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Escambia County, FL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Category | Current rules |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court, First Judicial Circuit, Escambia County; probate is a division of the Circuit Court, not a separate court |
| Filing office | Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller (Pam Childers, CPA, CGFO) |
| Courthouse | M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building, 190 West Government Street, Pensacola, FL 32502 (Central Time) |
| Branch office | Century office, 7500 North Century Boulevard (Highway 29), Century, FL 32535, (850) 256-6161; handles marriage licenses, notary service, hunting and fishing licenses, and court payments; the probate office is in Pensacola |
| Mailing address | Probate/Guardianship/Mental Health, P.O. Box 333, Pensacola, FL 32591-0333 |
| Phone | (850) 595-4300 (Probate, Guardianship, and Mental Health division) |
| None published for the probate division; public-records requests go to [email protected] (the Clerk's Public Records Center) | |
| Office hours | Monday to Thursday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (Central Time) |
| Filing fee | F.S. 28.2401 sets the statutory base (formal administration $395; summary administration $340 for estates of $1,000 or more; plus a $4 additional charge on the petition). The Escambia Clerk's published fee schedule, effective January 1, 2023, totals $400 for formal administration, $345 for summary administration of an estate of $1,000 or more, $235 for summary administration under $1,000, and $231 for disposition of personal property without administration (verified July 2026); confirm the current total with the Clerk before filing |
| Local probate forms | Limited. The Clerk's probate page publishes forms for disposition of personal property without administration (instructions, the request form, and a consent and waiver form). There is no local packet for formal or summary administration, and Florida publishes no statewide self-help probate form set; those filings are petitions prepared under the Florida Probate Rules, in most cases by an attorney |
| E-filing | Through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (myflcourtaccess.com); mandatory for attorneys, optional for self-represented filers, who may also file on paper at the Clerk's counter |
| Online case search | The Clerk's online court records search at public.escambiaclerk.com (reached from escambiaclerk.com/258/Online-Public-Records) includes probate cases; anyone can run a general public search without registering, enhanced access requires registering for a role under Florida Supreme Court Administrative Order 2019-20, and certified copies are available through the eCertify service (clerkecertify.com) |
| Remote appearance | The First Judicial Circuit conducts Zoom hearings for certain case types; whether a probate matter is heard remotely is decided by the assigned judge, so contact the judge's office in advance and note that hearings run on Central Time |
| Website | https://www.escambiaclerk.com |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Escambia County, know exactly what is in the estate. Which Florida path fits depends on whether there is a will and on the value and type of the assets: formal administration under F.S. Chapter 733, summary administration under F.S. 735.201 for a smaller estate, or disposition of personal property without administration under F.S. 735.301 for a limited class of estates with no real property. The dollar thresholds that separate these paths are statewide and are explained on the Florida state page; identify the estate first so you and your attorney file the right petition once.
Identify every bank and credit-union account, retirement plan, brokerage holding, life-insurance policy, vehicle, and parcel of real property, along with every debt, before you go to the Clerk. Whether the decedent's Pensacola or Escambia County home was homestead property matters, because Florida homestead often passes outside the probate estate and is not counted toward the summary-administration limit. Sunset's asset-discovery work, searching more than 2,300 financial institutions, exists for this step.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Circuit Court of the First Judicial Circuit serves Escambia County along with Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties. Within Escambia, the court covers the whole county, including Pensacola (the county seat), the town of Century, and communities such as Cantonment, Molino, McDavid, Gonzalez, Bellview, Ferry Pass, Brent, Warrington, Myrtle Grove, Pensacola Beach, and Perdido Key. Escambia probate matters are filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, whose probate office is in the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building at 190 West Government Street in Pensacola; the Clerk also keeps a branch office in Century for marriage licenses, notary service, and court payments.
Venue for a decedent's estate is governed by F.S. 733.101. Administration is proper first in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, then, if the decedent had no Florida domicile, in a county where the decedent's property is located, and, if the decedent had neither domicile nor property in Florida, in the county where any debtor of the decedent resides. In practice, file in Escambia County for a decedent who lived here. Probate is heard as a division of the Circuit Court, not by a separate probate court.
The jurisdiction process
- Gather the documents. Collect the original signed will (if any), a certified copy of the death certificate, the proposed personal representative's contact information and photo ID, the names and addresses of the beneficiaries and other interested persons, and a list of the assets and debts with values.
- Choose the path based on the estate. Depending on whether there is a will and on the value and type of assets, the route may be formal administration (F.S. Chapter 733), summary administration (F.S. 735.201), or disposition of personal property without administration (F.S. 735.301). The governing thresholds are statewide and are on the Florida state page.
