Clerk of the Circuit Court
Staff review draft · Not indexed
Florida Probate Guide · Fourteenth Judicial Circuit
Washington County Probate Court Guide2026 EDITION
Washington County probate is filed with the Clerk of Court in Chipley. The assignment plan gives Chief Judge Christopher N. Patterson all Washington circuit proceedings. It does not label probate as its own line.
Court details last reviewed October 29, 2026
Court information
Where is probate filed in Washington 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 sourceWashington County Courthouse
- Address
- 1293 Jackson Avenue, #100, Chipley, FL 32428
- Public counter hours
- Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Central Time
- Probate contact
- 850-638-6289
Current assignments
Who handles probate matters in Washington County?
Judicial assignments and staff contacts can change. These names were checked against official court sources on October 29, 2026.
Circuit Judge
Hon. Christopher N. Patterson
Chief judge. Administrative Order 2026-00-03 assigns him all Washington County circuit proceedings. Probate is not labeled separately.
Official sourceLocal procedure
What local probate rules apply?
The courthouse is 1293 Jackson Avenue, #100, Chipley. The clerk site phone is 850-638-6289. The circuit clerk list shows 850-638-6285. Mail may go to P.O. Box 647, Chipley, FL 32428. The site footer shows weekday hours ending at 4:00 p.m. Central Time. No probate fee table was verified. Confirm that all Washington circuit proceedings includes probate estates.
Proposed-order checklist
- 1E-file the petition through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
Are probate hearings remote?
The assignment plan gives Chief Judge Christopher N. Patterson all Washington circuit proceedings and does not label a separate probate division. No proposed-order sheet was verified.
Can Lauren handle the case remotely?
An uncontested Washington estate can often be e-filed without a trip to Chipley.
Process overview
How does a Washington 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 Washington 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
Washington County probate FAQ
Where do I file probate in Washington County?
File with Clerk Lora C. Bell at 1293 Jackson Avenue, #100, Chipley. The clerk site phone is 850-638-6289. Confirm the 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Central Time hours before you visit.
Who is the Washington County probate judge?
Administrative Order 2026-00-03 assigns all Washington County circuit proceedings to Chief Judge Christopher N. Patterson. The order does not label probate separately. Confirm that probate estates are included.
What estates qualify for Florida Summary Administration in Washington 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 Washington 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
- Washington Clerk — Home
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.