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Walton County, FL Probate Information
Quick facts
| Category | Current rules |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court, First Judicial Circuit, Walton County; probate is a division of the Circuit Court, not a separate court |
| Filing office | Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller (Crystal Sconiers) |
| Main courthouse | Walton County Courthouse, 571 U.S. Highway 90 East, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433 (Central Time); the county seat and main court facility, with the Clerk's probate division |
| Second location | South Walton Courthouse Annex, 31 Coastal Centre Boulevard, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459, (850) 267-3066; the Clerk's probate page lists probate at both locations, and the First Judicial Circuit lists the annex as a court location with one courtroom |
| Mailing address | Walton County Clerk of Courts and Comptroller, P.O. Box 1260, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435; the Clerk lists 571 U.S. Highway 90 East, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433 as the package delivery address |
| Phone | (850) 892-8115, press 1 for Court Services, which includes probate; South Walton Courthouse Annex (850) 267-3066 |
| Fax | (850) 892-8017 (DeFuniak Springs); (850) 267-1335 (South Walton Courthouse Annex) |
| None published for the probate division; records requests go to [email protected] | |
| Office hours | Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (Central Time), except scheduled holidays |
| 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 Walton Clerk's own probate filing fees page totals $400 for formal administration, $345 for summary administration over $1,000, $235 for summary administration under $1,000, $231 for disposition of personal property without administration, and $41 for a caveat or notice of trust (verified July 2026); confirm the current total with the Clerk before filing |
| Local probate forms | None. The Clerk's Wills, Probate & Guardianships page states that forms are available through the Florida Bar, the Clerk's forms index has no probate section, and its TurboCourt DIY service covers no probate case types; probate 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 with the Clerk; the Clerk does not require paper follow-up of e-filed originals unless a court order, statute, or rule requires it |
| Online case search | The CiviTek Online Court Records Search for Walton County (civitekflorida.com/ocrs/county/66/), reached through the disclaimer on the Clerk's Court Records Search page; the public search needs no account, and Florida attorneys and individuals may request a free registered login through the Walton County Access Agreement |
| 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://waltonclerkfl.gov |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Walton 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 DeFuniak Springs, Freeport, Santa Rosa Beach, or Miramar Beach 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 Walton County along with Escambia, Okaloosa, and Santa Rosa counties. Within Walton, the court covers the whole county, including DeFuniak Springs (the county seat), Freeport, Paxton, and the South Walton coastal communities such as Santa Rosa Beach, Miramar Beach, Seaside, Grayton Beach, Seagrove Beach, Rosemary Beach, Inlet Beach, and Point Washington, along with inland communities like Mossy Head and Red Bay. Walton probate matters are filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, whose probate division is at the Walton County Courthouse, 571 U.S. Highway 90 East in DeFuniak Springs; the Clerk's probate page also lists the South Walton Courthouse Annex at 31 Coastal Centre Boulevard in Santa Rosa Beach.
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 Walton 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. The Walton Clerk's own probate page repeats this rule, and most Walton 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 Walton Clerk's probate page notes there is no fee for filing a will. The original will is filed on paper with the Clerk, not e-filed.
- 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). Walton publishes no local probate forms, its probate page states that forms are available through the Florida Bar, and 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); the Clerk does not require paper follow-up of e-filed originals unless a court order, statute, or rule requires it. A self-represented filer may register and e-file through the portal, file on paper at the Walton County Courthouse in DeFuniak Springs, or mail papers to P.O. Box 1260, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435. The Clerk's probate page lists probate at the South Walton Courthouse Annex in Santa Rosa Beach as well, but publishes no probate-only intake split, so call (850) 267-3066 before bringing papers to the annex.
- Pay the filing fee. F.S. 28.2401 sets the statutory base, and the Walton Clerk's own probate filing fees page totals $400 for formal administration, $345 for summary administration over $1,000, $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) 892-8115 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. Most Walton court proceedings are held at the Walton County Courthouse in DeFuniak Springs, and 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 Walton 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 Walton County
Walton County publishes no local probate forms. The Clerk's Wills, Probate & Guardianships page states plainly that forms are available through the Florida Bar, the Clerk's forms index covers civil, criminal, family, traffic, and records forms but has no probate section, and the Clerk's TurboCourt DIY form service covers family law, landlord-tenant, and injunction petitions, none of them probate (verified July 2026). Florida also 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. Because Fla. Prob. R. 5.030 requires a Florida-licensed attorney in most administrations, a rule the Walton Clerk repeats on its own probate page, most estates are filed through counsel via the statewide portal. The original will itself is not e-filed; it is deposited on paper with the Clerk within 10 days of learning of the death (F.S. 732.901), with no fee for filing a will. For questions about local intake, filing in person, or what the counter needs, call the Clerk at (850) 892-8115 and press 1 for Court Services.
