Hillsborough County, home to Tampa, is one of Florida's larger and more populous counties, and probate matters there follow the same general framework used statewide. Even so, anyone dealing with the Hillsborough County probate court benefits from knowing a few local details before getting started: which building actually handles probate filings, which phone number to call, and what the probate division is officially named. This guide focuses on those practical details rather than re-explaining the probate process itself, which is covered elsewhere in more depth.
Hillsborough County Probate Court: Key Contact Information
The Hillsborough County Clerk of Court handles probate filings for the 13th Judicial Circuit. Here are the verified contact points:
- Courthouse: George E Edgecomb Courthouse, 800 E Twiggs St, Tampa, FL 33602
- Main courthouse phone: (813) 276-8100
- Clerk of Court website: hillsclerk.com
- Probate Division phone: (813) 276-8100
- Probate portal: Hillsborough Clerk Probate, Guardianship, and Trust page
A Practical Detail: Know the Courthouse by Its Actual Name
Anyone searching for a "Hillsborough County Courthouse" by that generic name may not immediately recognize the building they're looking for. The courthouse that handles probate matters in Hillsborough County is officially named the George E Edgecomb Courthouse, located at 800 E Twiggs St in downtown Tampa. It's the same building for probate as for other county court business — there's no separate probate-only facility at a different address — but knowing the courthouse's actual name in advance can prevent confusion when looking up directions, searching online, or asking for the building by name in person.
It's also worth noting how the Clerk's office has named the division itself. Rather than a division called simply "Probate," Hillsborough's is officially the Probate, Guardianship, and Trust division — a name that reflects the broader scope of matters it handles beyond estate administration alone. And as with some other Florida counties, there's no separate phone line dedicated to probate: the same number, (813) 276-8100, serves both the main courthouse switchboard and probate-related inquiries. There's no separate extension to track down.
One more detail worth knowing before filing electronically: Hillsborough County doesn't run its own proprietary e-filing system. Electronic filing for probate matters here, as throughout Florida, goes through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. Anyone looking specifically for a "Hillsborough e-filing" tool won't find a separate one — the statewide portal is the correct starting point regardless of which Florida county a filing is headed to.
What Generally Happens Once a Case Is Opened
Once a probate case is opened in Hillsborough County, it moves through the same general sequence used across Florida: the court establishes who has legal authority to act on behalf of the estate, interested parties and creditors are given an opportunity to be heard, and the estate's remaining assets are eventually distributed once valid debts and expenses have been addressed. Hillsborough County doesn't change that underlying sequence. What differs at the county level is largely administrative — the courthouse's specific name, which number to call, and which portal has relevant case information.
The General Probate Process
Hillsborough County probate follows Florida's statewide probate framework. For background on how the process works generally, see What Is Probate in Florida and How Does It Work. For an overview of the two main paths an estate may take, see Formal vs. Summary Administration in Florida: A General Overview. Those posts cover the underlying concepts in more depth; this guide focuses specifically on Hillsborough County's local contact points and logistics.
Local Rules and Filing Requirements Can Vary
Court procedures, administrative orders, and filing requirements can carry county-specific nuances that go beyond what's covered in a general guide. Anyone with questions about local rules, specific filing procedures, or how a particular estate should proceed is encouraged to confirm details directly with the court or consult a local probate attorney. For those who need help finding one, the Florida Bar's statewide Lawyer Referral Service can connect individuals with a licensed attorney in their area.
Looking for Another County?
This is one in a series of county-specific guides. For courthouse and probate contact information in any other Florida county, see the full directory of Florida county resources.
Get Started with Your Estate Planning Documents
Preparing estate planning documents doesn't have to start with a courthouse visit. SunstateDocs' Complete Estate Planning Bundle helps individuals generate the documents commonly used in Florida estate planning, based on the information they provide, well before any courthouse or probate division ever needs to get involved.
This article is general information, not legal advice. SunstateDocs is not a law firm.