- Confirm whether an attorney is required. Under Fla. Prob. R. 5.030, the personal representative must be represented by a Florida-licensed attorney unless the personal representative remains the sole interested person (or is the only beneficiary with no other interested persons), or is a Florida-licensed attorney. Because most administrations involve more than one interested person, most Escambia estates are filed through counsel.
- Deposit the original will. The custodian of a will must deposit the original with the Clerk within 10 days of learning of the death (F.S. 732.901). The original will is filed on paper with the Clerk's probate office in the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building, not e-filed.
- Prepare the filing. For a formal or summary administration, prepare the petition and supporting documents under the Florida Probate Rules (Fla. Prob. R. 5.010 to 5.530); Florida publishes no statewide self-help probate form set and Escambia has no local packet for these, so in most cases an attorney prepares and files the papers. For disposition of personal property without administration, the Clerk publishes the instructions, the request form, and a consent and waiver form on its probate page.
- File with the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Attorneys must e-file through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (myflcourtaccess.com). A self-represented filer may register and e-file through the portal or file on paper at the Clerk's counter at 190 West Government Street, Pensacola, or by mail to Probate/Guardianship/Mental Health, P.O. Box 333, Pensacola, FL 32591-0333.
- Pay the filing fee. F.S. 28.2401 sets the statutory base, and the Escambia Clerk's published fee schedule, effective January 1, 2023, totals $400 for formal administration, $345 for summary administration of an estate of $1,000 or more, $235 for summary administration under $1,000, and $231 for disposition of personal property without administration (verified July 2026); confirm the current total with the Clerk at (850) 595-4300 before filing.
- Give notice and publish. The personal representative serves notice on interested persons and publishes a notice to creditors, which opens the creditor-claim period. A creditor must file its claim by the later of 3 months after first publication or 30 days after being served (F.S. 733.702), and in all events within 2 years of death (F.S. 733.710).
- Attend the hearing if one is set. The petition is presented to a First Judicial Circuit judge in the probate division. The circuit conducts Zoom hearings for certain case types; ask the assigned judge's office whether your matter can be heard remotely, and note that Escambia hearings run on Central Time.
- Receive the authority document. On appointment the court issues Letters of Administration, the proof of the personal representative's authority to act, in every case, whether or not there is a will. Request enough certified copies for the banks and institutions involved.
- Administer and close. Inventory the assets, pay valid claims in statutory priority, account to the interested persons, distribute the remaining assets, and close the estate.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Escambia County
Escambia County publishes a small set of local probate forms for one path only: the Clerk's probate page offers the instructions, the request form, and a consent and waiver form for disposition of personal property without administration (F.S. 735.301), and the Clerk cautions that these forms are general in nature and may not fit every situation. There is no local form packet for formal or summary administration, and Florida publishes no statewide self-help probate form set: those filings are petitions prepared under the Florida Probate Rules (Fla. Prob. R. 5.010 to 5.530), and Florida Courts Help states that it does not provide probate forms. Because Fla. Prob. R. 5.030 requires a Florida-licensed attorney in most administrations, the attorney usually prepares the petition and files it through the statewide portal. The original will itself is not e-filed; it is deposited on paper with the Clerk's probate office in the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building within 10 days of learning of the death (F.S. 732.901). For questions about local intake, filing in person versus by mail, or what the Pensacola counter needs, call the probate division at (850) 595-4300.
| Resource | What it provides |
|---|---|
| Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court, probate | The Clerk's probate page, with the downloadable disposition of personal property without administration forms, local intake questions, deposit of wills, and the probate division contact |
| Florida Courts Help, probate (flcourts.gov) | The judiciary's probate self-help page; it explains that no statewide probate forms are provided and points to the Florida Probate Code and local resources |
| Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (myflcourtaccess.com) | The statewide portal for filing probate documents; mandatory for attorneys, optional for self-represented filers |
Fees
Florida sets the Clerk's base probate service charges by statute (F.S. 28.2401): formal administration $395, summary administration $340 for an estate of $1,000 or more, and disposition of personal property without administration $230, plus a $4 additional service charge on administration petitions. On top of that statutory base, counties add further mandatory statutory charges, so the Clerk's published total is higher than the bare base. The Escambia Clerk's own published fee schedule, effective January 1, 2023, lists these probate totals (verified July 2026).
| Filing | Fee | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Formal administration | $400.00 | Escambia Clerk fee schedule, effective January 1, 2023 (F.S. 28.2401 base) |
| Summary administration, estate value $1,000 or more | $345.00 | Escambia Clerk fee schedule, effective January 1, 2023 (F.S. 28.2401 base) |
| Summary administration, estate value under $1,000 | $235.00 | Escambia Clerk fee schedule, effective January 1, 2023 (F.S. 28.2401 base) |
| Disposition of personal property without administration | $231.00 | Escambia Clerk fee schedule, effective January 1, 2023 (F.S. 28.2401 base) |
| Caveat or notice of trust | $41.00 | Escambia Clerk fee schedule, effective January 1, 2023 (F.S. 28.2401 base) |
Confirm the current total with the Clerk's fee schedule at escambiaclerk.com or by calling the probate division at (850) 595-4300 before filing, since counties adjust these charges over time. Certified copies and records requests are charged separately.
