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Florida Probate Guide · First Judicial Circuit

Walton County Probate Court Guide2026 EDITION

Walton County probate is filed with the Clerk of Courts. The site introduces Crystal Sconiers as clerk and lists a DeFuniak Springs office and a South Walton annex.

Court details last reviewed October 29, 2026

Decorative graphic for the Walton County probate guide
Decorative graphic for Walton County. This is not a photograph of the courthouse.Original decorative graphic created for this guide.

Court information

Where is probate filed in Walton County?

Probate filings go through the county Clerk of Court and are assigned within the First Judicial Circuit. Check the Clerk’s current instructions before mailing documents or visiting in person.

Check the official court source

Walton County Clerk’s Office

Address
571 U.S. Highway 90 East, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433
Public counter hours
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Central Time
Probate contact
850-892-8115

Current assignments

Who handles probate matters in Walton 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 DeFuniak Springs office is 571 U.S. Highway 90 East, phone 850-892-8115. The South Walton annex is 31 Coastal Centre Boulevard, Santa Rosa Beach, phone 850-267-3066. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time. The will and probate page does not state an estate-value test. Use § 735.201. No fee table was verified. The circuit pages checked on October 29, 2026, did not name a probate judge for this county.

Proposed-order checklist

  1. 1E-file the petition through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
  2. 2Confirm whether an original will is deposited in DeFuniak Springs or at the South Walton annex.

Are probate hearings remote?

The circuit pages checked on October 29, 2026, did not name a probate judge for this county. No Walton proposed-order sheet was verified.

Can Lauren handle the case remotely?

An uncontested Walton estate can often be e-filed. Confirm the will-deposit office first.

Process overview

How does a Walton 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 First Judicial Circuit; it is not a filing checklist or a promise of timing.

  1. 01

    Open the estate

    File the petition, original will when applicable, death certificate, and required supporting documents.

  2. 02

    Court review

    The Clerk processes the filing and the assigned division reviews petitions, checklists, and proposed orders.

  3. 03

    Administer assets

    Address notices, creditors, inventory, taxes, property, and distributions required for the selected process.

  4. 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 Walton 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

Walton County probate FAQ

Where do I file probate in Walton County?

The clerk’s office is 571 U.S. Highway 90 East, DeFuniak Springs, phone 850-892-8115. The South Walton annex is 31 Coastal Centre Boulevard, Santa Rosa Beach, phone 850-267-3066. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time.

Who is the Walton 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 Walton 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 Walton 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

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.

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