St. Petersburg Living Trust: Pinellas County Probate and Deed Recording
Quick answer: Probate for a St. Petersburg resident is filed with the Pinellas County Clerk's probate office at 315 Court Street, Room 106, Clearwater, where formal administration costs $400.00 and summary administration $235.00 or $345.00 depending on the estate's value. The deed that puts a St. Petersburg home into a living trust can be recorded without leaving the city, at the clerk's full service St. Petersburg Branch, 545 First Avenue North, for $10.00 for the first page and $8.50 for each additional page. A St. Petersburg home that is already in a funded living trust stays out of the estate the probate court administers.
Which county this page covers
This page covers Pinellas County. Under Florida Statutes section 733.101 probate is filed in the county where the person was domiciled, and deeds are recorded in the county where the land is, so a St. Petersburg mailing address in a neighboring county would be served by that county's clerk instead. Which other counties, if any, the city reaches is not stated here, because no official page saying so could be opened when this page was written. Tampa has its own page, which covers Hillsborough County.
The clerk's probate office
Pinellas County Clerk, Probate: 315 Court Street, Room 106, Clearwater, FL 33756
Phone (727) 464-7000. The probate office's hours were not on the page read and are not quoted here.
The clerk's probate page says the custodian of the original last will and testament of a deceased person must deposit the will with the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the decedent resided, within ten days after receiving information that the person is deceased, which is the rule in Florida Statutes section 732.901. It states that a summary administration proceeding may be filed when the value of the entire estate subject to administration is $150,000 or less, the figure in section 735.201 as amended by Chapter 2026-57 effective July 1, 2026, and that Florida Statute 735.301 allows an informal petition to be filed with the court to transfer assets of a decedent, with no real estate transferable under that statute. The clerk's Self-Help Center cannot assist with probate matters, and the clerk's office staff cannot give legal advice. For the general Florida steps, see the Florida probate process guide.
Probate fees listed by the clerk
| Item | Fee on the Pinellas County Clerk's schedule |
|---|---|
| Summary administration, estate with value less than $1,000 | $235.00 |
| Summary administration, estate with value more than $1,000 | $345.00 |
| Formal administration, guardianship, ancillary, curatorship and conservatorship | $400.00 |
| Disposition of personal property without administration | $231.00 |
| Caveat | $49.00 |
Recording a deed: the St. Petersburg branch
The deed that moves a St. Petersburg home into a living trust is recorded with the clerk's Recording Services, which has a full service branch in the city.
St. Petersburg Branch (full service): 545 First Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Clearwater (full service): 315 Court Street, Room 150, Clearwater, FL 33756. Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Drop off only: 3165 McMullen Booth Rd, Fessler Center Bldg B., Clearwater, FL 33761
Phone (727) 464-7000.
| Item | Pinellas County Clerk |
|---|---|
| First page | $10.00 |
| Each additional page | $8.50 |
The Recording Services page lists cash, checks, money orders, and credit and debit cards, and says mailed documents need a self addressed, stamped envelope of sufficient size and with proper postage. E-recording is available through eRecording Partners Network, CSC, Hopdox and Simplifile.
What this means for a St. Petersburg homeowner
A will alone leaves a St. Petersburg home in the probate estate, to be administered through the steps in the Florida probate process guide. A home that has been deeded to the trustee of a living trust is trust property, passing under the trust's terms and within Florida's homestead rules for a surviving spouse or minor child (see the spouse's rights guide). The trust deed is recorded once, at the First Avenue North branch or in Clearwater, while the owner is alive.
The Florida Complete Estate Plan is $400 for one person or $500 for a married couple, drafted for Florida law and delivered in minutes, with funding instructions that explain the deed.
See the Florida planFrequently asked questions
Can I record a deed in St. Petersburg instead of Clearwater?
Yes. The Pinellas County Clerk's Recording Services page lists a full service St. Petersburg Branch at 545 First Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., as well as the Clearwater office at 315 Court Street, Room 150. Recording costs $10.00 for the first page and $8.50 for each additional page.
Where is probate filed for a St. Petersburg resident?
With the Pinellas County Clerk's probate office at 315 Court Street, Room 106, Clearwater, FL 33756, phone (727) 464-7000. The clerk's fee schedule lists $400.00 for formal administration, $235.00 or $345.00 for summary administration depending on the estate's value, and $49.00 for filing a caveat.
Sources
Every fact on this page was read on one of these official pages on September 28, 2026. Court and clerk details change; check the office's page before you file or record anything.
- Pinellas County Clerk, Probate and Mental Health (office, will deposit, summary administration, section 735.301, self help)
- Pinellas County Clerk, Fee Schedule (probate and recording fees, read in Chrome on September 29, 2026: caveat $49.00)
- Pinellas County Clerk, Recording Services (locations, hours, payment, e-recording)
- Florida Statutes 732.901, Production of wills
- Florida Statutes 733.101, Venue of probate proceedings
- Florida Statutes 2026, 735.201, Summary administration (as amended by Chapter 2026-57, effective July 1, 2026)
- Florida Statutes 735.301, Disposition without administration
About this page. LivingTrustAmerica is not a law firm. This page is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws differ by state and situations differ by family. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.