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Jefferson County, FL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Category | Current rules |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court, Second Judicial Circuit, Jefferson County; probate is a division of the Circuit Court, not a separate court |
| Filing office | Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller (Cecil "Trey" Hightower); Official Records, Guardianship, and Probate are handled at extension 226 |
| Courthouse | Jefferson County courthouse, 1 Courthouse Circle, Monticello, FL 32344 |
| Phone | (850) 342-0218; the Official Records, Guardianship, and Probate desk is at extension 226 |
| Probate contact | Reach the probate desk at (850) 342-0218, extension 226; the Clerk's site takes written inquiries through its online contact form |
| Office hours | Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM; closed legal holidays |
| Filing fee | Set by statute under F.S. 28.2401: the Clerk's service charge is $395 for formal administration and $340 for summary administration of an estate of $1,000 or more, plus a $4 additional charge on the petition. Counties add mandatory statutory charges on top of the base: the schedule of service charges linked from the Clerk's site lists totals of $400 for formal administration, $345 for summary administration of an estate of $1,000 or more, and $231 for disposition of personal property without administration (verified July 2026). Confirm the current total with the Clerk before filing. |
| Local probate forms | The Clerk's Probate and Guardianship page posts a small set of probate forms: checklists for opening and closing a formal administration, the disposition of personal property without administration form with its waiver and consent, an affidavit of heirs, and a statement of claim for creditors. Florida publishes no statewide self-help probate form set; the petitions for formal or summary administration are 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. The Jefferson Clerk accepts probate filings through the portal |
| Online case search | Statewide CiviTek Online Court Records Search for Jefferson County (county 33), with a public anonymous access option |
| Remote appearance | Circuit Judge Jason L. Jones, assigned to Jefferson and Leon counties, typically holds hearings set for two hours or less by Zoom under his published procedures (February 2026); whether a remote appearance is available depends on the matter, so ask his judicial assistant at (850) 342-0247 or the Clerk's office at (850) 342-0218 when a hearing is set |
| Website | https://www.jeffersonclerk.com |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Jefferson 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 home in Monticello or rural Jefferson County 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 Second Judicial Circuit serves Jefferson County along with Franklin, Gadsden, Leon, Liberty, and Wakulla counties. Within Jefferson, the court covers the whole county, including Monticello (the county seat), Lloyd, Wacissa, Lamont, Aucilla, Waukeenah, and the surrounding rural communities. Jefferson probate matters are filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at the courthouse at 1 Courthouse Circle in Monticello, and are heard on the Circuit Court's general docket in the Second Judicial Circuit. The circuit judge assigned to Jefferson County, Judge Jason L. Jones, keeps chambers at the Monticello courthouse in addition to a Tallahassee office, so Jefferson estates are filed and heard locally.
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 Jefferson County for a decedent who lived here. There is no separate probate department; probate is heard on the Circuit Court's general docket.
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 Jefferson estates are filed through counsel.
- Prepare the petition. 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; the Clerk's Probate and Guardianship page posts supporting checklists and forms (opening and closing a formal administration, an affidavit of heirs, disposition of personal property), but the petitions themselves are prepared by an attorney in most cases. The assigned judge's published probate instructions call for an affidavit of heirs in every case, the applicable checklist, and an authenticated copy of the death certificate (F.S. 731.103).
- 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 1 Courthouse Circle, Monticello, FL 32344; the Official Records, Guardianship, and Probate desk is at extension 226.
- Pay the filing fee. The Clerk's service charge under F.S. 28.2401 is $395 for formal administration and $340 for summary administration of an estate of $1,000 or more, plus a $4 additional charge on the petition; with mandatory statutory add-ons, the schedule of service charges linked from the Clerk's site lists totals of $400 for formal administration and $345 for summary administration of an estate of $1,000 or more (verified July 2026). Confirm the current total with the Clerk 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 the circuit judge assigned to Jefferson County, Judge Jason L. Jones, whose published procedures (February 2026) provide that hearings set for two hours or less are typically held by Zoom. Ask his judicial assistant at (850) 342-0247 or the Clerk's office at (850) 342-0218 whether your matter can be handled remotely.
- 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 Jefferson County
Jefferson County's Clerk posts a small set of probate forms and checklists on its Probate and Guardianship page: checklists for opening and closing a formal administration, the disposition of personal property without administration form with its waiver and consent, an affidavit of heirs, and a statement of claim for creditors. The Clerk's page notes that a disposition of personal property without administration may be filed without an attorney and is handled by the clerks in the Probate Department, and the assigned judge's published probate instructions (February 2026) require an affidavit of heirs in every case along with the applicable checklist. Florida publishes no statewide self-help probate form set, and the Clerk's checklists are not the petitions themselves: filings for a formal or summary administration are petitions prepared under the Florida Probate Rules (Fla. Prob. R. 5.010 to 5.530), and because Fla. Prob. R. 5.030 requires a Florida-licensed attorney in most administrations, the attorney prepares the petition and files it through the statewide portal. For questions about local intake, filing in person versus by mail, or what the Monticello counter needs, call the Clerk of the Circuit Court at (850) 342-0218, extension 226.
| Resource | What it provides |
|---|---|
| Jefferson County Clerk, Probate and Guardianship page | The Clerk's local probate forms and checklists (formal administration opening and closing checklists, disposition of personal property without administration, waiver and consent, affidavit of heirs, statement of claim), plus a plain-language overview of the Probate Department |
| 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 |
| Jefferson County Clerk of the Circuit Court, office directory | Local intake questions, department extensions including the Official Records, Guardianship, and Probate desk, hours, and the online contact form |
Local nuance
Jefferson County-specific considerations
One assigned circuit judge hears probate, often by Zoom. Jefferson County probate matters are heard by Circuit Judge Jason L. Jones, who is assigned to Jefferson and Leon counties and keeps chambers at the Monticello courthouse. His published procedures (February 2026) include probate filing instructions, requiring an affidavit of heirs in every case and the applicable opening or closing checklist, and provide that hearings set for two hours or less are typically held by Zoom. His judicial assistant, Beth Rissinger, can be reached at (850) 342-0247.
