The Florida Senate

¹28.2401  Service charges in probate matters.--

(1)  Except when otherwise provided, the service charges for the following services shall be:

(a)  For the opening of any estate of one document or more, including, but not limited to, petitions and orders to approve settlement of minor's claims; to open a safe-deposit box; to enter rooms and places; for the determination of heirs, if not formal administration; and for a foreign guardian to manage property of a nonresident; but not to include issuance of letters or order of summary and family administration ............ $20.00

(b)  Caveat ............ 15.00

(c)  Petition and order to admit foreign wills, authenticated copies, exemplified copies, or transcript to record ............ 30.00

(d)  For disposition of personal property without administration ............ 20.00

(e)  Summary administration ............ 35.00

(f)  Family administration ............ 45.00

(g)  Formal administration, guardianship, ancillary, curatorship, or conservatorship proceedings ............ 75.00

(h)  Guardianship proceedings of person only ............ 25.00

(i)  Veterans' guardianship pursuant to chapter 744 ............ 25.00

(j)  Exemplified certificates ............ 4.00

(k)  Petition for determination of incompetency ............ 25.00

(2)  Upon application by the clerk and a showing of extraordinary circumstances, the service charges set forth in this section may be increased in an individual matter by order of the circuit court before which the matter is pending, to more adequately compensate for the services performed.

(3)  Service charges in excess of those fixed in this section may be imposed by the governing authority of the county by ordinance, or by special or local law, to provide and maintain facilities, including a law library; to provide and maintain equipment; or to provide or maintain a legal aid program. Service charges other than those fixed in this section shall be governed by s. 28.24 An additional service charge of $2.50 on petitions seeking summary administration, family administration, formal administration, ancillary administration, guardianship, curatorship, and conservatorship shall be paid to the clerk. The clerk shall transfer the $2.50 to the Department of Revenue for deposit into the Court Education Trust Fund.

(4)  Recording shall be required for all petitions opening and closing an estate; petitions regarding real estate; and orders, letters, bonds, oaths, wills, proofs of wills, returns, and such other papers as the judge shall deem advisable to record or that shall be required to be recorded under the ²Florida Probate Law.

History.--s. 5, ch. 1981, 1874; s. 2, ch. 3888, 1889; RS 1592, 1596; GS 2056, 2060; RGS 3347, 3351; CGL 5200, 5204; s. 1, ch. 19174, 1939; CGL 1940 Supp. 2877(115); s. 1, ch. 21960, 1943; s. 1, ch. 28152, 1953; s. 1, ch. 65-430; s. 1, ch. 72-397; s. 16, ch. 73-333; s. 2, ch. 77-284; s. 2, ch. 78-367; s. 13, ch. 79-400; s. 25, ch. 81-259; s. 3, ch. 87-145; s. 5, ch. 91-152; s. 1, ch. 93-268; s. 2, ch. 96-209; s. 5, ch. 2001-122; s. 29, ch. 2003-402.

¹Note.--Section 29, ch. 2003-402, amended s. 28.2401, effective July 1, 2004, to read:

28.2401  Service charges in probate matters.--

(1)  Except when otherwise provided, the clerk may impose service charges for the following services, not to exceed the following amounts:

(a)  For the opening of any estate of one document or more, including, but not limited to, petitions and orders to approve settlement of minor's claims; to open a safe-deposit box; to enter rooms and places; for the determination of heirs, if not formal administration; and for a foreign guardian to manage property of a nonresident; but not to include issuance of letters or order of summary ³administration ............ $100

(b)  Caveat ............ $35

(c)  Petition and order to admit foreign wills, authenticated copies, exemplified copies, or transcript to record ............ $100

(d)  For disposition of personal property without administration ............ $100

(e)  Summary administration--estates valued at $1,000 or more ............ $200

(f)  Summary administration--estates valued at less than $1,000 ............ $100

(g)  Formal administration, guardianship, ancillary, curatorship, or conservatorship proceedings ............ $250

(h)  Guardianship proceedings of person only ............ $100

(i)  Veterans' guardianship pursuant to chapter 744 ............ $100

(j)  Exemplified certificates ............ $6

(k)  Petition for determination of incompetency ............ $100

(2)  Upon application by the clerk and a showing of extraordinary circumstances, the service charges set forth in this section may be increased in an individual matter by order of the circuit court before which the matter is pending, to more adequately compensate for the services performed.

(3)  An additional service charge of $2.50 on petitions seeking summary administration, formal administration, ancillary administration, guardianship, curatorship, and conservatorship shall be paid to the clerk. The clerk shall transfer the $2.50 to the Department of Revenue for deposit into the Court Education Trust Fund. No additional fees, charges, or costs shall be added to the service charges imposed under this section, except as authorized by general law.

(4)  Recording shall be required for all petitions opening and closing an estate; petitions regarding real estate; and orders, letters, bonds, oaths, wills, proofs of wills, returns, and such other papers as the judge shall deem advisable to record or that shall be required to be recorded under the ²Florida Probate Law.

²Note.--The provisions encompassing the Florida Probate Law were repealed by s. 3, ch. 74-106.

³Note.--The word "administration" was inserted by the editors to improve clarity and facilitate correct interpretation. Summary administration is provided for in part I of chapter 735.

Note.--Former s. 36.17.