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If you have recently lost a loved one who lived in St. Petersburg, Florida, you are likely facing one of the most stressful legal processes most families ever encounter: probate. The court system does not pause for grief. Deadlines begin running immediately, and the procedural requirements in Pinellas County are more specific than most people realize.
St. Petersburg falls within the Sixth Judicial Circuit, and all probate matters for residents of the city are filed through the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court. While Florida probate law is statutory and applies statewide, the way that law is actually administered varies significantly from county to county. Pinellas County has its own digital filing systems, its own case management platform, its own checklist-driven audit process, and its own set of Administrative Orders that govern how probate cases move through the system. An attorney who regularly practices in these courts understands those nuances. One who does not will learn them at your expense — measured in weeks and months of unnecessary delay.
At Zoecklein Law P.A., we handle probate, guardianship, and estate litigation matters throughout the Tampa Bay area, including Pinellas County. We understand how the Sixth Judicial Circuit operates from the inside, and we bring that local knowledge to every case we handle in St. Petersburg.
St. Petersburg is located in the southern portion of Pinellas County, and probate cases for South County residents are heard at the St. Petersburg Judicial Building, located at 545 1st Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. This is the primary courthouse for the Probate and Guardianship Division in the southern half of the county.
North County probate matters — for residents of Clearwater, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, and surrounding areas — are generally handled at the Clearwater Courthouse at 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756.
Many guardianship hearings, regardless of whether the case originated in North or South County, are conducted at the 501 Building at 501 1st Avenue North in St. Petersburg. The Probate Division also assigns certain evidentiary proceedings and administrative matters to Probate General Magistrates, all of whom are located in St. Petersburg.
Regardless of where hearings are held, all probate documents are filed electronically through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com. This is mandatory. The Sixth Judicial Circuit does not accept paper filings for probate matters except in very limited circumstances.
Florida law provides three primary pathways for administering a decedent’s estate, and which one applies depends on the size and complexity of the estate.
Formal Administration is the standard, full probate process used for most estates. It requires the appointment of a Personal Representative, formal notice to creditors, the filing of an inventory, and court oversight of the entire distribution process. If the decedent owned real property, had significant debts, or if there is any dispute among beneficiaries, Formal Administration is almost always required. The creditor claims period in a Formal Administration runs for a minimum of three months after the first publication of the Notice to Creditors, and the entire process typically takes six to twelve months in an uncontested case — longer if complications arise.
Summary Administration is an abbreviated process available when the total value of the estate’s probate assets does not exceed $75,000, or when the decedent passed away more than two years before the petition is filed. Summary Administration does not require the appointment of a Personal Representative, and there is no formal creditor claims period. The court enters an order directing distribution of assets directly to the beneficiaries. It is faster and less expensive, but it is not appropriate for every situation, and filing for Summary Administration when the estate does not qualify can create significant problems down the road.
Disposition Without Administration is the simplest proceeding, used when the only assets are personal property of minimal value — essentially enough to cover funeral expenses and medical bills from the last sixty days of life. This process cannot be used if the estate includes real property.
In addition to these estate proceedings, the Pinellas County Probate Division handles guardianship matters for incapacitated adults and minors, trust litigation, Baker Act and Marchman Act proceedings, and petitions involving allegations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of the elderly.
Every Florida county follows the same statutes, but the local implementation varies dramatically. Pinellas County has several procedural requirements that distinguish it from neighboring counties like Hillsborough or Pasco.
The Odyssey Case Management System. Pinellas County uses a case management platform called Odyssey. This is critical because Odyssey is not compatible with JAWS or other scheduling systems used in different circuits. If an attorney uploads a proposed order to JAWS instead of through the proper E-Filing Portal, the Probate Division will never receive it. The case will sit untouched while everyone assumes the order is pending. Attorneys are identified in the Odyssey system by their Florida Bar number, not by the old Specific Person Number system that Pinellas previously used.
The Order Checklist Process. When a new probate case is opened in Pinellas County, the Clerk’s deputy clerks review the petition and all accompanying documents against a standardized checklist. If any required item is missing or incomplete, the Clerk will not forward the case to the judge. Instead, the case is placed in a “pend” queue, and an Order Checklist is issued identifying the deficiencies. The attorney must then file a formal response to the Order Checklist or file the missing documents. Only after every item on the checklist has been addressed will the Clerk forward the case for judicial review. Filing a phone call to the Judicial Assistant to explain a deficiency will not move the case forward — the response must be filed through the E-Filing Portal.
