Escambia County probate help.

Clerk and filing

Probate filing fees posted by the clerk

Source: Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, Probate / Guardianship / Mental Health fee schedule, checked October 16, 2026. The schedule prints its own effective date, January 1, 2023. Each posted fee that has a § 28.2401 amount is $1 above that amount (plus the $4 petition charge where § 28.2401(3) applies). The schedule also lists accounting audit fees of 20.00, 85.00, 170.00 and 250.00 by estate size and 85.00 for an inventory over $25,000.

Judges and divisions

1st Judicial Circuit. Serves Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties.

Courthouses that hear probate

• Escambia County probate, guardianship and mental health office, 190 W Government Street, Pensacola, FL 32502; 850-595-4300 escambiaclerk.com probate assignment

• Florida Statutes § 26.021 places Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties in the First Judicial Circuit. flsenate.gov

Administrative orders

Orders of the 1st Judicial Circuit that apply to probate and guardianship cases in Escambia County. Circuit order index.

• ECAD 2024-03, Circuit and County Court Division Assignments. Date: April 4, 2024 (effective January 1, 2025). Assigns Judge W. Joel Boles to preside in the Escambia probate and mental health Divisions R, U and T.
• ECAD 2021-06, Miscellaneous Escambia County Court Operations, Jimmy Ryce, Tobacco Cases, and Probate/Guardianship Recusal Process. Date: December 14, 2021 (effective January 3, 2022). Names Divisions U and T the probate divisions under Judge Boles; if he is recused or disqualified the case goes to Division E-Civil, then at random to another civil division.
• ECAD 2018-05, Mandatory Checklists, Probate Divisions. Date: May 23, 2018 (effective June 1, 2018). Requires the opening formal administration, summary administration and closing formal administration checklists to be filed with the clerk at the time of the petition for administration, summary administration or discharge.
• AO 2018-12, Creation of Probate/Guardianship Division U, Escambia County. Date: Effective June 1, 2018. Creates Division U, assigns Judge Boles to it, moves pending cases by decedent or ward last name A through K from Division T to Division U, and alternates newly filed qualifying cases between Divisions T and U.
• AO 2017-44, Creation of Probate/Guardianship Division T, Escambia County. Date: October 17, 2017 (effective January 16, 2018). Makes Circuit Court Division T the Escambia probate and guardianship division; Baker Act, Marchman Act and incapacity cases stay in Division R.

Local requirements and forms

Checklists

• ECAD 2018-05 requires the Checklist for Opening Formal Administration with a Petition for Administration, the Checklist for Summary Administration with a Petition for Summary Administration, and the Checklist for Closing Formal Administration with a Petition for Discharge. Each is filed with the clerk at the time of the petition. cdn.sanity.io
• The first circuit's probate page lists the Escambia opening, summary and closing checklists as probate forms. firstjudicialcircuit.org

Assignment

• Probate and guardianship cases are in Divisions T and U. Baker Act, Marchman Act and incapacity cases stay in Division R (AO 2017-44). cdn.sanity.io
• If Judge Boles is unavailable because of a recusal or disqualification, the case goes to Division E-Civil, then at random to one of the remaining civil divisions (ECAD 2021-06). cdn.sanity.io

Wills

• The custodian of a will must deposit it with the clerk within ten days after receiving information that the person is deceased, and an attorney is not necessary to deposit a will. escambiaclerk.com

Small estates

• A disposition of personal property without administration releases assets to the person who paid the final expenses, such as funeral bills or medical bills for the last 60 days, and cannot include real property. escambiaclerk.com

Guardianship

• All guardianship matters in Florida require an attorney (Florida Probate Rule 5.030, cited by the clerk). A guardianship is also filed for a minor who has inherited money or property of more than $15,000. escambiaclerk.com

Forms and checklists

• Clerk probate page: Disposition of Personal Property instructions, petition and consent and waiver forms, Escambia County Clerk
• First Judicial Circuit probate page: Escambia checklists for opening formal administration, summary administration and closing formal administration, First Judicial Circuit

Property and homestead

• March 1 is the exemption filing deadline for the tax year, and the widow or widower exemption is listed under F.S. 196.202 in the Property Appraiser's brochure. escpa.org
• The Property Appraiser's main office is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. escpa.org

Death certificates

• Death certificates cover deaths in Florida from 2009 to the present, and a copy of a valid ID goes with every request. escambia.floridahealth.gov
• The Fairfield Service Center is at 1295 W. Fairfield Drive, Pensacola, FL 32501, phone 850-595-6500. escambia.floridahealth.gov
• The Northside Service Center is at 8390 North Palafox St., Pensacola, FL 32534, phone 850-484-5121. escambia.floridahealth.gov
• VitalChek is the only vendor the Department of Health authorizes for online orders. escambia.floridahealth.gov

Records and help

• Section 732.901 requires the custodian of a will to deposit it with the clerk within 10 days after learning of the death, and the clerk to keep the original for at least 20 years. flsenate.gov
• The clerk's FAQ prints $75,000 as the summary administration limit; § 735.201(2), as amended by chapter 2026-57, reads $150,000. flsenate.gov
• Chapter 2026-57, Laws of Florida, took effect July 1, 2026. laws.flrules.org

Sources

Last checked: October 16, 2026. Each source shows the text that supports the facts above.

