Clerk of the Circuit Court
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Florida Probate Guide · Fourteenth Judicial Circuit
Bay County Probate Court Guide2026 EDITION
Bay County probate is filed with the Clerk of Court in Panama City. Administrative Order 2026-00-03 assigns all Bay probate to Judge Elijah Smiley.
Court details last reviewed October 29, 2026
Court information
Where is probate filed in Bay County?
Probate filings go through the county Clerk of Court and are assigned within the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit. Check the Clerk’s current instructions before mailing documents or visiting in person.
Check the official court sourceBay County Courthouse
- Address
- 300 East 4th Street, Panama City, FL 32401
- Public counter hours
- Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Central Time
- Probate contact
- 850-747-5100
Current assignments
Who handles probate matters in Bay County?
Judicial assignments and staff contacts can change. These names were checked against official court sources on October 29, 2026.
Circuit Judge
Hon. Elijah Smiley
Administrative probate judge. Administrative Order 2026-00-03 assigns him all Bay County probate, guardianship, and mental health from July 1, 2026, through January 1, 2029. The order does not name a judicial assistant.
Official sourceLocal procedure
What local probate rules apply?
The clerk’s office is 300 East 4th Street, Panama City, phone 850-747-5100. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time. The circuit clerk list also shows 850-747-5102. The fee table is used below. Summary administration of $1,000 or more is one line, and less than $1,000 is the other.
Proposed-order checklist
- 1E-file the petition through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
Are probate hearings remote?
Judge Elijah Smiley is the Bay administrative probate judge under Administrative Order 2026-00-03. No Bay proposed-order sheet was verified.
Can Lauren handle the case remotely?
An uncontested Bay estate can often be e-filed without a trip to Panama City.
Process overview
How does a Bay County probate move forward?
The exact path depends on the estate and the court’s orders. This overview shows the common sequence for a matter filed in the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit; it is not a filing checklist or a promise of timing.
- 01
Open the estate
File the petition, original will when applicable, death certificate, and required supporting documents.
- 02
Court review
The Clerk processes the filing and the assigned division reviews petitions, checklists, and proposed orders.
- 03
Administer assets
Address notices, creditors, inventory, taxes, property, and distributions required for the selected process.
- 04
Distribute and close
After court requirements are met, distribute the remaining assets and complete the steps needed to close.
2026Threshold
Florida Summary Administration may be available when the estate subject to administration, less exempt property, does not exceed $150,000 or the decedent has been dead for more than two years, subject to the other requirements of Florida Statute § 735.201.
Court costs
What does probate cost in Bay County?
Court filing fees are separate from attorney fees. Lauren reviews the estate before confirming the legal scope and whether flat-fee representation is available.
These are the Bay Clerk’s posted probate lines. Guardianship-only lines are not listed. Confirm the formal line, which the table groups with related proceedings, before filing.
Clerk servicePosted fee
Formal administration$400
Summary administration — less than $1,000$235
Summary administration — $1,000 or more$345
Disposition of personal property without administration$231
Caveat or notice of trust$41
Petition and order to admit a foreign will$231
Opening any estate of one document or more$231
Case reopen$50
Straight answers
Bay County probate FAQ
Where do I file probate in Bay County?
File with Clerk Bill Kinsaul at 300 East 4th Street, Panama City. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time. The clerk site phone is 850-747-5100.
Who is the Bay County probate judge?
Administrative Order 2026-00-03 assigns all Bay County probate, guardianship, and mental health to Hon. Elijah Smiley from July 1, 2026, through January 1, 2029.
What estates qualify for Florida Summary Administration in Bay County?
Under Florida Statutes § 735.201, summary administration is available when the decedent has been dead for more than two years, or when the value of the estate subject to administration in Florida, less the value of property exempt from the claims of creditors, does not exceed $150,000.
Clear next steps after a difficult loss.
Call for a free 15-minute consultation about a Bay County probate. Lauren Richardson Law serves families throughout Florida, including people managing an estate from another state.
Verification record
Official sources
Last checked October 29, 2026
- Florida Statutes § 735.201 — Summary administration
- Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
- Florida Statutes § 28.2401 — Service charges and filing fees in probate matters
- Administrative Order 2026-00-03 — Fourteenth Circuit judge assignment plan, July 1, 2026 through January 1, 2029
- Fourteenth Circuit — Clerks of court
- Bay Clerk — Probate
This guide provides general information, not legal advice. Court assignments, procedures, fees, and hearing formats can change. Confirm current requirements with the Clerk and assigned division before acting.