Probate in Pasco County: Where It’s Filed
New Port Richey is in Pasco County, which sits in Florida’s 6th Judicial Circuit. Probate is filed with the Pasco County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. Cases are handled at the West Pasco Judicial Center at 7530 Little Road in New Port Richey. Attorneys e-file every document through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, which is why an out-of-state family can have a Pasco County estate handled without anyone traveling to the courthouse.
Pasco County has two courthouses; west-Pasco estates file at the West Pasco Judicial Center in New Port Richey, east-Pasco estates at the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Dade City. We serve New Port Richey and Pasco County residents, including New Port Richey, Port Richey, Trinity, Hudson, Holiday, Wesley Chapel, Dade City.
Which Kind of Probate You’ll Need
Most Pasco County estates pass through one of three doors. The cheapest one may be open.
- Disposition without administration. Tiny estates with only exempt property and final-expense reimbursement; days to weeks.
- Summary administration. Estates of $150,000 or less (raised from $75,000 on July 1, 2026) after exempt property, or when the decedent died more than two years ago; often weeks.
- Formal administration. Everything else; a personal representative is appointed and the case runs about 6 to 12 months.
We confirm which applies at your consult and quote a flat fee. Estimate the cost and timeline first →
How Long, and What It Costs
Formal administration is paced by the 3-month creditor-claim window; clean distribution waits for it to pass. Florida law sets a presumed-reasonable attorney fee scaled to the estate, but it’s a ceiling, not a mandate. Our flat fees start at $1,500 (disposition), $2,500 (summary), and $3,500 (formal). Government costs, the Pasco County filing fee (about $400), newspaper publication, and certified copies, are additional and passed through at cost. See the full Florida probate guide →
Out-of-State Personal Representatives
Under Florida law, you can serve as personal representative of a Pasco County estate from another state if you’re related to the decedent by blood, adoption, or marriage; an out-of-state child qualifies. We represent personal representatives across New Port Richey and Pasco County by phone, video, and e-signature.
Suddenly responsible for a house or other real property here? Our Pasco County property owner's guide maps every office that now matters to you, including the property appraiser, tax deadlines, code enforcement, and how to watch what the county is planning near the property.
Local Rules, Judges, and the Clerk’s Probate Office
Every circuit publishes administrative orders and local procedures that control how probate actually runs in Pasco County, including which division gets the case, which checklists are required, and how proposed orders reach the judge. Pasco is a genuine two-courthouse county and probate is split between them rather than centralized. A probate case is assigned east or west by where the decedent lived, measured against a township range line, while a guardianship case is assigned by the address of the petitioner’s attorney, so one family can end up in both courthouses. The Clerk does not accept a will for deposit while the maker is alive, only after death. A 1997 administrative order still governs which Pasco courthouse hears a case, and it uses one test for probate and a different one for guardianship.
- Administrative orders of the Sixth Judicial Circuit
- Sixth Judicial Circuit judges directory
- The clerk’s probate office for Pasco County
- Local probate forms and checklists
You do not have to learn any of this yourself. Part of what a flat fee covers is an attorney who already files under these rules, so nothing bounces back for a missing checklist.
Handling a New Port Richey estate?
A free 30-minute consult tells you which kind of probate applies and what it will cost.
Book your free consultFrequently Asked Questions
How do I choose a probate lawyer in New Port Richey?
Ask the same four questions everywhere in Florida. Is the fee flat or the statutory percentage, in writing? Does the lawyer litigate if a will contest or objection erupts mid-case? Can the whole case be handled without you coming to Florida, since Florida probate e-files statewide? And does the estate, not you personally, pay the fee? We answer flat, yes, yes, and yes for New Port Richey and Pasco County families.
Where is probate filed in Pasco County?
Probate is filed with the Pasco County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, in the 6th Judicial Circuit, where the decedent was domiciled. Attorneys e-file through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, so you don't have to appear in person. We handle Pasco County estates wherever you are.
How long will it take?
Formal administration in any Florida county usually runs 6 to 12 months because the 3-month creditor-claim window (§733.702) must pass. Summary administration is faster, often a few weeks to about two months.
Do I need a local attorney if I live out of state?
You need a Florida attorney for most formal administrations (Fla. Prob. R. 5.030), but you don't need to be local. We represent personal representatives across New Port Richey and Pasco County by phone, video, and e-signature.
Sources
- Fla. Stat. ch. 733 to 735 (administration); §733.304 (nonresident PR); §733.702 (creditor claims); Fla. Prob. R. 5.030 (attorney required). Filing via the Pasco County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller (6th Judicial Circuit) and the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. (retrieved 2026-06-07)
Updated August 12, 2026. Reviewed by Kevin D. Klagge, Esq., Fla. Bar No. 99502. Attorney Kevin Klagge represents families, businesses, and international clients in estate and tax planning, business structuring, and international law, with a focus on Florida legal tools. He litigates estate and business issues in court. General information about Florida law, not legal advice. We serve New Port Richey and Pasco County residents from Miami; this is not a New Port Richey office.