One records desk handles probate and guardianship. Jefferson County's Clerk of the Circuit Court routes Official Records, Guardianship, and Probate to a single desk in its published office directory, reached on the main line, (850) 342-0218, at extension 226. Written inquiries go through the online contact form on the Clerk's site. Call ahead about what the Monticello counter needs before an in-person filing.
File in person at the courthouse or by mail. The Clerk's office is at 1 Courthouse Circle, Monticello, and the Clerk's site publishes no separate post office box for court filings, so paper filings are made at or mailed to the courthouse address. Attorneys e-file through the statewide portal, and a self-represented filer may e-file or file on paper.
Case search runs through the statewide CiviTek system. Jefferson County does not run its own docket portal. Court records are searched through the statewide CiviTek Online Court Records Search for Jefferson County (county 33), which offers a public anonymous access option. To confirm a filing, you can also call the Clerk's office directly.
Recent updates
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| November 2024 | Cecil "Trey" Hightower took office as Jefferson County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, appointed by the Governor to fill the unexpired term after winning the August 2024 election. He succeeded Jason Welty, who had served as the appointed Clerk since November 2023. |
Page last reviewed: July 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely path in Jefferson County | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse, co-owned home | If the Monticello or rural Jefferson 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 she is the sole interested person under Fla. Prob. R. 5.030) files a summary or formal administration; in a formal administration she is appointed personal representative and 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). Both are filed with the Jefferson Clerk, and an out-of-state filer can work with Florida counsel through the statewide e-filing portal without repeated trips to Monticello. | 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. Judge Jones hears the matter, with shorter hearings typically held by Zoom. | 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 |
|---|---|
| Jefferson County Clerk of the Circuit Court, (850) 342-0218 (jeffersonclerk.com) | The filing office for probate; local probate forms and checklists, intake questions, filing by mail or in person, hours, case search, and the Official Records, Guardianship, and Probate desk at extension 226 |
| Florida's Second Judicial Circuit (2ndcircuit.leoncountyfl.gov) | Court administration for Jefferson County, judicial assignments, and general information on remote hearings |
| 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 |
| Legal Services of North Florida, Tallahassee office, (850) 385-9007 (lsnf.org) | Free civil legal help for income-eligible residents; its Tallahassee office serves Jefferson County and its practice areas include wills and probate |
| 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County and the Second 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, Jefferson County real estate, and unclaimed property, so you understand the estate's value and which Florida estate settlement path fits before you file.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset assembles the petition and supporting paperwork for your path, ready to file with the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Monticello 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 Jefferson County and the Second 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 Jefferson County?
With the Clerk of the Circuit Court at the Jefferson County courthouse, 1 Courthouse Circle, Monticello, FL 32344. Jefferson is in the Second Judicial Circuit. Florida has no separate probate court; probate is a division of the Circuit Court, and the Clerk routes probate and guardianship to a records desk at extension 226.
Do I have to e-file probate in Jefferson 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 Monticello.
Do I need an attorney for probate in Jefferson 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 Jefferson administrations are handled through counsel.
Who hears probate cases in Jefferson County?
Circuit Judge Jason L. Jones, assigned to Jefferson and Leon counties, hears Jefferson probate matters; he keeps chambers at the Monticello courthouse, and his judicial assistant can be reached at (850) 342-0247. There is no separate probate court in Florida; probate is heard on the Circuit Court's docket in the Second Judicial Circuit.
Can I appear remotely for a Jefferson County probate hearing?
Often. Judge Jones's published procedures (February 2026) provide that hearings set for two hours or less are typically held by Zoom, which covers many probate matters. Whether a remote appearance is available depends on the matter, so ask his judicial assistant at (850) 342-0247 or the Clerk's office at (850) 342-0218 when a hearing is set.
Can I look up a Jefferson County probate case online?
Yes. Court records are searched through the statewide CiviTek Online Court Records Search for Jefferson County (county 33), which offers a public anonymous access option. To confirm a filing you can also call the Clerk of the Circuit Court at (850) 342-0218.
What forms do I need for probate in Jefferson County?
The Clerk's Probate and Guardianship page posts checklists for opening and closing a formal administration, the disposition of personal property without administration form with its waiver and consent, an affidavit of heirs, and a statement of claim. The assigned judge requires an affidavit of heirs in every probate case. Florida publishes no statewide self-help probate form set, so the petitions themselves are prepared under the Florida Probate Rules, in most cases by an attorney. Contact the Clerk at (850) 342-0218, extension 226, for questions about local intake.
What does it cost to file probate in Jefferson County?
The Clerk's base service charge under F.S. 28.2401 is $395 for formal administration and $340 for summary administration of an estate of $1,000 or more, plus a $4 additional charge on the petition. With mandatory statutory add-ons, the schedule of service charges linked from the Clerk's site lists totals of $400 for formal administration, $345 for summary administration of an estate of $1,000 or more, and $231 for disposition of personal property without administration (verified July 2026). Confirm the current total with the Clerk at (850) 342-0218 before filing.
Do I have to travel to Monticello to settle an estate there?
Not always. Attorneys and self-represented filers can file through the statewide e-filing portal, and papers can be filed by mail with the Clerk at 1 Courthouse Circle, Monticello, FL 32344. Where a hearing is required, ask the Clerk's office at (850) 342-0218 whether it can be held by Zoom.
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.