 2026, assigns new probate cases ending in an even number to Hon. William Orth in Division B, and cases ending in an odd number to Hon. John Galluzzo in Division P. Those assignments run from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028.
What estates qualify for Florida Summary Administration in Seminole 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 Seminole 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 26-28-S Amended — Seminole circuit assignments, ordered October 1, 2026
- Seminole Clerk — Locations and hours (archived October 14, 2026)
- Seminole Clerk — Estates (archived October 14, 2026)
- Seminole Clerk — About your clerk (archived October 14, 2026)
- Seminole Clerk — Fee schedule (archived October 14, 2026)
- Eighteenth Circuit — Locations
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.