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Liberty County, FL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Category | Current rules |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court, Second Judicial Circuit, Liberty County; probate is a division of the Circuit Court, not a separate court |
| Filing office | Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller (Jace Ford), Probate and Guardianship department |
| Courthouse | 10818 NW SR 20, Bristol, FL 32321 |
| Mailing address | Liberty County Clerk of the Circuit Court, P.O. Box 399, Bristol, FL 32321 |
| Phone | (850) 643-2215 |
| [email protected] | |
| Office hours | Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern; 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 (statutory figures verified July 2026). Counties add mandatory statutory charges on top of the base, and Liberty publishes no separate probate fee schedule, so confirm the current total with the Clerk before filing. |
| Local probate forms | The Clerk publishes no formal or summary administration petition packet, but its Probate and Guardianship department provides instructions for a disposition of personal property without administration, and the Second Judicial Circuit publishes approved probate checklists and an affidavit of heirs that apply in Liberty. Florida publishes no statewide self-help probate form set; the petitions 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 |
| Online case search | Statewide CiviTek Online Court Records Search for Liberty County (county 39), with a public anonymous access option |
| Remote appearance | Second Judicial Circuit judges publish individual remote-hearing (Zoom) policies that typically cover uncontested matters; whether a remote appearance is available depends on the judge assigned to your case, so check the judge's posted procedures on the circuit website or ask the judicial assistant once a hearing is set |
| Website | https://libertyclerk.com |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Liberty 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 Bristol or rural Liberty 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 Second Judicial Circuit serves Liberty County along with Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, and Wakulla counties. Within Liberty, the court covers the whole county, including Bristol (the county seat and only incorporated city), Hosford, Telogia, Sumatra, and the surrounding rural communities. Liberty probate matters are filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at the courthouse at 10818 NW SR 20 in Bristol and are heard by the circuit judge assigned to Liberty County; the circuit's judicial directory at 2ndcircuit.leoncountyfl.gov lists the current assignments.
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 Liberty County for a decedent who lived here. There is no separate probate department; probate is heard on the Circuit Court's general docket in the Second Judicial Circuit.
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 Liberty 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). The Second Judicial Circuit publishes checklists for opening and closing a formal administration and for summary administration, plus an affidavit of heirs, but Florida publishes no statewide self-help probate form set, so in most cases an attorney prepares and files the papers.
- 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 10818 NW SR 20, Bristol, or by mail to P.O. Box 399, Bristol, FL 32321.
- 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; counties add mandatory statutory charges on top of the base, and Liberty publishes no separate probate fee schedule, so confirm the current total with the Clerk (verified July 2026).
- 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 Liberty County. Second Judicial Circuit judges publish individual remote-hearing (Zoom) policies that typically cover uncontested matters, so ask the assigned judge's judicial assistant whether your matter can be handled remotely; the circuit's judicial directory at 2ndcircuit.leoncountyfl.gov lists each judge's assistant and phone number.
- 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 Liberty County
Liberty County publishes no formal or summary administration petition packet of its own, and Florida publishes no statewide self-help probate form set: probate 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. Two local resources do exist. The Clerk's Probate and Guardianship department keeps the files on estates, wills, and guardianships and provides instructions for a disposition of personal property without administration. The Second Judicial Circuit, which includes Liberty County, publishes approved probate checklists (for opening and closing a formal administration and for summary administration) and a probate affidavit of heirs. These are checklists and a supporting affidavit, not a complete petition packet. Because Fla. Prob. R. 5.030 requires a Florida-licensed attorney in most administrations, in most estates 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 Bristol counter needs, call the Clerk of the Circuit Court at (850) 643-2215.
| Resource | What it provides |
|---|---|
| Second Judicial Circuit approved forms (2ndcircuit.leoncountyfl.gov) | The circuit's approved probate forms, including the formal administration opening and closing checklists, the summary administration checklist, and the affidavit of heirs, in Word format |
| Liberty County Clerk of the Circuit Court, Court Services | The Probate and Guardianship department; local intake questions, filing in person or by mail, and instructions for a disposition of personal property without administration |
| 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 |
Local nuance
Liberty County-specific considerations
The Probate and Guardianship department helps with dispositions without administration. Liberty County's Clerk of the Circuit Court keeps a Probate and Guardianship department that holds the files on estates, wills, and guardianships and provides instructions for a disposition of personal property without administration, the informal route for a limited estate with no real property. Reach the department through the Clerk's main line at (850) 643-2215 or [email protected]; it does not supply the petitions for formal or summary administration.
