Probate in St. Lucie County: Where It’s Filed
Port St. Lucie is in St. Lucie County, which sits in Florida’s 19th Judicial Circuit. Probate is filed with Michelle R. Miller, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller of St. Lucie County, in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. Cases are handled at the St. Lucie County Courthouse at 218 S. 2nd Street in Fort Pierce, with a branch annex at 250 N.W. Country Club Drive in Port St. Lucie. Attorneys e-file every document through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, which is why an out-of-state family can have a St. Lucie County estate handled without anyone traveling to the courthouse.
The Fort Pierce courthouse offers free public parking, and Port St. Lucie residents can also use the Country Club Drive annex. We serve Port St. Lucie and St. Lucie County residents, including Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, Tradition, St. Lucie West, Hutchinson Island, Lakewood Park.
Which Kind of Probate You’ll Need
Most St. Lucie 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 St. Lucie 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 St. Lucie 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 Port St. Lucie and St. Lucie County by phone, video, and e-signature.
Local Rules, Judges, and the Clerk’s Probate Office
Every circuit publishes administrative orders and local procedures that control how probate actually runs in St. Lucie County, including which division gets the case, which checklists are required, and how proposed orders reach the judge. The Nineteenth routes all probate pleadings, proposed orders, and communications through a county email box ([email protected] for St. Lucie), with the proposed order in Word and the required checklist attached. Original wills, codicils, and death certificates must still be filed in paper. The circuit’s administrative order index has no decedent probate category; the operative procedure lives on the circuit’s probate division page and its checklists.
- Administrative orders of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit
- Nineteenth Judicial Circuit judges directory
- The clerk’s probate office for St. Lucie 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 Port St. Lucie 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 Port St. Lucie?
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 Port St. Lucie and St. Lucie County families.
Where is probate filed in St. Lucie County?
Probate is filed with Michelle R. Miller, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller of St. Lucie County, in the 19th 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 St. Lucie 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 Port St. Lucie and St. Lucie 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 Michelle R. Miller, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller of St. Lucie County (19th 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 Port St. Lucie and St. Lucie County residents from Miami; this is not a Port St. Lucie office.