Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
Brandon J. Patty
The circuit directory lists Brandon Patty. The clerk site uses Brandon J. Patty.
Official sourceStaff review draft · Not indexed
Florida Probate Guide · Seventh Judicial Circuit
St. Johns County Probate Court Guide2026 EDITION
St. Johns County probate is filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at the Richard O. Watson Judicial Center in St. Augustine. Judge Howard O. McGillin, Jr. is the judge whose published division includes probate.
Court details last reviewed October 29, 2026
Court information
Where is probate filed in St. Johns County?
Probate filings go through the county Clerk of Court and are assigned within the Seventh Judicial Circuit. Check the Clerk’s current instructions before mailing documents or visiting in person.
Check the official court sourceRichard O. Watson Judicial Center
- Address
- 4010 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine, FL 32084
- Public counter hours
- Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
- Probate contact
- 904-819-3600
Current assignments
Who handles probate matters in St. Johns County?
Judicial assignments and staff contacts can change. These names were checked against official court sources on October 29, 2026.
Circuit Judge
Hon. Howard O. McGillin, Jr.
St. Augustine. Division 46 is Probate/Guardianship and Dependency/Delinquency. He also handles Division 27, Veterans Treatment Court, for St. Johns and Putnam. That is not a Putnam probate assignment. Judicial assistant Veronica Griffis, 904-827-5603.
Official sourceLocal procedure
What local probate rules apply?
The clerk’s probate page says Florida law generally requires an attorney for formal administration, and that the clerk cannot assist with those matters and does not provide forms. The same page still describes formal and summary administration with an older estate-value figure. That figure is not repeated here. Use Florida Statutes § 735.201. The fee table on that page is used below.
Proposed-order checklist
- 1E-file through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
- 2Do not expect the clerk to supply probate forms for matters the clerk says require an attorney.
- 3Follow Judge McGillin’s current instructions for proposed orders. No St. Johns order sheet was verified.
Are probate hearings remote?
No circuit-wide proposed-order sheet was verified on the Seventh Circuit site. E-file the petition through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal and follow the assigned judge’s current instructions. Do not assume another circuit’s mail-only or Zoom rule applies here.
Can Lauren handle the case remotely?
An uncontested St. Johns estate can often be prepared and e-filed without a trip to St. Augustine. Hearing format depends on the assigned judge, and no circuit-wide remote-hearing rule was verified.
Process overview
How does a St. Johns 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 Seventh 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 St. Johns 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 clerk’s posted probate totals, not a copy of another county’s table. Confirm the current total before filing. The statutory base in § 28.2401 is often $1 lower than a clerk’s posted line. The lines are from the probate fee schedule on the St. Johns Clerk probate page.
Clerk servicePosted fee
Formal administration$400
Trust administration$400
Summary administration — estate $1,000 or more$345
Summary administration — estate less than $1,000$235
Disposition of personal property without administration$231
Caveat$41
Notice of trust$41
Straight answers
St. Johns County probate FAQ
Where do I file probate in St. Johns County?
File with Clerk Brandon J. Patty at the Richard O. Watson Judicial Center, 4010 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine. The clerk lists hours as Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The phone is 904-819-3600.
Who is the St. Johns County probate judge?
The circuit directory lists Hon. Howard O. McGillin, Jr. in St. Augustine for Division 46, Probate/Guardianship and Dependency/Delinquency. His judicial assistant is Veronica Griffis at 904-827-5603.
What estates qualify for Florida Summary Administration in St. Johns 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. A clerk page that still describes an older dollar figure is not the current test.
Clear next steps after a difficult loss.
Call for a free 15-minute consultation about a St. Johns 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
- Seventh Judicial Circuit — Clerks of the Court
- Seventh Judicial Circuit — Judges overview
- Seventh Judicial Circuit — Courthouse hours and holidays
- Seventh Judicial Circuit — St. Johns County
- St. Johns Clerk — Probate
- St. Johns Clerk — Contact
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.