File to a post office box or at the counter. The Clerk's physical courthouse is 10818 NW SR 20, Bristol, but mail is directed to P.O. Box 399, Bristol, FL 32321. Attorneys e-file through the statewide portal; a self-represented filer may e-file, mail the papers to the post office box, or file in person at the counter.
Case search runs through the statewide CiviTek system. Liberty County does not run its own docket portal. Court records are searched through the statewide CiviTek Online Court Records Search for Liberty County (county 39), which offers a public anonymous access option. To confirm a filing, you can also call the Clerk's office directly.
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: July 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely path in Liberty County | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse, co-owned home | If the Bristol or rural Liberty 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 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). Both are filed with the Liberty Clerk, and because filings move through the statewide e-filing portal and Second Judicial Circuit judges publish remote-hearing (Zoom) policies for uncontested matters, an out-of-state filer can usually work with Florida counsel without repeated trips to Bristol. | 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 by the circuit judge assigned to Liberty County, often remotely for uncontested steps. | 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 |
|---|---|
| Liberty County Clerk of the Circuit Court, (850) 643-2215 (libertyclerk.com) | The filing office for probate; local intake questions, filing by mail or in person, hours, case search, and the Probate and Guardianship department |
| Florida's Second Judicial Circuit (2ndcircuit.leoncountyfl.gov) | Court administration for Liberty County, the judicial directory with current assignments, judges' policies and procedures, circuit approved probate forms, and remote-hearing information |
| 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, Quincy office, 121 N. Jackson Street, (850) 875-9881 (lsnf.org) | Free civil legal help for income-eligible residents; the Quincy office serves Liberty, Gadsden, Calhoun, and Jackson counties, 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 Liberty 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 Liberty 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, Liberty County real estate, and unclaimed property, so you know 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 Bristol 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 Liberty 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 Liberty County?
With the Clerk of the Circuit Court at the Liberty County courthouse, 10818 NW SR 20, Bristol, FL 32321, or by mail to P.O. Box 399, Bristol, FL 32321. Liberty is in the Second Judicial Circuit. Florida has no separate probate court; probate is a division of the Circuit Court.
Do I have to e-file probate in Liberty 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 Bristol or by mail to the Clerk's post office box.
Do I need an attorney for probate in Liberty 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 Liberty administrations are handled through counsel.
Who hears probate cases in Liberty County?
The circuit judge assigned to Liberty County in the Second Judicial Circuit. Assignments rotate among the circuit's judges, so check the circuit's judicial directory at 2ndcircuit.leoncountyfl.gov for the judge and judicial assistant on your case, or ask the Clerk's office when you file.
Can I appear remotely for a Liberty County probate hearing?
Often yes for uncontested matters. Second Judicial Circuit judges publish individual remote-hearing (Zoom) policies, and uncontested matters are the kind those policies typically allow to be heard remotely. Whether a remote appearance is available depends on the judge assigned to your case, so check the judge's posted procedures on the circuit website or ask the judicial assistant when a hearing is set.
Can I look up a Liberty County probate case online?
Yes. Court records are searched through the statewide CiviTek Online Court Records Search for Liberty County (county 39), which offers a public anonymous access option. To confirm a filing you can also call the Clerk of the Circuit Court at (850) 643-2215.
What forms do I need for probate in Liberty County?
Liberty County publishes no formal or summary administration petition packet, and Florida publishes no statewide self-help probate form set. The Second Judicial Circuit publishes approved probate checklists and an affidavit of heirs that apply in Liberty, and the Clerk's Probate and Guardianship department provides instructions for a disposition of personal property without administration. The petitions themselves are prepared under the Florida Probate Rules, in most cases by an attorney.
What does it cost to file probate in Liberty County?
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 (statutory figures verified July 2026). Counties add mandatory statutory charges on top of the base, and Liberty publishes no separate probate fee schedule, so confirm the current total with the Clerk at (850) 643-2215 before filing.
Do I have to travel to Bristol to settle an estate there?
Not always. Attorneys and self-represented filers can file through the statewide e-filing portal, papers can be mailed to the Clerk at P.O. Box 399, Bristol, FL 32321, and Second Judicial Circuit judges publish remote-hearing (Zoom) policies that typically cover uncontested matters. Ask the assigned judge's judicial assistant whether a hearing can be held 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.