Local nuance
Escambia County-specific considerations
Probate sits in the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building, with a Century branch for limited services. Escambia probate matters are filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller at the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building, 190 West Government Street, Pensacola. The Clerk also keeps a branch office at 7500 North Century Boulevard (Highway 29) in Century, in the north of the county, which handles marriage licenses, notary service, hunting and fishing licenses, and court payments and closes for lunch from noon to 1:00 PM; the probate office itself is in Pensacola. Mail for the division goes to Probate/Guardianship/Mental Health, P.O. Box 333, Pensacola, FL 32591-0333.
A compressed work week and Central Time. The Clerk's office is open Monday to Thursday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, an unusual schedule for Florida. Escambia County also observes Central Time, unlike most of the state, so counter hours, filing cutoffs, and hearing times are an hour behind peninsular Florida. Confirm the time zone when scheduling a hearing or a Zoom appearance.
Some hearings are on Zoom. The First Judicial Circuit conducts Zoom hearings for certain case types and publishes its video-hearing instructions for the four counties it serves. Whether a probate matter is heard remotely is decided by the assigned judge, so contact the judge's office in advance for the format and the Zoom meeting details.
Case search covers probate, with a registration step for enhanced access. The Clerk's online court records search, the Benchmark system at public.escambiaclerk.com reached from the Online Public Records page at escambiaclerk.com, includes probate cases. Anyone can run a general public search without registering; enhanced access to court records requires registering for the appropriate access role under Florida Supreme Court Administrative Order 2019-20, and certified copies of court records are available through the eCertify service. To confirm a filing you can also call the probate division at (850) 595-4300.
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: July 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely path in Escambia County | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse, co-owned home | If the Pensacola or Escambia County home was the decedent's homestead, Florida homestead protections usually let it pass to the surviving spouse outside the probate estate, often confirmed by a petition to determine homestead status filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court. If other assets must be administered, the spouse (through counsel, unless the spouse is the sole interested person under Fla. Prob. R. 5.030) files a summary or formal administration and is issued Letters of Administration. | Asset discovery to confirm how title is held and what else is in the estate. Packet generation for the qualifying paperwork. A vetted attorney referral where Fla. Prob. R. 5.030 requires counsel. |
| Out-of-state adult child, small estate | A smaller estate that meets the statewide threshold can proceed by summary administration under F.S. 735.201, which appoints no personal representative and ends in an order distributing the assets; a very limited estate with no real property may qualify for disposition of personal property without administration (F.S. 735.301), and the Escambia Clerk publishes the request forms for that path. Both are filed with the Escambia Clerk, an out-of-state filer can work with Florida counsel through the statewide e-filing portal, and the circuit hears certain matters by Zoom, which can reduce trips to Pensacola. | Asset discovery to confirm the estate qualifies and to locate accounts from out of state. Packet generation for the petition, prepared in advance so an out-of-state filer can proceed largely remotely. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Because the estate holds real property that must be sold, it generally proceeds through formal administration under F.S. Chapter 733: the parent, represented by counsel under Fla. Prob. R. 5.030, petitions the Clerk of the Circuit Court, is appointed personal representative, receives Letters of Administration, and can then sell the home and distribute the proceeds. The matter is heard in the First Judicial Circuit's probate division in Pensacola. | Asset discovery for the child's accounts and property. Packet generation for the formal administration filing. Attorney referral, and help if the sale or an heir dispute turns contested. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it offers |
|---|---|
| Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, probate division (850) 595-4300 (escambiaclerk.com) | The filing office for probate; local intake questions, filing by mail or in person, hours, deposit of wills, the disposition of personal property forms, case search, and the probate office in the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building |
| First Judicial Circuit of Florida (firstjudicialcircuit.org) | Court administration for Escambia County, judicial assignments, and video-hearing (Zoom) instructions for the counties the circuit serves |
| Escambia County Law Library, (850) 595-4468 (190 West Government Street, first floor, Pensacola) | Public law library at the courthouse with legal research resources and public computer access |
| Legal Services of North Florida, Pensacola office, 1741 N. Palafox Street, (850) 432-8222 (lsnf.org) | Free civil legal help for income-eligible residents of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, including elder-law matters and, in limited circumstances, wills, simple estate planning, and some probate matters |
| Florida Courts Help, probate (flcourts.gov/Courts-System/florida-courts-help/other-resources/probate) | The judiciary's probate self-help page, with plain-language information on the probate process |
| Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (myflcourtaccess.com) | Registration and self-help for e-filing probate documents, the option available to self-represented filers |
| The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service, (800) 342-8011 (floridabar.org) | Statewide referrals to Florida-licensed probate attorneys, plus the consumer pamphlet Probate in Florida |
When to hire an attorney
Florida makes counsel the norm in probate. Under Fla. Prob. R. 5.030, the personal representative must be represented by a Florida-licensed attorney unless the personal representative remains the sole interested person, or is the only beneficiary with no other interested persons, or is a Florida-licensed attorney. Because most Escambia estates have more than one interested person, most formal and summary administrations here are handled through counsel, who also e-files through the statewide portal. Consider an attorney early when the estate holds real property that must be sold, when a will contest or heir dispute is likely, when the estate is insolvent or creditors are pressing, or when the estate includes a business interest or out-of-state property. Sunset can connect families to a vetted Florida probate attorney serving Escambia County and the First Judicial Circuit.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and public records to surface bank and credit-union accounts, retirement plans, brokerage holdings, life insurance, Escambia County real estate, and unclaimed property, so you know the estate's value and which Florida path fits before you file.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset assembles the petition and supporting paperwork for your estate settlement path, ready to file with the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Pensacola through the statewide e-filing portal or on paper.
