Union County, with its courthouse in Lake Butler, follows the same general probate framework used throughout Florida, but anyone researching Union County probate still benefits from knowing a few local details before getting started: where the courthouse is, which number to call, and where the Clerk's online probate information lives. This guide focuses on those practical, local details rather than re-explaining the probate process itself, which is covered elsewhere in more depth.
Union County Probate: Key Contact Information
The Union County Clerk of Court handles probate filings for the 8th Judicial Circuit. Here are the verified contact points:
- Courthouse: Union County Courthouse, 55 W Main St, Lake Butler, FL 32054
- Main courthouse phone: (386) 496-3711
- Clerk of Court website: unionclerk.com
- Probate portal: Union Clerk Probate page
No separate probate phone number is listed. Phone inquiries about a Union County probate matter should start with the main courthouse line above.
A Practical Detail: A Probate Web Page, but No Separate Probate Phone Line
Some Florida counties publish a dedicated probate division phone number. Union County does not appear to have one listed. What the Clerk's website does offer is a dedicated probate page, which makes it a natural first stop for general information before any call is placed. Because no probate-specific number is listed, questions that the web page does not answer go through the main courthouse line, (386) 496-3711.
Union County also shares the 8th Judicial Circuit with Alachua, Columbia, Suwannee, and Levy counties, each of which is covered elsewhere in this series. No e-filing information is listed for Union County in the contact details above, so anyone with questions about how documents are submitted should ask the Clerk's office directly.
What Generally Happens Once a Case Is Opened
Once a probate case is opened in any Florida county, the court first establishes who holds legal authority to act for the estate. Creditors and other interested parties are then notified and given set periods in which to come forward, while the estate's assets are identified and managed. After valid debts and expenses are resolved, what remains is distributed to the beneficiaries named in a will or, absent a will, to the heirs identified under Florida law. The timeline varies with the type of administration and the circumstances of the estate.
The General Probate Process
For a broader explanation of how probate works in Florida, see What Is Probate in Florida and How Does It Work. For an overview of the different administration types an estate might go through, see Formal vs. Summary Administration in Florida: A General Overview.
Local Rules and Filing Requirements Can Vary
Local rules, administrative orders, and filing requirements can differ from one Florida county to another and can change over time. Anyone handling a probate matter in Union County should confirm current requirements directly with the court or consult a local attorney familiar with the area. The Florida Bar's Lawyer Referral Service can help connect individuals with a licensed attorney nearby.
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.