Clerk of the Circuit Court
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Florida Probate Guide · Eighteenth Judicial Circuit
Brevard County Probate Court Guide2026 EDITION
Brevard County probate is filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Administrative Order 26-16-B, effective April 1, 2026, places the probate judge at the Titusville Courthouse.
Court details last reviewed October 29, 2026
Court information
Where is probate filed in Brevard County?
Probate filings go through the county Clerk of Court and are assigned within the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit. Check the Clerk’s current instructions before mailing documents or visiting in person.
Check the official court sourceHistoric Titusville Courthouse
- Address
- 506 South Palm Avenue, Titusville, FL 32796
- Public counter hours
- Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
- Probate contact
- 321-617-7245
Current assignments
Who handles probate matters in Brevard County?
Judicial assignments and staff contacts can change. These names were checked against official court sources on October 29, 2026.
Circuit Judge
Hon. Tesha Scolaro Ballou
Administrative Order 26-16-B assigns probate and guardianship to Judge Ballou at the Titusville Courthouse, effective April 1, 2026. The order does not name a judicial assistant.
Official sourceLocal procedure
What local probate rules apply?
The clerk’s probate page says summary administration is for estates of less than $150,000, or when the decedent died at least two years before filing. Homestead real property is treated as exempt and counted as zero. The statute uses “does not exceed $150,000,” which is slightly broader than the clerk’s “less than.” Formal administration is described for estates over $150,000 or when a designated personal representative is required, and the clerk says an attorney is required for formal administration. Summary administration does not require an attorney. Disposition without administration is described when the assets do not exceed out-of-pocket funeral expenses or last-illness medical expenses from the last 60 days, and there is no real property. The probate page does not name which clerk counter takes those filings. The clerk lists several offices, and Merritt Island and Palm Bay close from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Court paperwork and filing fees may be mailed to P.O. Box 219, Titusville, FL 32781-0219.
Proposed-order checklist
- 1E-file the petition through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
- 2The clerk points will custodians to Florida Statutes § 732.901 rather than stating a separate local deposit rule.
- 3For disposition without administration, the clerk says to come to the Probate Division. Confirm which office is that counter before you go.
Are probate hearings remote?
Administrative Order 26-16-B places Brevard probate and guardianship with Hon. Tesha Scolaro Ballou at the Titusville Courthouse. No Brevard proposed-order or hearing sheet was verified, so this guide does not describe how to set a hearing.
Can Lauren handle the case remotely?
An uncontested Brevard estate can often be e-filed without a trip to Titusville. The probate page still tells people seeking disposition without administration to come to the Probate Division. Hearing format was not verified.
Process overview
How does a Brevard County probate move forward?
The exact path depends on the estate and the court’s orders. This overview shows the common sequence for a matter filed in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit; it is not a filing checklist or a promise of timing.
- 01
Open the estate
File the petition, original will when applicable, death certificate, and required supporting documents.
- 02
Court review
The Clerk processes the filing and the assigned division reviews petitions, checklists, and proposed orders.
- 03
Administer assets
Address notices, creditors, inventory, taxes, property, and distributions required for the selected process.
- 04
Distribute and close
After court requirements are met, distribute the remaining assets and complete the steps needed to close.
2026Threshold
Florida Summary Administration may be available when the estate subject to administration, less exempt property, does not exceed $150,000 or the decedent has been dead for more than two years, subject to the other requirements of Florida Statute § 735.201.
Court costs
What does probate cost in Brevard County?
Court filing fees are separate from attorney fees. Lauren reviews the estate before confirming the legal scope and whether flat-fee representation is available.
These figures combine the filing fees in Florida Statutes § 28.2401 with the additional $4 service charge that subsection (3) adds to formal, ancillary, and summary administration. A caveat is $40, and disposition without administration is $230. This clerk did not post a probate fee schedule that could be verified. Confirm the total before filing.
Clerk servicePosted fee
Formal or ancillary administration$399
Summary administration — estate under $1,000$234
Summary administration — estate $1,000 or more$344
Caveat$40
Disposition without administration$230
Straight answers
Brevard County probate FAQ
Where do I file probate in Brevard County?
The probate division phone is 321-617-7245, and the email is ProbateGuardianshipGroup@brevardclerk.us. Administrative Order 26-16-B places the probate judge at the Historic Titusville Courthouse, 506 South Palm Avenue, Titusville. Clerk counters are listed as open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except Merritt Island and Palm Bay, which close from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Confirm which counter accepts probate filings. Court paperwork may be mailed to P.O. Box 219, Titusville, FL 32781-0219.
Who is the Brevard County probate judge?
Administrative Order 26-16-B, effective April 1, 2026, assigns probate and guardianship to Judge Ballou at the Titusville Courthouse. The circuit biography page gives the name Tesha Scolaro Ballou. The order does not name a judicial assistant.
What estates qualify for Florida Summary Administration in Brevard County?
Under Florida Statutes § 735.201, summary administration is available when the decedent has been dead for more than two years, or when the value of the estate subject to administration in Florida, less the value of property exempt from the claims of creditors, does not exceed $150,000.
Clear next steps after a difficult loss.
Call for a free 15-minute consultation about a Brevard County probate. Lauren Richardson Law serves families throughout Florida, including people managing an estate from another state.
Verification record
Official sources
Last checked October 29, 2026
- Florida Statutes § 735.201 — Summary administration
- Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
- Florida Statutes § 28.2401 — Service charges and filing fees in probate matters
- Administrative Order 26-16-B — Brevard division assignments, effective April 1, 2026
- Eighteenth Circuit — Biography of Tesha Scolaro Ballou
- Brevard Clerk — Probate
- Brevard Clerk — Contact and office hours
- Brevard Clerk — Office directory, Probate/Guardianship
- Brevard Clerk — Meet the Clerk
- Brevard Clerk — Fees and charges
- Eighteenth Circuit — Locations
This guide provides general information, not legal advice. Court assignments, procedures, fees, and hearing formats can change. Confirm current requirements with the Clerk and assigned division before acting.