Clerk of Court
Ken Burke
Name is from the Clerk’s website as archived December 28, 2025. The live site could not be re-read on October 29, 2026.
Official sourceStaff review draft · Not indexed
Florida Probate Guide · Sixth Judicial Circuit
Pinellas County Probate Court Guide2026 EDITION
Pinellas probate records are accepted at the Clearwater Courthouse and at the St. Petersburg branch. The Sixth Circuit lists two judges whose assignment is probate only, and both sit at the St. Petersburg Judicial Building. The case docket shows which judge has the file.
Court details last reviewed October 29, 2026
Court information
Where is probate filed in Pinellas County?
Probate filings go through the county Clerk of Court and are assigned within the Sixth Judicial Circuit. Check the Clerk’s current instructions before mailing documents or visiting in person.
Check the official court sourceClearwater Courthouse
- Address
- 315 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756Room 106
- Public counter hours
- Confirm the probate counter hours before visiting. The Clerk’s page identifies Room 106 for probate court records.
- Probate contact
- 727-464-3321
Current assignments
Who handles probate matters in Pinellas County?
Judicial assignments and staff contacts can change. These names were checked against official court sources on October 29, 2026.
Probate Judge
Hon. Pamela A.M. Campbell
St. Petersburg Judicial Building, 545 1st Avenue North. Judicial assistant Joann Miele. 727-582-7734.
Official sourceProbate Judge
Hon. Cynthia J. Newton
St. Petersburg Judicial Building, 545 1st Avenue North. Judicial assistant Nicole Zordan. 727-582-7917.
Official sourceLocal procedure
What local probate rules apply?
The Clerk lists probate court records at the Clearwater Courthouse, a North County service center, and the St. Petersburg branch at 545 First Avenue North. Judges Campbell and Newton, whose directory assignment is probate, both sit at the St. Petersburg Judicial Building. Other Sixth Circuit judges have mixed assignments or sit in Pasco County. Use the judge named on the Pinellas docket, and read that judge’s practice preferences before submitting an order.
Proposed-order checklist
- 1E-file the petition and supporting documents through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
- 2Confirm the judge on the docket. Do not assume every Sixth Circuit judge who lists probate sits in Pinellas.
- 3Read that judge’s practice preferences for proposed orders, courtesy copies, and remote appearances.
- 4For probate records in person, the Clerk lists Clearwater Room 106 and the St. Petersburg branch at 545 First Avenue North.
Are probate hearings remote?
The Sixth Circuit does not publish one Pinellas-wide Zoom rule on the judges directory. Judges Campbell and Newton each link practice preferences. The hearing notice controls the format. Their courtrooms are at the St. Petersburg Judicial Building, not at the Clearwater records counter.
Can Lauren handle the case remotely?
Pinellas filings can be submitted electronically. A hearing may still be at the St. Petersburg Judicial Building. The Clearwater counter is for records and filing, not the courtroom for these two probate judges.
Process overview
How does a Pinellas 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 Sixth 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 Pinellas 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.
The Clerk’s probate page describes older estate-value figures that do not match the current summary-administration statute. Use Florida Statute § 735.201 for that test. The dollar amounts in the fee table are the statutory charges in § 28.2401, not a Pinellas fee schedule. Confirm the Clerk’s total before paying.
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
Pinellas County probate FAQ
Where do I file probate in Pinellas County?
The Clerk lists probate court records at the Clearwater Courthouse, 315 Court Street, Room 106, phone 727-464-3321. The same page also lists a St. Petersburg branch at 545 First Avenue North and a North County service center.
Which judges handle Pinellas probate?
The Sixth Circuit directory lists Judge Pamela A.M. Campbell and Judge Cynthia J. Newton with a probate assignment at the St. Petersburg Judicial Building, 545 1st Avenue North. Other judges in the circuit have different assignments or sit in Pasco County.
Are the Clearwater counter and the probate courtroom in the same building?
No. The Clerk’s probate-records counter in this draft is Room 106 in Clearwater. Judges Campbell and Newton sit at 545 1st Avenue North in St. Petersburg.
What estates qualify for Florida Summary Administration in Pinellas County?
Under Florida Statute § 735.201, Summary Administration may be available when the Florida estate subject to administration, less exempt property, does not exceed $150,000 or when the decedent has been dead for more than two years, subject to the statute’s other requirements. The monetary test is statewide.
Clear next steps after a difficult loss.
Call for a free 15-minute consultation about a Pinellas 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
- Pinellas Clerk — Probate and Mental Health, archived December 28, 2025
- Pinellas Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, archived December 28, 2025
- Sixth Judicial Circuit — judges directory
- Florida Statutes § 735.201 — Summary administration
- Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
- Florida Statutes § 28.2401 — Service charges and filing fees in probate matters
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.