Clerk of the Circuit Court
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Florida Probate Guide · Third Judicial Circuit
Columbia County Probate Court Guide2026 EDITION
Columbia County probate is filed with the Clerk of Court in Lake City. The clerk posts a probate fee table. The pages checked did not name a probate judge.
Court details last reviewed October 29, 2026
Court information
Where is probate filed in Columbia County?
Probate filings go through the county Clerk of Court and are assigned within the Third Judicial Circuit. Check the Clerk’s current instructions before mailing documents or visiting in person.
Check the official court sourceColumbia County Clerk’s Office
- Address
- 173 NE Hernando Avenue, Lake City, FL 32055
- Public counter hours
- Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Eastern Time
- Probate contact
- 386-758-1342
Current assignments
Who handles probate matters in Columbia County?
Judicial assignments and staff contacts can change. These names were checked against official court sources on October 29, 2026.
Local procedure
What local probate rules apply?
The office is 173 NE Hernando Avenue, Lake City, phone 386-758-1342, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The fee table is used below. Its summary lines are under $1,000 and over $1,000, so an estate of exactly $1,000 is unlabeled. The circuit pages checked on October 29, 2026, did not name a probate judge for this county.
Proposed-order checklist
- 1E-file the petition through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
- 2The clerk’s disposition instructions tell people to come to the probate counter for that petition. Confirm before you go.
Are probate hearings remote?
The circuit pages checked on October 29, 2026, did not name a probate judge for this county. No Columbia proposed-order sheet was verified.
Can Lauren handle the case remotely?
An uncontested Columbia estate can often be e-filed. The clerk still directs some disposition petitions to the counter.
Process overview
How does a Columbia 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 Third 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 Columbia 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 Columbia Clerk’s posted probate lines. Guardianship lines are not listed. An estate of exactly $1,000 is not labeled.
Clerk servicePosted fee
Formal administration, curatorship, or conservatorship$400
Summary administration — under $1,000$235
Summary administration — over $1,000$345
Opening any estate$231
Disposition without administration$231
Foreign will$231
Caveat$41
Notice of trust$41
Straight answers
Columbia County probate FAQ
Where do I file probate in Columbia County?
File with Clerk James M. Swisher, Jr. at 173 NE Hernando Avenue, Lake City. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The phone is 386-758-1342.
Who is the Columbia County probate judge?
The circuit pages checked on October 29, 2026, did not name a probate judge for this county.
What estates qualify for Florida Summary Administration in Columbia 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 Columbia 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
- Columbia Clerk — Contact
- Columbia Clerk — Probate
- Columbia Clerk — Probate fees
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.