Located in the historic Union County Courthouse in downtown Lake Butler at 55 West Main Street, Room 103, Lake Butler, FL 32054 ((386) 496-3711), the Union County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller (Hon. Kellie Hendricks Rhoades, CPA) serves as Union County's statutory 8th Judicial Circuit Probate, Guardianship, Mental Health (Baker Act / Marchman Act), and Vulnerable Adult Protective Injunction Registry under Florida Statutes Chapters 28, 731–735, 744, and 825 (with local county and acting circuit judicial oversight by Lake Butler native and former USMC Judge Advocate Hon. Mitchell Donald Bishop, FL Bar #43319). The Room 103 Probate & Guardianship Division processes small-estate Dispositions of Personal Property Without Administration (F.S. § 735.301), Summary and Formal Probate Administration filings, original Will safekeeping deposits within 10 days of death (F.S. § 732.901), Chapter 744 incapacity petitions and annual guardian accounting/plan audits, and zero-fee Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Protective Injunctions (F.S. § 825.1035). When an indigent, incapacitated older adult in Lake Butler (32054), Raiford (32083), or Worthington Springs (32697) has no willing or qualified family member to serve as guardian, the 8th Judicial Circuit Court appoints the Florida Department of Elder Affairs Office of Public and Professional Guardians (DOEA OPPG, F.S. § 744.2006) designated Public Guardian: Public Guardianship Office for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, Inc. (PGO8, Sunbiz Doc# P14000084446, led by Executive Director & Program Attorney Heather Hatch McInnis, Esq., FL Bar #39040, (386) 438-8236 / (352) 338-7388, https://www.pgo8.org).
Official Verification Sources: Union County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Probate & Guardianship Division; Public Guardianship Office for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, Inc. (PGO8); Florida Sunbiz Entity — Public Guardianship Office for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, Inc. (#P14000084446)
Issuer: State of Florida / 8th Judicial Circuit of Florida
Notes: Verified Union County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller (Kellie Hendricks Rhoades, CPA) Probate & Guardianship Department at 55 W Main St, Room 103, Lake Butler, FL 32054 ((386) 496-3711, Fax (386) 496-1718) and Union County Judge Hon. Mitchell D. Bishop (FL Bar #43319).
Issuer: Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA OPPG) & The Florida Bar
Notes: Verified Public Guardianship Office for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, Inc. (PGO8, Sunbiz Doc# P14000084446 & #L17000234734, Executive Director Heather Hatch McInnis, Esq., FL Bar #39040, admitted Sept 21, 2007, 0 discipline, (386) 438-8236 / (352) 338-7388).
Factual details and direct answers about Union County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Probate & Guardianship Division (Hon. Kellie Hendricks Rhoades, CPA & 8th Circuit Public Guardian / PGO8)'s services, licensing, and credentials.
Can a Union County family settle a very small estate at the Lake Butler Courthouse without hiring a private probate lawyer?
Yes. Under Florida Statutes § 735.301, if a deceased Union County resident left no non-exempt real estate and their non-exempt personal property (such as a small bank account or vehicle refund) does not exceed the sum of preferred funeral expenses ($6,000 statutory cap) and reasonable medical/hospital expenses from the last 60 days of the last illness, a surviving family member can file a 'Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration' directly with Clerk Kellie Hendricks Rhoades's Probate Division in Room 103 at 55 W Main St, Lake Butler ((386) 496-3711).
Who serves as legal guardian when an incapacitated Union County senior has no family and cannot afford a private guardian?
Under Florida Statutes § 744.2006 and appointment by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs Office of Public and Professional Guardians (DOEA OPPG), the Public Guardianship Office for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, Inc. (PGO8 — pgo8.org, led by Attorney Heather Hatch McInnis, Esq., FL Bar #39040, (386) 438-8236 / (352) 338-7388) serves as court-appointed public guardian of last resort for qualifying indigent incapacitated adults across Union County.
Connect with complementary legal, financial, and residential providers serving seniors in Lake Butler and Union County.
DLP Bank (Formerly Community State Bank — Lake Butler In-County Branch & Starke Charter Headquarters)
Lake Butler, Union County
(386) 496-3333
Union County Housing Authority — Public Housing & Senior Apartments (HUD PHA #FL042 — Lake Butler)
Lake Butler, Union County
(386) 496-2047
Lake Butler Hospital (Critical Access Hospital, 25-Bed Skilled Swing-Bed Rehabilitation & 24/7 Emergency Department — Lake Butler)
Lake Butler, Union County
(386) 496-2323
Expert guidance, benefit eligibility rules, and state protections for older Florida residents and family caregivers.
Russell A. Wade III, P.A. & Dukes Legal, P.A. — Russell A. 'Russ' Wade III, Esq. & Matthew Aaron Dukes, Esq. (Lake Butler Resident Probate, Estate Planning & Real Property Counsel)
Lake Butler, Union County
Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc. — Union County & DOEA PSA 3 (Elder Options) Title III-B Senior Legal Helpline (with SREC Lake Butler Senior Center Outreach)
Lake Butler, Union County
Union County Veterans Service Office — CVSO Barbara Fischer (Lake Butler Statutory VA Aid & Attendance, Pension, DIC & Survivor Benefits Advocacy)
Lake Butler, Union County
Glades County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Probate & Guardianship Division (Hon. Tami Pearce Simmons, County Judge Hon. William K. Dorman III, Municipal/County Counsel Steven A. Ramunni, Esq. & Richard W. Pringle, Esq., & 20th Circuit Public Guardian Patrick C. Weber, Esq.)
Moore Haven, Glades County
Disclaimer: This directory listing is for informational purposes only. Florida Senior Support does not endorse or guarantee the quality of services. Please verify information and services directly with the organization.