Handling an estate in Port St. Lucie?
Bucelo Diaz Law guides St. Lucie County families through every stage of probate, by phone, Zoom, or in person. Schedule a free 30-minute initial consultation.
When a parent or spouse passes away owning a home or accounts in Port St. Lucie, the estate is administered through the St. Lucie County probate court in Florida’s Nineteenth Judicial Circuit. Bucelo Diaz Law represents families throughout Port St. Lucie, from Tradition and St. Lucie West to Torino and the eastern neighborhoods along the St. Lucie River, in Florida probate matters of every size.
Port St. Lucie is one of Florida’s fastest growing cities, and a large share of our St. Lucie County probate work follows a familiar pattern: parents retired here from out of state, and their adult children, often still living in New York, New Jersey, or elsewhere, suddenly need to administer a Florida estate from a distance. Nearly everything in a Florida probate can be handled remotely, and we are built for exactly that: attorney meetings by phone or Zoom, electronic filing with the St. Lucie County clerk, and documents signed and notarized without a trip to Florida in most cases.
Where Port St. Lucie Probate Cases Are Filed
Probate for Port St. Lucie residents is filed with the St. Lucie County Clerk of the Circuit Court and administered by the probate division of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, which serves St. Lucie, Martin, Indian River, and Okeechobee Counties. Attorneys file through Florida’s statewide e-filing portal, so cases move at the same pace whether the family is in Port St. Lucie or a thousand miles away. Court logistics, local filing details, and what to bring to a consultation are covered in our St. Lucie County probate guide.
Summary vs. Formal Administration for Port St. Lucie Estates
Florida probate runs on two main tracks, and which one applies drives both the timeline and the cost:
- Summary administration: the shortened process for estates with $150,000 or less in nonexempt assets (the limit doubled from $75,000 on July 1, 2026 under CS/HB 1337), or where the decedent died more than two years ago. Homestead property does not count toward the limit. Typically finished in about one to three months. We handle summary administration for a flat fee of $4,500 plus court costs.
- Formal administration: the full process with a court-appointed personal representative, required for most larger estates. Typically six to twelve months, driven by the mandatory three month creditor window. Our fees for formal administration start at $8,500.
Not sure which track applies? That is usually the first question we answer in a consultation, and the answer changed for many families this month when the new $150,000 limit took effect. See our St. Lucie County probate guide for county-level filing details and our Florida probate cost guide for a full cost breakdown.
Out-of-State Family? This Is Most of What We Do Here
If you are administering a Port St. Lucie estate from another state, two things matter most: choosing the correct administration type before filing, and having local counsel who files cleanly the first time. Florida also has residency rules for who may serve as personal representative: out-of-state relatives qualify only if they are closely related to the decedent, which we confirm before filing anything. Our guide to handling Florida probate from out of state walks through the whole process.
Why Port St. Lucie Families Work With Bucelo Diaz Law
Bucelo Diaz Law is a Florida estate planning and probate firm with offices in Weston, Ocala, and Naples, serving families statewide in English and Spanish. Probate is one of our core practice areas, not a sideline: summary administration, formal administration, ancillary probate, and beneficiary representation. Consultations are free, thirty minutes, and available by phone, Zoom, or in person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a probate attorney in Port St. Lucie?
For formal administration, Florida court rules require the personal representative to be represented by an attorney in nearly all cases. For summary administration an attorney is not strictly required, but filing errors are the most common cause of delay, and most families find the flat-fee cost worth it. The attorney does not need an office in Port St. Lucie: probate filings are electronic, and the firm handles St. Lucie County estates statewide.
Where is probate filed for a Port St. Lucie resident?
With the St. Lucie County Clerk of the Circuit Court, in the probate division of Florida’s Nineteenth Judicial Circuit. Attorneys file through Florida’s statewide e-filing portal, so no in-person courthouse visits are needed for a typical uncontested case.
How long does probate take in St. Lucie County?
Summary administration typically takes about one to three months. Formal administration typically takes six to twelve months, largely because of Florida’s mandatory three month creditor claim window. Contested estates take longer. See our full guide to Florida probate timelines for the month-by-month breakdown.
How much does probate cost in Port St. Lucie?
Bucelo Diaz Law handles summary administration for a flat fee of $4,500 plus court costs, and formal administration starting at $8,500. Court filing fees are set by the St. Lucie County clerk and are separate. Our Florida probate cost guide breaks down what each track involves county by county.
Informational purposes only. This page is for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Consult a qualified Florida attorney about your specific situation. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Talk to a Port St. Lucie Probate Attorney
Call us at 954.399.1910 or schedule a free 30-minute phone consultation. We also offer Zoom consultations, in English and Spanish. Attorney advertising.
About the Author
Alexis Bucelo Diaz, Esq., LL.M. is the founding attorney of Bucelo Diaz Law, PLLC. She holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Estate Planning from the University of Miami School of Law and has more than 15 years of focused experience in Florida estate planning, probate, and real property law. Florida Bar #86918. Selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars in 2025.