Clerk of the Circuit Court
Staff review draft · Not indexed
Florida Probate Guide · Second Judicial Circuit
Jefferson County Probate Court Guide2026 EDITION
Jefferson County probate is filed with the Clerk of Court in Monticello. Disposition without administration is described with the statutory funeral and last-illness test, not a dollar cap.
Court details last reviewed October 29, 2026
Court information
Where is probate filed in Jefferson County?
Probate filings go through the county Clerk of Court and are assigned within the Second Judicial Circuit. Check the Clerk’s current instructions before mailing documents or visiting in person.
Check the official court sourceJefferson County Courthouse
- Address
- 1 Courthouse Circle, Monticello, FL 32344
- Public counter hours
- Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
- Probate contact
- 850-342-0218
Current assignments
Who handles probate matters in Jefferson 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 courthouse is 1 Courthouse Circle, Monticello, phone 850-342-0218. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The probate page says disposition without administration may be filed without an attorney when the estate does not exceed preferred funeral expenses and the expenses of the last illness. No probate fee table was verified. 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.
Are probate hearings remote?
The circuit pages checked on October 29, 2026, did not name a probate judge for this county. No Jefferson proposed-order sheet was verified.
Can Lauren handle the case remotely?
An uncontested Jefferson estate can often be e-filed without a trip to Monticello.
Process overview
How does a Jefferson 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 Second 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 Jefferson 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 figures combine the filing fees in Florida Statutes § 28.2401 with the additional $4 service charge that subsection (3) adds to formal, ancillary, and summary administration. A caveat is $40, and disposition without administration is $230. This clerk did not post a probate fee schedule that could be verified. Confirm the total before filing.
Clerk servicePosted fee
Formal or ancillary administration$399
Summary administration — estate under $1,000$234
Summary administration — estate $1,000 or more$344
Caveat$40
Disposition without administration$230
Straight answers
Jefferson County probate FAQ
Where do I file probate in Jefferson County?
The courthouse is 1 Courthouse Circle, Monticello. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The phone is 850-342-0218.
Who is the Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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
- Jefferson Clerk — Probate and guardianship
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.