| Resource | What it provides |
|---|---|
| Walton County Clerk of the Circuit Court, Wills, Probate & Guardianships | The Clerk's probate page, with the attorney-requirement rule, will-deposit instructions, both probate locations, and the Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service contact |
| Walton County Clerk Self-Help Center | The Clerk's self-help page; its probate and guardianship section explains the process and links the Florida Courts probate page and the e-filing portal |
| 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 Walton Clerk publishes its own probate filing fees page on waltonclerkfl.gov with these totals (verified July 2026).
| Filing | Fee | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Formal administration | $400.00 | Walton Clerk published probate filing fees page (F.S. 28.2401 base) |
| Summary administration, estate value over $1,000 | $345.00 | Walton Clerk published probate filing fees page (F.S. 28.2401 base) |
| Summary administration, estate value under $1,000 | $235.00 | Walton Clerk published probate filing fees page (F.S. 28.2401 base) |
| Disposition of personal property without administration | $231.00 | Walton Clerk published probate filing fees page (F.S. 28.2401 base) |
| Opening any estate, or admitting a foreign will | $231.00 | Walton Clerk published probate filing fees page (F.S. 28.2401 base) |
| Caveat | $41.00 | Walton Clerk published probate filing fees page (F.S. 28.2401 base) |
| Notice of trust | $41.00 | Walton Clerk published probate filing fees page (F.S. 28.2401 base) |
The Clerk's page prints no effective date, so confirm the current total on the probate filing fees page at waltonclerkfl.gov or by calling the Clerk at (850) 892-8115 before filing, since counties adjust these charges over time. There is no fee for depositing a will. Certified copies and records requests are charged separately.
Local nuance
Walton County-specific considerations
Two probate locations: DeFuniak Springs and Santa Rosa Beach. Walton's main courthouse and the Clerk's probate division are inland at 571 U.S. Highway 90 East in DeFuniak Springs, but much of the county's population lives along the coast in South Walton. The Clerk's own probate page lists probate at both the courthouse and the South Walton Courthouse Annex, 31 Coastal Centre Boulevard, Santa Rosa Beach, (850) 267-3066, and the First Judicial Circuit lists the annex as a court location with one courtroom. Neither office publishes a probate-only intake split, so call the annex at (850) 267-3066, or the main line at (850) 892-8115, before making the trip to confirm where to file or pick up probate papers. Mail goes to the Clerk's post office box, P.O. Box 1260, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435.
Central Time, an hour behind the peninsula. Walton County observes Central Time, unlike peninsular Florida, so the Clerk's counter hours, filing cutoffs, and hearing times are an hour behind most of the state. The offices are open Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Central, except scheduled holidays; 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 runs through the CiviTek portal, with a registration option. Walton probate dockets are searchable through the CiviTek Online Court Records Search for Walton County (civitekflorida.com/ocrs/county/66/), reached through the disclaimer on the Clerk's Court Records Search page. The public search needs no account and covers name and case-number searches, with date-range searches capped at 7 days; Florida attorneys and individuals who want enhanced registered access may request a free secure login by submitting the Walton County Access Agreement to the Clerk. Electronic access levels are governed by the Florida Supreme Court's Access Security Matrix, and confidential cases are excluded.
Recent updates
Page last reviewed: July 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely path in Walton County | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse, co-owned home | If the DeFuniak Springs, Freeport, or Santa Rosa Beach 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). Both are filed with the Walton 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 the Panhandle. | 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, with most Walton proceedings at the courthouse in DeFuniak Springs. In a county with a hot coastal market, confirming whether the property was homestead and how it was titled comes first. | 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 |
|---|---|
| Walton County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, (850) 892-8115, press 1 (waltonclerkfl.gov) | The filing office for probate; local intake questions, filing by mail or in person, hours, deposit of wills, the probate filing fees page, and the court-records search |
| South Walton Courthouse Annex, 31 Coastal Centre Boulevard, Santa Rosa Beach, (850) 267-3066 | The Clerk's south-county location, listed on the Clerk's probate page; call ahead to confirm which probate services the annex can handle |
| First Judicial Circuit of Florida (firstjudicialcircuit.org) | Court administration for Walton County, courthouse information for the Walton County Courthouse and the South Walton County Courthouse Annex, judicial assignments, and video-hearing (Zoom) instructions |
| CiviTek Online Court Records Search, Walton County (civitekflorida.com/ocrs/county/66/) | The public online docket search for Walton court records, including probate; the public option needs no registration |
| Legal Services of North Florida, Fort Walton Beach office, 133 Staff Drive, Suite B, Fort Walton Beach, (850) 862-3279 (lsnf.org) | Free civil legal help for income-eligible residents of Okaloosa and Walton counties, including elder-law matters and, in limited circumstances, some estate 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, the referral service the Walton Clerk's own probate page points to, 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. The Walton Clerk's own probate page repeats this rule and refers unrepresented families to the Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service. Because most Walton 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 Walton 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, Walton 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 Walton Clerk of the Circuit Court 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 Walton 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 Walton County?
