Indian River County Probate Court Guide (2026)

Navigating the probate process in Vero Beach, Sebastian, or Fellsmere requires a precise understanding of the 19th Judicial Circuit’s local procedures. In Indian River County, the probate division is highly structured, requiring specific checklists and digital communication protocols to move a case from filing to final distribution.

At Florida Probate Law Group, we provide families with a clear, predictable path through the Vero Beach court system. For a comprehensive overview of the laws and timelines governing these cases, we recommend reading our Complete Guide to Florida Probate. Our statewide probate attorneys specialize in 19th Circuit cases, offering all-inclusive flat-fee pricing to provide your family with total financial certainty.

🏛️ Indian River County Courthouse & Clerk Information

Probate and guardianship filings are managed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court at the main courthouse in Vero Beach.

Courthouse Name: Indian River County Courthouse
Address: 2000 16th Avenue, Vero Beach, FL 32960
Clerk of Court: Ryan L. Butler
Probate Department Phone: (772) 226-3100
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

[!IMPORTANT]
2026 Will Deposit Rule: Florida law requires the original Last Will and Testament to be deposited with the Clerk in Vero Beach within 10 days of receiving notice of the decedent’s passing. The Clerk charges a small indexing fee for this service. Our firm manages the secure delivery of these documents to the courthouse for our clients.

⚖️ 19th Judicial Circuit Probate Procedures

Indian River County probate cases follow the strict guidelines of the 19th Judicial Circuit.

Judicial Oversight: For 2026, probate matters are primarily overseen by Judge Rebecca I. White. Judge White’s division (Section CP) requires technical precision and the use of mandatory probate checklists.
Mandatory Checklists: The 19th Circuit is known for its “checklist-first” approach. Attorneys must verify and sign checklists for Opening a Formal Estate, Summary Administration, and Discharge. These must be submitted via email to ProbateIRC@circuit19.org before the judge will review the file.
Paperless Workflow: The court is entirely paperless. All proposed orders and letters must be submitted in Microsoft Word format via the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
Foreign Bonds: In the 19th Circuit, an appropriate bond is almost always required for all estates with a foreign (out-of-state) personal representative, even if the Will waives the bond requirement.
Virtual Appearances: Routine probate hearings are conducted via Zoom. This allows our firm to represent families regardless of their location, saving them the time and expense of traveling to Vero Beach.

💰 2026 Indian River County Probate Filing Fees

Current court costs for the 19th Judicial Circuit (not including convenience fees charged by the State of Florida):

Action Type	Court Filing Fee
Formal Administration (Full Probate)	$400.00
Summary Administration (Estates > $1,000)	$345.00
Summary Administration (Estates < $1,000)	$235.00
Disposition of Personal Property	$231.00
Notice of Trust / Caveat	$41.00

❓ Indian River County Probate FAQ

When is Summary Administration available in Vero Beach?

Summary Administration is an expedited track available if the decedent has been deceased for more than two years OR if the total value of the non-exempt assets (assets not including the primary home) is less than $75,000. Our team will help you determine if your case qualifies for this faster process.

What is the “Flat-Fee” model?

We believe in financial transparency. At Florida Probate Law Group, we provide an all-inclusive flat fee for all uncontested probate matters. We do not charge by the hour, ensuring that more of the inheritance is preserved for the beneficiaries.

Can an out-of-state resident serve as Personal Representative?

Yes, provided they are a blood relative (or a spouse, sibling, parent, or child) of the decedent. As noted above, the 19th Circuit typically requires out-of-state representatives to post a bond. We assist our clients in securing these bonds and managing all local court requirements remotely.

How do I find a probate case in Indian River County?

Public records can be searched through the Indian River Clerk’s Online Court Records Search. You will need the decedent’s name or the case number (usually starting with “CP”).

📍 Why Hire Florida Probate Law Group?

Our firm combines deep knowledge of Judge White’s specific requirements with the efficiency of modern legal tech.

19th Circuit Precision: We are experts in the mandatory checklists and bond requirements specific to Vero Beach.
Financial Certainty: Our flat-fee model eliminates the anxiety of unpredictable legal bills.
Remote Ease: We leverage the 2026 digital e-filing system and Zoom to handle 100% of the probate process for you, no matter where you live.

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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