Statewide Probate
Attorneys in Florida
Attorneys in Florida
Citrus County Probate Court Guide (2026)
Handling an estate in Inverness, Crystal River, or Homosassa requires a firm that understands the rigorous “Checklist” culture of the 5th Judicial Circuit. In Citrus County, the court expects every petition to be technically perfect before it reaches the judge’s desk.
At Florida Probate Law Group, we simplify the process for families across the country. To get a high-level view of the laws governing these cases, we recommend our Complete Guide to Florida Probate. Our statewide probate attorneys specialize in Citrus County matters, offering a predictable flat-fee structure for all uncontested estates.
🏛️ Citrus County Courthouse & Clerk Information
The probate department is located within the historic courthouse complex in downtown Inverness.
- Courthouse Name: Citrus County Courthouse
- Address: 110 North Apopka Avenue, Inverness, FL 34450
- Clerk of Court: Traci Perry (As of 2026)
- Probate Department Phone: (352) 341-6424
- Operating Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
[!NOTE]
Digital Update 2026: Clerk Traci Perry recently implemented Electronic Certification for court records. This allows clients to obtain certified Letters of Administration instantly, significantly speeding up the time it takes to access bank accounts and list real estate for sale.
⚖️ 5th Judicial Circuit Probate Procedures
Citrus County is part of a five-county circuit that shares a standardized approach to probate.
- Mandatory Checklists: Per 5th Circuit Administrative Orders, attorneys must submit a verified checklist with every probate filing. These checklists ensure that the original Will, death certificate, and notice to heirs are all in the court file before a judge is asked to sign an order.
- Judicial Assignment: Probate matters are typically overseen by a designated Circuit Judge or a General Magistrate in Inverness.
- Original Will Submission: While we file all petitions through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, the original physical Will must be deposited with the Citrus County Clerk within 10 days of death.
💰 2026 Citrus County Filing Fees
Fees are current for the 2026 calendar year:
| Probate Action | Court Filing Fee |
| Formal Administration (Standard Probate) | $400.00 |
| Summary Administration (Estates > $1,000) | $345.00 |
| Summary Administration (Estates < $1,000) | $235.00 |
| Disposition of Personal Property | $231.00 |
| Will Deposit | No Fee |
❓ Citrus County Probate FAQ
When is Summary Administration available in Citrus County?
Summary Administration is an expedited process available if the decedent has been deceased for more than two years OR if the total value of the non-exempt assets is less than $150,000. “Non-exempt” usually excludes the primary home (homestead), making this a common choice for Citrus County families.
What is “Flat-Fee” Probate?
At Florida Probate Law Group, we eliminate the stress of billable hours. We provide one all-inclusive flat fee for uncontested cases. This allows you to plan your finances with certainty while ensuring the maximum inheritance is preserved for the beneficiaries.
Do I need to travel to Inverness for court?
No. In 2026, virtually all uncontested Citrus County probate hearings are held via Zoom. Our firm handles every court appearance and filing remotely, serving clients worldwide who have lost loved ones in North Central Florida.
Where can I find probate forms for Citrus County?
While the 5th Circuit Self-Help Center provides basic forms, Florida law requires an attorney to represent the Personal Representative in nearly all formal probate administrations. Summary administrations are legally allowed to be done without an attorney, but typically require professional assistance to resolve.
📍 Why Hire Florida Probate Law Group?
Our firm brings a “litigator’s eye” to uncontested probate, ensuring that your filings are bulletproof.
- Local Expertise: We are deeply familiar with the 5th Circuit’s e-filing nuances and judicial staff.
- No Hidden Costs: We focus on transparency. You will receive a written flat-fee quote before we begin work on your case.
- Fast-Track Efficiency: By utilizing Clerk Traci Perry’s new 2026 digital certification tools, we move your case through the Inverness courthouse as fast as legally possible.
Citrus County Summary Administration Case Study | Florida Probate Law Group
Florida Probate Law Group has helped thousands of families through the probate process on an affordable flat-fee basis. Backed by hundreds of 5-star Google reviews, our legal team streamlines estate administration for local and out-of-state families alike, removing the stress of navigating the Florida court system during a time of grief. In this case study, we review how our firm secured protected homestead status for a physical residence and expedited a summary administration in Citrus County for five descendants sharing equal interests in the estate.
Administration Profile
| Case Element | Profile Details |
| Venue | Fifth Judicial Circuit of Florida |
| County | Citrus County |
| Administration Type | Summary Administration (Non-exempt estate assets valued under $150,000 threshold) |
| Core Issues | Intestate succession, multiple out-of-state adult children, and securing protected homestead status for a mobile home |
| Service Model | 100% Remote Estate Representation |
Local Judicial Nuances in Citrus County
Navigating probate in the Fifth Judicial Circuit requires a firm grasp of local operating procedures enforced at the Citrus County Courthouse in Inverness. The Citrus County Clerk of Courts and the local judiciary maintain a rigorous, checklist-driven culture for estate processing. Per Fifth Circuit administrative orders, attorneys must submit a verified checklist with every probate filing to confirm that necessary background elements – such as proper notices and identity proofs – are fully satisfied before files reach a judge’s desk.
