Clerk of Court
Erin C. Munz
Main office phone 352-569-6600. All mail goes to the main office address.
Official sourceStaff review draft · Not indexed
Florida Probate Guide · Fifth Judicial Circuit
Sumter County Probate Court Guide2026 EDITION
Sumter County probate is filed with the Clerk at the courthouse in Bushnell. Administrative Order S-2025-58-A assigns probate to Circuit Judge Mary P. Hatcher, effective June 29, 2026. Proposed orders are mailed to her office. The Clerk does not post a probate fee table on the pages reviewed.
Court details last reviewed October 29, 2026
Court information
Where is probate filed in Sumter County?
Probate filings go through the county Clerk of Court and are assigned within the Fifth Judicial Circuit. Check the Clerk’s current instructions before mailing documents or visiting in person.
Check the official court sourceSumter County Courthouse
- Address
- 215 E. McCollum Avenue, Bushnell, FL 33513
- Public counter hours
- The office-location card says 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. A sitewide hours line says 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Confirm before visiting.
- Probate contact
- 352-569-6600
Current assignments
Who handles probate matters in Sumter County?
Judicial assignments and staff contacts can change. These names were checked against official court sources on October 29, 2026.
Probate Judge
Hon. Mary P. Hatcher
The 2026 assignment order gives her probate. Judicial assistant: Jennifer Grubb. 352-569-6937. Chambers at the same courthouse address.
Official sourceLocal procedure
What local probate rules apply?
Judge Hatcher’s probate page requires a mailed order packet: a cover letter, a portal-stamped checklist, a portal-stamped petition or motion, and a proposed order with a certificate of service. Email orders are not accepted, and proposed orders are not sent to the Clerk or through the e-portal. Original wills and death certificates go to the Clerk. Evidentiary hearings are in person. The Clerk’s site does not post a probate fee schedule.
Proposed-order checklist
- 1E-file the petition so the copy in the order packet is portal-stamped.
- 2Mail the cover letter, portal-stamped checklist, portal-stamped petition or motion, and proposed order with a certificate of service to Judge Hatcher’s office.
- 3Do not email the proposed order, do not send it to the Clerk, and do not e-file it.
- 4Send original wills and death certificates to the Clerk. Do not send payment to the judge.
- 5The circuit holds the proposed order for 10 days for the rest of the paperwork.
- 6To set a hearing, call or email the office with the case number, style, motion, filing date, time needed, and counsel. Confirm the time again before sending the notice. The office does not hold a date.
Are probate hearings remote?
Judge Hatcher does not accept remote evidence. Evidentiary hearings require an in-person appearance in Bushnell. Exhibits should be exchanged at least five business days ahead. Hearing time is first come, first served, and only the party who set the hearing, or the court, can cancel it. Call or email the office when a hearing is cancelled, in addition to filing the notice.
Can Lauren handle the case remotely?
The petition can be e-filed, but the proposed order is mailed to Judge Hatcher and is not accepted by email. An evidentiary hearing is in person in Bushnell. A non-evidentiary setting still depends on the notice.
Process overview
How does a Sumter 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 Fifth 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 Sumter 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’s own probate schedule was not available when the page was checked. 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
Sumter County probate FAQ
Where do I file probate in Sumter County?
The Clerk’s main office is 215 E. McCollum Avenue, Bushnell. The office-location card says 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and a sitewide hours line says 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The phone is 352-569-6600. Mail goes to that main office.
Who is the Sumter County probate judge?
Administrative Order S-2025-58-A assigns probate to Judge Mary P. Hatcher, effective June 29, 2026. Her judicial assistant is Jennifer Grubb, at 352-569-6937.
Are Sumter County probate hearings remote?
Judge Hatcher does not accept remote evidence. Evidentiary hearings are in person. Hearing time is requested by phone or email and must be confirmed before the notice goes out.
What estates qualify for Florida Summary Administration in Sumter 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 Sumter 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
- Sumter Clerk — Meet Clerk Erin C. Munz, with office locations
- Fifth Judicial Circuit — Sumter County Probate Division
- Administrative Order S-2025-58-A, Sumter judicial assignments for 2026
- 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.