Gainesville, FL Probate: Local Expertise in the Heart of Gator Nation

Losing a loved one is a heavy burden, but navigating their estate in Gainesville shouldn’t be. Florida Probate Law Group is here to help. As the home of our headquarters office, Gainesville is the heart of our practice. Both of our founding partners are Alachua County Residents and University of Florida graduates. Founding partner R. Nadine David served as Probate Court Staff Attorney at the Family and Civil Justice Center in downtown Gainesville. In that position, she assisted circuit judges with their probate dockets, handling thousands of cases and learning how the Florida probate court system works from the inside out. Our deep roots in the 8th Judicial Circuit provide our Gainesville clients with a distinct advantage, from the east side all the way to Haile Planation and Tioga.

Click here to learn more about the probate process in Florida by reading our Complete Guide to Florida Probate.

The Bo Diddley Legacy: A Victory for the Family

One of our firm’s proudest moments occurred right here in Gainesville. We had the distinct privilege of representing 18 children and grandchildren of the legendary rock and roll pioneer Bo Diddley (Ellas McDaniel).

After years of his legacy being controlled by former managers and lawyers, our team, led by Charles “Cary” David, won a high-stakes trust litigation case in Alachua County. We successfully removed the former trustees and installed a new trustee chosen by the family, returning control of Bo’s music rights and intellectual property to his rightful heirs. This victory underscores our commitment to protecting families from the misappropriation of estate assets.

Read more: Bo Diddley’s family gets OK to hire new estate trustee – The Gainesville Sun

Why Probate in Gainesville is Unique

Gainesville is more than a college town; it is a city with a specific legal landscape. When filing for probate in Alachua County, you are operating within the Eighth Judicial Circuit of Florida. Alachua County has a judicial culture of precision and strict compliance. This jurisdiction requires detail oriented adherence to local administrative orders that govern how estates are managed and distributed.

The Florida Probate Law Group Advantage

We don’t just practice probate; we understand the system from the inside out.

Unrivaled Judicial Insight: Our founding partner, R. Nadine David, previously served as the Probate Staff Attorney for the Eighth Judicial Circuit right here in Gainesville. She began her career in probate advising local judges on the legal sufficiency of filings. We know exactly what the court expects because our team has been on the other side of the bench. While our practice has expanded to every county in Florida, Gainesville will always be where we got our start.
Steps from the Courthouse: Our office is located at 201 SE 2nd Ave #210, just blocks away from the Alachua County Courthouse. This central location allows us to maintain a constant presence in the local legal community and ensures we are always within reach of the clerks and judges handling your case.
Predictable Flat Fees: We believe in transparency. While many firms charge a percentage of the estate’s value (often 3%) or unpredictable hourly rates, we offer all-inclusive flat fees for uncontested matters. This ensures you know the total cost of the legal process from day one.

Local Resources & Links

Navigating the local system is easier when you have the right resources:

Court Venue: Probate cases for Gainesville residents are filed with the Alachua County Clerk of Court.
Legal Standards: Review the Florida Bar’s Consumer Guide to Probate for an overview of state requirements.
FPLG County Guide: Visit our dedicated Alachua County Probate Page for specific county-wide insights.

From the Devil’s Millhopper to Paynes Prairie

Hippodrome Theatre as seen from Florida Probate Law Group's downtown Gainesville office. — Historic Hippodrome Theatre as seen from Florida Probate Law Group’s downtown Gainesville office.

Gainesville is celebrated for its “urban forest” and landmarks like the Hippodrome Theatre. We bring that same appreciation for Gainesville’s character to our legal work. We aren’t just a statewide firm; we are your neighbors on SE 2nd Avenue, dedicated to protecting the legacies of those who called this community home.

Need Local Guidance? We offer free consultations to help you determine if your case qualifies for Summary or Formal Administration.

Client Reviews

I was very happy with her response to my questions and concerns about Florida probate. I am in Ohio and was not familiar with the process but they cleared everything up for me and made me feel comfortable going through the probate process with my loved ones will.

Roger

Honest and straight forward assessment of complex case. My case span both federal and state issues, as well as civil case of fraud which maybe criminal fraud. He told me what he could do, what his limits of scope were and what my best/safest position should be and gave me an outline of how to get...

S. Todd

The world of probate can be fairly daunting for one who has little to no experience. Between trying to figure out what to file and when to file, there is also the where. I was quite relieved to have Nadine and Cary to guide me through the court process.

Michael O.

I highly recommend using this law group for your Florida probate needs, and in particular, Charles David. He explained clearly what my 91 year old aunt would need to do in order to sell property that was in hers and her late husband's name.

Patti T.

Florida probate law group,was very helpful in answering the many questions that I had concerning my situation their input was very appreciated thank you.

Shirley M.

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