Probate Division

(See Sumter County Clerk’s website for applicable filing fees.)

Honorable Mary P. Hatcher, Circuit Judge

Sumter County Courthouse
215 E. McCollum Avenue
Bushnell, FL 33513

Judicial Assistant: Lisa Lawson

352-569-6937

Procedures

(See Sumter County Clerk’s website for applicable filing fees.)

Procedures for submitting proposed probate orders directly to Judge Hatcher’s office:

  • Cover letters must be mailed directly to the appropriate Judge’s office along with the following:
    • A Portal Stamped Submission Copy of the completed corresponding Checklist
    • A Portal Stamped Submission Copy of the Motion or Petition
    • Proposed Order with a Certificate of Service
  • Proposed orders received will be held for ten (10) days pending receipt of all applicable documentation, after that time, the documents submitted with the cover letter, will be destroyed.

 DO’S, DO NOT’S:

  • Please DO send your proposed orders to the Judicial Assistant via US Mail ONLY (orders via email will not be accepted).
  • Please DO NOT send proposed orders to the Clerk.
  • Please DO NOT attempt to e-file proposed orders through the e-portal.
  • Please DO send Original Wills and/or Death Certificates directly to the Clerk of Court.
  • Please DO NOT send copies to conform or stamped, self-addressed envelopes. All orders will be e-filed and e-served upon everyone in the e-Portal.
  • Please DO NOT send ANY form of payment to the Judges office – ALL payments should be submitted to the Clerk of Court directly.
  • Please DO contact the Clerk of Court, Probate Division, for Certified Copies of your order AFTER you have received service of same.

 

While we understand certain emergencies, frequent inquiries for status updates on proposed orders or to see if the USPS has delivered your mail are not necessary and can cause additional time burdens.  IF you have followed all of the instructions above, we should be able to process your order in a timely fashion. Should we need any additional information, we will reach out to your office.

SCHEDULING A HEARING

Hearing availability may be obtained by calling or emailing Judge Hatcher’s office.  Dates are provided on a first come, first serve basis. Your hearing time will be secured once a phone call or email is received to confirm a specific date and time.

When inquiring as to available hearing time, please have the case number, case style, type of motion to be scheduled, the date the motion was filed, the amount of hearing time requested, and names of all counsel of record. The Motion must be filed prior to obtaining hearing time.

Once hearing time is coordinated with all counsel, CALL or EMAIL the Judge’s office to confirm the date prior to preparing your Notice of Hearing, to assure that time is still available, as hearing dates are first come first serve. We do not hold a hearing date/time.

The Court requires that all hearings be coordinated. If you are unable to coordinate a hearing, please call our office; do not “piggy-back” or “cross notice” a hearing without coordinating with the judge’s office. Cross-notice of a hearing without the Court’s approval is not permitted.

PROCEDURES FOR CANCELLING HEARINGS

In addition to filing your notice of cancellation, immediately notify the judge’s office by telephone and/or email when a hearing is to be cancelled.  Only the party that scheduled the hearing, or the Court, has the authority to cancel the hearing.

PROCEDURES FOR EVIDENCE

Judge Hatcher does not accept remote evidence. All evidentiary hearings require an in-person court appearance.  Attorneys and parties should exchange exhibits at least five (5) business days in advance of the scheduled hearing.

Hearing notebooks that do not contain evidence (ie. case law) should be submitted in hard copy at least five (5) business days prior to the hearing.