Clerk of Court
Union County Clerk of Court
The circuit’s clerk page does not publish the clerk’s name, and the live clerk website could not be read on October 29, 2026. Confirm the name at unionclerk.com before publication.
Official sourceStaff review draft · Not indexed
Florida Probate Guide · Eighth Judicial Circuit
Union County Probate Court Guide2026 EDITION
Union County probate is filed with the Clerk at the courthouse in Lake Butler and handled by Florida’s Eighth Judicial Circuit. Judge Sean D. Brewer is the assigned probate judge, as he is in Gilchrist County. The circuit’s probate case manager in Gainesville handles questions and proposed orders.
Court details last reviewed October 29, 2026
Court information
Where is probate filed in Union County?
Probate filings go through the county Clerk of Court and are assigned within the Eighth Judicial Circuit. Check the Clerk’s current instructions before mailing documents or visiting in person.
Check the official court sourceUnion County Courthouse
- Address
- 55 West Main Street, Lake Butler, FL 32054Room 103
- Public counter hours
- Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; confirm holiday closures before visiting.
- Probate contact
- 386-496-3711 or 386-496-4245
Current assignments
Who handles probate matters in Union County?
Judicial assignments and staff contacts can change. These names were checked against official court sources on October 29, 2026.
Probate Judge
Hon. Sean D. Brewer
Union and Gilchrist County probate and guardianship assignment
Official sourceGeneral Magistrate
Katherine L. Floyd
Circuit-wide referred probate matters, other than Alachua pro se probate
Official sourceProbate Case Manager
Sydney Denney
probate@circuit8.org · 352-264-6991; include “Union County” and the full case number
Official sourceLocal procedure
What local probate rules apply?
Union County follows the Eighth Judicial Circuit’s probate procedures. Filings go to the Clerk in Room 103 at the Lake Butler courthouse. Proposed orders and hearing requests go to probate@circuit8.org and must name Union County. County Judge Mitchell Bishop’s assignment is mental health and juvenile matters, not probate.
Proposed-order checklist
- 1E-file the petition or motion and the supporting documents. A self-represented party may deliver them to the Clerk instead. Do not send paper copies to the court.
- 2Wait until the Clerk has docketed and imaged the filing. The circuit says that step can take 7 to 10 days in some counties.
- 3Do not submit a proposed order until the required notice periods have expired and interested parties have been properly served.
- 4Review the circuit’s probate checklist. A completed checklist is not required, but the court asks attorneys to include one so the order can be reviewed faster.
- 5Submit the proposed order in Microsoft Word format to probate@circuit8.org or through the e-portal.
- 6Include a certificate of service naming each recipient and that person’s e-service or mailing address.
- 7Allow at least 14 days after submission before following up with the Probate Case Manager.
- 8If the court returns the order because of a deficiency, correct it and submit the order again. The court does not hold orders while a problem is fixed.
Are probate hearings remote?
The Eighth Judicial Circuit says many probate hearings are remote and that the hearing notice states whether the event is in person or by Zoom. Do not go to the courthouse if the notice says the hearing is Zoom-only. The circuit is not using telephone appearances. Zoom credentials are on the notice of hearing. To request a hearing, email probate@circuit8.org with the county name, full case number, case style, motions, parties, and time needed. Do not request a hearing until the required documents are filed and notice, or waivers, is complete. A request to appear remotely at an in-person hearing must be filed at least 10 days ahead and must show good cause. Travel time and cost alone are generally not enough.
Can Lauren handle the case remotely?
Filings are electronic, and the Eighth Judicial Circuit’s published procedures already treat many probate hearings as remote. Out-of-state family members can often handle an uncontested estate without a trip to the county courthouse. The hearing notice controls whether a particular court event is by Zoom or in person. Lauren can review the estate and explain what the family should expect before filing.
Process overview
How does a Union 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 Eighth 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 Union 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. Confirm the clerk’s total before filing. Another statute can change the amount due by a small amount, so a clerk’s posted schedule may not match these figures exactly.
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
Union County probate FAQ
Where do I file probate in Union County?
File with the Union County Clerk of Court at the Union County Courthouse, 55 West Main Street, Room 103, Lake Butler. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The published phone numbers are 386-496-3711 and 386-496-4245. Attorneys e-file through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
Which judge handles Union County probate?
Administrative Order 9.03 assigns Union County probate and guardianship to Judge Sean D. Brewer. Referred probate matters go to General Magistrate Katherine L. Floyd. County Judge Mitchell Bishop is assigned to mental health and juvenile matters, not to probate.
How are proposed probate orders submitted for a Union County case?
Submit the proposed order in Microsoft Word to probate@circuit8.org or through the e-portal after the Clerk has docketed the filing and the notice period has run. Include Union County and the full case number.
Can a Union County probate be handled remotely?
An uncontested estate can often be filed without a trip to Lake Butler. The hearing notice says whether that event is by Zoom or in person. The circuit is not using telephone appearances.
What estates qualify for Florida Summary Administration in Union 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. It is not set by the county clerk.
Clear next steps after a difficult loss.
Call for a free 15-minute consultation about a Union 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
- Eighth Judicial Circuit — Union County Clerk’s Office
- Eighth Judicial Circuit probate judicial practices and procedures
- Eighth Judicial Circuit probate forms, procedures, and checklists
- Eighth Judicial Circuit Administrative Order 9.03 (v2026-3), effective August 24, 2026
- Eighth Judicial Circuit 2026 general assignments summary, updated October 1, 2026
- Florida Statutes § 28.2401 — Service charges and filing fees in probate matters
- Florida Statutes § 735.201 — Summary administration
- Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
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.