Find a local probate attorney. Because Fla. Prob. R. 5.030 requires a Florida-licensed attorney in most administrations, Sunset connects families to a vetted Florida probate attorney serving Escambia County and the First Judicial Circuit.
Sunset is free for families. Revenue comes from bank partners that pay Sunset while estate funds sit in an FDIC-insured estate account ($3M coverage).
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file for probate in Escambia County?
With the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller in the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building, 190 West Government Street, Pensacola, FL 32502, or by mail to Probate/Guardianship/Mental Health, P.O. Box 333, Pensacola, FL 32591-0333. The probate division's phone is (850) 595-4300. Escambia is in the First Judicial Circuit. Florida has no separate probate court; probate is a division of the Circuit Court.
Do I have to e-file probate in Escambia County?
Attorneys must e-file through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com. A self-represented filer may register and e-file through the same portal or file on paper at the Clerk's counter in Pensacola or by mail. The original will is deposited on paper with the Clerk, not e-filed.
Do I need an attorney for probate in Escambia County?
Usually yes. Under Fla. Prob. R. 5.030, the personal representative must be represented by a Florida-licensed attorney unless the personal representative is the sole interested person (or the only beneficiary with no other interested persons), or is a Florida-licensed attorney. Because most estates have more than one interested person, most Escambia administrations are handled through counsel.
What are the Escambia County Clerk's hours, and what time zone?
The Clerk's office is open Monday to Thursday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, a compressed week. Escambia County observes Central Time, unlike most of Florida, so plan counter visits, filing cutoffs, and hearing times accordingly.
Can I appear remotely for an Escambia County probate hearing?
Sometimes. The First Judicial Circuit conducts Zoom hearings for certain case types, and the assigned judge decides whether a matter is heard remotely. Contact the judge's office in advance for the format, the Zoom meeting details, and the time, which runs on Central Time.
Can I look up an Escambia County probate case online?
Yes. The Clerk's online court records search at public.escambiaclerk.com, reached from the Online Public Records page at escambiaclerk.com, includes probate cases. Anyone can run a general public search without registering; enhanced access to court records requires registering for an access role under Florida Supreme Court Administrative Order 2019-20, and certified copies are available through the eCertify service. You can also call the probate division at (850) 595-4300 to confirm a filing.
What forms do I need for probate in Escambia County?
For disposition of personal property without administration, the Clerk's probate page publishes the instructions, the request form, and a consent and waiver form. For formal or summary administration there is no local packet, and Florida publishes no statewide self-help probate form set: those filings are petitions prepared under the Florida Probate Rules, in most cases by an attorney. Florida Courts Help does not provide probate forms.
What does it cost to file probate in Escambia County?
The Escambia Clerk's published fee schedule, effective January 1, 2023, lists $400 for formal administration, $345 for summary administration of an estate of $1,000 or more, $235 for summary administration under $1,000, and $231 for disposition of personal property without administration (verified July 2026; the statutory base is set by F.S. 28.2401). Confirm the current total with the probate division at (850) 595-4300 before filing.
Do I have to travel to Pensacola to settle an estate there?
Not always. Attorneys and self-represented filers can file through the statewide e-filing portal, and papers can be mailed to Probate/Guardianship/Mental Health, P.O. Box 333, Pensacola, FL 32591-0333. The First Judicial Circuit hears certain matters by Zoom, so ask the assigned judge's office whether your hearing can be handled remotely.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.