Furthermore, individual judges, such as Acting Circuit Judge Edward Spaight, mandate specific protocols for case management. Proposed orders must be formatted precisely and transmitted through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal rather than sent via direct emails, ensuring clear tracking. For uncontested summary proceedings, these local rules allow the court to review and sign orders electronically, matching our firm’s streamlined, paperless approach.
Step-by-Step Legal Execution
The successful resolution of this estate followed a clear, chronological legal sequence:
- Initial Review and Document Intake: In early 2026, our firm evaluated the estate assets following the decedent’s passing in late 2025. Because the decedent passed away without a valid last will and testament, the estate proceeded under Florida’s intestacy laws.
- Filing Petitions Concurrently: On February 2, 2026, our firm electronically filed the Petition for Summary Administration and the Petition to Determine Protected Homestead Status of Real Property through the state portal.
- Securing the Out-of-State Waivers: The estate’s beneficiaries consisted of five adult children, four of whom resided outside of Florida (including Arizona, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey). Our team coordinated formal notice requirements and compiled necessary waivers to avoid the need for scheduled hearings.
- Accounting for Estate Liabilities: Under Florida Statute Section 735.206, a search for ascertainable creditors was performed. The final filings accounted for Class 1 administrative costs and a Class 2 reimbursement claim for funeral and cremation expenses incurred by one of the adult children.
- Judicial Review and Order Entry: On March 20, 2026, Judge Edward Spaight reviewed the technically complete file and signed both the Order of Summary Administration and the Order Determining Protected Homestead Status. This accomplished immediate distribution of the assets without an extended probate delay.
Educational Deep Dive: Mobile Homes and Florida Homestead Status
A notable technical issue in Florida probate involves how real property is categorized for creditor protection. Under Article X, Section 4 of the Florida Constitution, a decedent’s primary residence enjoys a protected homestead status, meaning it passes to lineal descendants completely free from the claims of general estate creditors.
However, unique rules apply when the primary residence is a mobile home. For a mobile home to qualify for constitutional homestead protections, it must meet specific criteria:
- Land Ownership: The decedent must own the underlying land in fee simple; mobile homes located in rented park spaces do not qualify.
- Permanent Attachment: The mobile home must be effectively tied or permanently affixed to the real property.
- Acreage Limits: The land cannot exceed 160 acres outside a municipality or 0.5 acres within an incorporated municipality.
In this case, the decedent’s residence was a single-wide mobile home situated on a parcel measuring roughly 0.19 acres located outside a municipality. Our petitions successfully established that the vehicle structure and the plot constituted a unified homestead domicile. As a result, the court ruled that full title descended automatically and safely to the five adult children as tenants in common, with a 20% equal share assigned to each child, insulating the property from external estate liabilities.
100% Remote Probate
Managing estate obligations from across the country can feel overwhelming for out-of-state heirs. For this administration – where the adult children were scattered across Arizona, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Florida – our firm managed the entire matter digitally. No family member was required to travel to the Citrus County Courthouse in Inverness, attend a live hearing, or visit our physical office.
By utilizing secure electronic signature platforms, digital document portals, and remote tracking networks, we completed the entire administration entirely from a distance. To learn how our remote model clears property titles and transfers financial balances across state lines, please see The Complete Guide to Florida Probate.
Why Customers Hire Florida Probate Law Group
Families choose Florida Probate Law Group because we combine transparent, flat-fee pricing structures with focused court experience. Our regional practice relies on the distinct professional backgrounds of our founding partners:
- R. Nadine David: Serving as a former Probate Court Staff Attorney, she leverages insider knowledge of judicial workflows to draft accurate filings that satisfy strict circuit checklists on the first review, preventing avoidable delays.
- Charles “Cary” David: Specializing in estate dispute resolution, he assists families with clearing complicated real estate titles, tracing missing property assets, and managing multi-heir distributions.
Our legal team is dedicated to helping your family navigate its statutory duties with efficiency, clarity, and respect.
Connect With Our Legal Team
If you need to clear a land title, transfer financial accounts, or administer a local estate in Citrus County or anywhere else in Florida, our firm is ready to step in. Contact Florida Probate Law Group today at (352) 354-2654 to set up your free initial case evaluation.
Privacy Disclaimer: In compliance with state privacy standards and strict identity protection protocols, all personal identifying data, including specific names, exact residential addresses, and exact financial figures, have been completely anonymized or abstracted into generalized terms.