Probate in Orange County: Where It’s Filed
Orlando is in Orange County, which sits in Florida’s 9th Judicial Circuit. Probate is filed with the Orange County Clerk of Courts, in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. Cases are handled at the Orange County Courthouse at 425 N. Orange Avenue in Orlando, with the Probate Division in Suite 335. Attorneys e-file every document through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, which is why an out-of-state family can have a Orange County estate handled without anyone traveling to the courthouse.
The Probate Division asks filers not to send Social Security, bank, or credit-card numbers through its portal. We serve Orlando and Orange County residents, including Orlando, Winter Park, Apopka, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Maitland, Belle Isle.
Which Kind of Probate You’ll Need
Most Orange 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 consultation 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 Orange 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 Orange 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 Orlando and Orange County by phone, video, and e-signature.
Inherited a house or other real property here, or took charge of one as personal representative or trustee? Our guide to inheriting a house in Orange County 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 Orange County, including which division gets the case, which checklists are required, and how proposed orders reach the judge. The circuit requires a Notice Regarding Original Will at the opening of an estate (AO 2021-24) and a notarized Affidavit of Heirs in every intestate case (AO 2022-08); filings that skip them can be rejected. Proposed orders in estate administrations must arrive with the matching certification checklist or the submission may be rejected.
- Administrative orders of the Ninth Judicial Circuit
- Ninth Judicial Circuit judges directory
- The clerk’s probate office for Orange 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.
Rather handle the filing yourself? Our Orange County Probate Court filing guide is the procedural version of this page, with the courthouse address, where the original will goes, which forms the county wants, the posted filing fee, and an eleven-step checklist for opening the estate.
Handling a Orlando estate?
A free consultation tells you which kind of probate applies and what it will cost.
Book a free consultationFrequently Asked Questions
How do I choose a probate lawyer in Orlando?
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 Orlando and Orange County families.
Where is probate filed in Orange County?
Probate is filed with the Orange County Clerk of Courts, in the 9th 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 Orange 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 Orlando and Orange 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 Orange County Clerk of Courts (9th Judicial Circuit) and the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. (retrieved 2026-06-07)
Updated September 29, 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 Orlando and Orange County residents from Miami; this is not a Orlando office.
Notary Services in Orlando
The firm prepares your deed or trust and most clients sign from home by online notarization, with the firm arranging the notary and the two witnesses by video. Some people prefer to sign on paper in person. A Florida deed must be signed in front of two witnesses and acknowledged before a notary, so you need to bring two adult witnesses who are not named in the deed. Do not count on the store to supply witnesses. Call the store first to confirm a notary is on duty that day.
| Store | Address | Phone | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| The UPS Store #3999Downtown Orlando | 424 E Central Blvd, Orlando 32801 | (407) 872-1057 | Mon to Fri 8:30 am to 7 pm · Sat 10 am to 4 pm · Sun 10 am to 3 pm |
| The UPS Store #0407Across From Fashion Square Mall In The Colonial Landing Shopping Ctr | 3208 East Colonial Dr, Ste C, Orlando 32803 | (407) 897-3542 | Mon to Fri 8 am to 6:30 pm · Sat 9 am to 3 pm · Sun 11 am to 4 pm |
| The UPS Store #6182Across From Publix | 2014 Edgewater Dr, Orlando 32804 | (407) 601-6969 | Mon to Fri 8 am to 6:30 pm · Sat 10 am to 4 pm · Sun closed |
| The UPS Store #6193Across From Super Target & Sodo. Next To Starbucks | 2423 S Orange Ave, Orlando 32806 | (407) 849-1106 | Mon to Fri 8:30 am to 7 pm · Sat 9:30 am to 3 pm · Sun 10 am to 3 pm |
| The UPS Store #8345 | 7041 S Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando 32809 | Mon to Sun closed | |
| The UPS Store #0881Kirkman Oaks Publix Shopping Center 1 Mile North Of Universal Studios | 4630 S Kirkman Rd, Orlando 32811 | (407) 578-6322 | Mon to Fri 8:30 am to 7 pm · Sat 8:30 am to 4 pm · Sun 11 am to 3 pm |
| The UPS Store #4199Conway Crossing Publix Shopping Plaza @ Conway & Hoffner | 4409 Hoffner Ave, Orlando 32812 | (407) 851-5772 | Mon to Fri 8:30 am to 7 pm · Sat 10 am to 4 pm · Sun 10 am to 3 pm |
| The UPS Store #8300 | 4418 Curry Ford Rd, Orlando 32812 | Mon to Sun closed | |
| The UPS Store #0786Publix Shopping Center At Corner Of University And Dean | 10151 University Blvd, Orlando 32817 | (407) 657-7070 | Mon to Fri 8:30 am to 7 pm · Sat 9 am to 3 pm · Sun 10 am to 3 pm |
| The UPS Store #2126University Commons Shopping Mall. Intersection Of Corporate Blvd And Alafaya Trail | 12226 Corporate Blvd, Ste 142, Orlando 32817 | (407) 359-7702 | Mon to Fri 8:30 am to 7 pm · Sat 10 am to 4 pm · Sun 10 am to 3 pm |
Hours read from each store’s own page on October 30, 2026. Confirm by phone before you go. 20 more Orlando locations are listed on The UPS Store locator.