With the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. The Clerk's probate division is at the Walton County Courthouse, 571 U.S. Highway 90 East, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433, (850) 892-8115 (press 1 for Court Services), and mail goes to P.O. Box 1260, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435. The Clerk's probate page also lists the South Walton Courthouse Annex at 31 Coastal Centre Boulevard, Santa Rosa Beach, (850) 267-3066. Attorneys e-file through the statewide portal. Walton is in the First Judicial Circuit. Florida has no separate probate court; probate is a division of the Circuit Court.
Can I handle probate at the South Walton annex instead of driving to DeFuniak Springs?
Partly. The Clerk's own probate page lists probate at the South Walton Courthouse Annex, 31 Coastal Centre Boulevard, Santa Rosa Beach, (850) 267-3066, and the First Judicial Circuit lists the annex as a court location with one courtroom. Neither office publishes exactly which probate services the annex handles, so call (850) 267-3066 before making the trip to confirm it can take your filing or answer your probate question; most Walton court proceedings are held at the main courthouse in DeFuniak Springs.
Do I have to e-file probate in Walton County?
Attorneys must e-file through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com, and the Walton Clerk does not require paper follow-up of e-filed originals unless a court order, statute, or rule requires it. A self-represented filer may register and e-file through the same portal, file on paper with the Clerk, or file by mail. The original will is deposited on paper with the Clerk, not e-filed.
Do I need an attorney for probate in Walton County?
Usually yes. Under Fla. Prob. R. 5.030, a rule the Walton Clerk repeats on its own probate page, 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 Walton administrations are handled through counsel.
What are the Walton County Clerk's hours, and what time zone?
The Clerk's offices in DeFuniak Springs and Santa Rosa Beach are open Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, except scheduled holidays. Walton County observes Central Time, like the rest of the First Judicial Circuit but unlike most of Florida, so plan counter visits, filing cutoffs, and hearing times accordingly.
Can I appear remotely for a Walton 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 a Walton County probate case online?
Yes. Walton uses the CiviTek Online Court Records Search at civitekflorida.com/ocrs/county/66/, reached through the disclaimer on the Clerk's Court Records Search page at waltonclerkfl.gov. The public search needs no account and covers name and case-number searches, with date-range searches capped at 7 days; attorneys and individuals who want registered access can request a free secure login by submitting the Walton County Access Agreement to the Clerk. You can also call (850) 892-8115 to confirm a filing.
What forms do I need for probate in Walton County?
Walton publishes no local probate forms: the Clerk's probate page states that forms are available through the Florida Bar, the Clerk's forms index has no probate section, and its TurboCourt DIY service covers no probate case types. Florida publishes no statewide self-help probate form set either; probate filings are petitions prepared under the Florida Probate Rules, and in most cases an attorney prepares the petition. Florida Courts Help does not provide probate forms.
What does it cost to file probate in Walton County?
The Walton Clerk's own probate filing fees page lists $400 for formal administration, $345 for summary administration over $1,000, $235 for summary administration under $1,000, $231 for disposition of personal property without administration, and $41 for a caveat or notice of trust (verified July 2026; the statutory base is set by F.S. 28.2401). There is no fee for depositing a will. Confirm the current total with the Clerk at (850) 892-8115 before filing.
Do I have to travel to DeFuniak Springs to settle an estate in Walton County?
Not always. Attorneys and self-represented filers can file through the statewide e-filing portal, papers can be mailed to P.O. Box 1260, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435, and the First Judicial Circuit hears certain matters by Zoom, so ask the assigned judge's office whether your hearing can be handled remotely. Families on the coast can call the South Walton Courthouse Annex at (850) 267-3066 to confirm which probate services it can handle before driving to DeFuniak Springs.
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.