Lake Nona Probate and Estate Planning Attorney | Yergey & Yergey, P.A.
Local Practice
Lake Nona is in southeast Orange County, so estates of Lake Nona residents are administered in the court our Orlando probate attorneys appear in routinely: the Orange County Probate Division of the Ninth Judicial Circuit. Yergey & Yergey, P.A. has practiced in Orlando since 1928, and we represent Lake Nona families in probate administration, estate planning, and trust administration.
Probate Court Information
Lake Nona probate matters are filed in the Orange County Probate Division of the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court, at the Orange County Courthouse in downtown Orlando.
The Orange County Probate Division handles:
- Summary Administration proceedings (Fla. Stat. § 735.201): non-exempt assets of $150,000 or less for decedents who died on or after July 1, 2026 ($75,000 for earlier deaths), or decedents who died more than two years ago
- Formal Administration proceedings (Fla. Stat. § 733.101 et seq.)
- Trust proceedings under Florida's Trust Code (Fla. Stat. Chapter 736)
- Will contest and probate litigation
Typical timelines for Orange County estates: Summary Administration 4–8 weeks from filing; Formal Administration 6–12 months minimum (longer when contested or with pending creditor claims).
How We Serve Lake Nona Clients
Estate Planning
Wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, durable powers of attorney, living wills, and health care surrogate designations. For families who have relocated to Lake Nona, we review documents signed in another state against Florida law.
Probate Administration
We represent personal representatives and beneficiaries in Summary and Formal Administration in the Orange County Probate Division, including contested matters — will contests, removal of personal representatives, and breach of fiduciary duty claims.
Trust Administration
We guide successor trustees through their duties under the Florida Trust Code, starting with the 60-day notice to qualified beneficiaries under Fla. Stat. § 736.0813, and represent beneficiaries when a trustee is not meeting those obligations.
Mediation
Both David A. Yergey, Jr. and David A. Yergey III are Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Mediators. We offer certified mediation for Lake Nona probate and trust disputes as an alternative to full litigation.
What to Bring to Your First Consultation
For a probate matter
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- The original will (if one exists) or the most recent copy you have
- A preliminary list of the decedent's assets and their approximate values
- Names and contact information for all beneficiaries and heirs at law
- Any prior correspondence with the probate court or other attorneys
For an estate planning consultation
- Current will, trust, or power of attorney documents if you have them — including any signed in another state
- A general list of your assets (real estate, bank accounts, retirement accounts, life insurance policies, business interests)
- Names of individuals you would want to serve as personal representative, trustee, or agent
- A list of your intended beneficiaries
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is probate filed for a Lake Nona resident?
- For a decedent domiciled in Lake Nona, in the Orange County Probate Division of the Ninth Judicial Circuit, at the Orange County Courthouse, 425 N. Orange Avenue in downtown Orlando, under the venue rules of Fla. Stat. § 733.101. If the decedent was domiciled across the county line in Osceola County, the estate is filed in Kissimmee instead.
- Is a will I signed in another state valid in Florida?
- Generally yes, if you signed it while you were not a Florida resident. Under Fla. Stat. § 732.502(2), a will executed by a nonresident of Florida is valid in Florida if it was valid under the law of the place where it was executed — except a holographic or nuncupative (oral) will. Whether it still does what you want is a separate question: Florida's homestead devise restrictions (Fla. Stat. § 732.4015) and a surviving spouse's 30 percent elective share (§§ 732.201, 732.2065) can override what a will says.
Ready to speak with a Lake Nona probate attorney?
Call (407) 843-0430 or book a consultation online.
Or text PROBATE to (407) 906-9507 for a faster response.
Yergey & Yergey, P.A. | 910 N. Fern Creek Avenue, Orlando, FL 32803
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