The Priority Request System. In certain circumstances, an attorney may need to expedite a matter — for example, when there is an urgent need to access estate funds or when a time-sensitive real estate closing is pending. Pinellas County has a formal Priority Request procedure. The request must be e-filed and must include a detailed explanation of why priority treatment is warranted, including the specific date and method by which the Judicial Assistant authorized the priority filing. Generic requests without supporting detail are routinely denied.
Proposed Order Requirements. The Probate Division expects proposed orders to be filled out as completely as possible before submission. Orders with blanks in the body — for example, an extension of time order that does not include the proposed new date — will be sent back or denied. Attorneys should draft proposed orders containing the specific relief sought, not placeholder language for the judge to fill in.
Extension of Time Petitions. Petitions for extension of time that simply state “more time is needed” are insufficient and will be denied. The petition must allege specific facts explaining why the extension is necessary, and the proposed order must include the requested new deadline with no blanks.
Time Standards. The Sixth Judicial Circuit generally expects uncontested probate cases to be closed within twelve months and contested matters within twenty-four months. Cases that fall behind this schedule will attract attention from the court’s case management process.
Clerk Contact Information. For probate-specific questions, the Pinellas County Clerk’s Probate Division can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at (727) 464-3321. The Clerk is Ken Burke, CPA. It is important to note that the Clerk’s office cannot provide legal advice, but they can answer procedural and administrative questions about filing requirements.
Based on our experience practicing in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, several mistakes consistently cause avoidable delays.
Using the wrong filing system. Uploading proposed orders to JAWS instead of through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal is one of the most common errors attorneys new to Pinellas County make. The Odyssey system will not receive documents submitted through JAWS, and the case will stall without any notification to the attorney.
Ignoring the Order Checklist. Assuming that a phone call or email to the Judicial Assistant can substitute for a formal filed response to an Order Checklist deficiency. It cannot. The file will remain in the Clerk’s pend queue until the deficiency is addressed through a proper filing.
Submitting incomplete proposed orders. Leaving blanks in proposed orders for the judge to complete, rather than including specific dates, amounts, and terms. The Probate Division handles a high volume of cases, and judges expect attorneys to do the work of drafting complete orders.
Filing generic bond waiver petitions. Petitions to waive bond that simply state “the assets are sufficient” without alleging specific facts — the relationship of the beneficiaries, the nature of the assets, the status of creditors — are routinely denied.
Failing to roadmap the petition for discharge. When petitioning for discharge of the Personal Representative, the petition should clearly direct the court to where in the file it can find proof that all claims have been satisfied and all beneficiary consents have been obtained. The judges review hundreds of files; making them search for supporting documentation leads to delays.
Mishandling homestead property. Attempting to sell homestead property before the creditor period has expired without arranging to hold the proceeds in escrow. The court generally requires that sale proceeds be held in the attorney’s trust account or a restricted depository until creditors are satisfied.
These are the kinds of procedural pitfalls that an attorney with genuine Pinellas County experience knows how to avoid. At Zoecklein Law P.A., we navigate these local requirements every day, and we ensure our clients’ cases move through the system as efficiently as possible.
Not every estate requires legal representation. If the decedent left behind only a small amount of personal property and no real estate, a Disposition Without Administration may be straightforward enough to handle without counsel. The Clerk’s office in Bartow and certain branch locations can even assist with preparing the application for disposition.
However, most situations benefit significantly from having an experienced probate attorney involved. You should strongly consider hiring counsel if any of the following apply: the estate includes real property in Florida, there are known or potential creditors, the family members or beneficiaries do not all agree on how assets should be distributed, the decedent owned property in multiple states requiring ancillary probate, the estate may owe federal estate taxes, you have been named Personal Representative and are unsure of your legal obligations, or there is any possibility of a will contest or other litigation.
The Personal Representative of an estate has significant fiduciary duties under Florida law, including personal liability for mismanagement of estate assets. Having competent legal counsel is not just a convenience — it is a meaningful layer of protection.
Our firm handles wills, trusts, estate planning, probate administration, estate litigation, guardianships, and real estate disputes throughout the Tampa Bay region. We regularly practice before the Pinellas County probate judges and understand what the Sixth Judicial Circuit expects — from the Order Checklist process to the Priority Request procedures to the specific formatting requirements for proposed orders.
We know that behind every probate case is a family going through a difficult time. Our goal is to move your case through the system efficiently, protect your interests, and give you the guidance you need to make informed decisions at every step.
If you are facing a probate matter in St. Petersburg or anywhere in Pinellas County, contact Zoecklein Law P.A. today to schedule a consultation. Let us put our local experience to work for you.
The information provided on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Court procedures, judicial assignments, and local rules are subject to change. If you have questions about a specific probate matter, please contact our office to schedule a consultation.