1. Florida Statutes § 28.2401, probate service charges and filing fees (2026), checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Fee for formal administration, guardianship, ancillary, curatorship, or conservatorship proceedings .......... $395
   • Fee for summary administration - estates valued at $1,000 or more .......... $340
   • Fee for summary administration - estates valued at less than $1,000 .......... $230
   • Charge for caveat .......... $40
   • Fee for disposition of personal property without administration .......... $230
   • Fee for guardianship proceedings of person only .......... $230
   • Charge for exemplified certificates .......... $7
   • An additional service charge of $4 on petitions seeking summary administration, formal administration, ancillary administration, guardianship, curatorship, and conservatorship shall be paid to the clerk.
2. Florida Statutes § 28.241, filing fees for trial and appellate proceedings (2026), checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Reopen fees are due at the time a party files a pleading to reopen a proceeding if at least 90 days have elapsed since the filing of a final order or final judgment with the clerk.
3. Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal serves as a single, statewide access point connecting thousands of users to Florida's court system.
4. Florida Statutes § 26.021, judicial circuits (2026), checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • (1) The first circuit is composed of Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton Counties.
   • (2) The second circuit is composed of Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, and Wakulla Counties.
5. Florida Statutes § 735.201, summary administration (2026), checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • does not exceed $150,000 or that the decedent has been dead for more than 2 years
   • s. 7, ch. 2026-57
6. Chapter 2026-57, Laws of Florida, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Section 7. Subsection (2) of section 735.201, Florida Statutes, is amended
   • Section 14. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
7. Florida Statutes § 732.901, production of wills (2026), checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • The custodian of a will must deposit the will with the clerk of the court having venue of the estate of the decedent within 10 days after receiving information that the testator is dead.
   • the clerk shall retain and preserve the original will in its original form for at least 20 years
8. First Judicial Circuit of Florida, home page, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • First Judicial Circuit of Florida

   Note: The page body is client-rendered; its data file states that the circuit serves Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton Counties.

9. First Judicial Circuit, Administrative Orders by title (PDF, August 14, 2026), checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • FIRST JUDICIAL CIRCUIT ADMINISTRATIVE ORDERS
   • By Title
   • @ August 14, 2026
10. First Judicial Circuit, Probate page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Probate
    • First Judicial Circuit of Florida

    Note: The page body is client-rendered, so the source checker reads only its title. The page lists the Escambia opening, summary and closing checklists and the Okaloosa checklists and filing instructions; its text was read in a browser and from the site's page-data file on October 16, 2026.

11. Escambia County Administrative Directive ECAD2024-03, Circuit and County Court Division Assignments (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE ECAD2024-03
    • IN RE: CIRCUIT AND COUNTY COURT DIVISION ASSIGNMENTS
    • Effective January 1, 2025, the following Circuit Judges shall be assigned to preside in the following divisions in Escambia County.
    • E. Probate and Mental Health Divisions:
    • W. Joel Boles shall be assigned to preside in Division "R," Division "U," and Division "T."
    • DONE AND ORDERED in chambers this 4th day of April, 2024, at Pensacola, Florida.
12. Escambia County Administrative Directive 2021-06, Probate/Guardianship Recusal Process (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE NO. 2021-06
    • PROBATE/GUARDIANSHIP RECUSAL PROCESS
    • 3) Probate and Guardianship Conflicts: Effective January 3, 2022, Division U and T
    • will be probate divisions in which Judge W. Joel Boles is presiding.
    • recusal or disqualification, the case shall be assigned to Division E-Civil.
    • Should a conflict also arise in Division E-Civil, the case will be randomly reassigned to one of
    • the remaining civil divisions.
    • December, 2021.
13. First Circuit Administrative Order 2017-44, Creation of Probate/Guardianship Division T, Escambia County (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2017-44
    • IN RE: PROBATE
    • GUARDIANSHIP
    • A probate and guardianship division is created in and for Escambia County, Florida
    • Effective January 16, 2018, newly filed qualifying probate and guardianship cases
    • Baker Act, Marchman Act, and incapacity cases are not affected by this assignment
    • DONE AND ORDERED in Escambia County, Florida this 17th day of October, 2017.
14. First Circuit Administrative Order 2018-12, Creation of Probate/Guardianship Division U, Escambia County (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2018-12
    • CREATION OF PROBATE/GUARDIANSHIP DIVISION U - ESCAMBIA COUNTY - JUNE 1, 2018

    Note: Scanned image with no text layer, so the source checker cannot read it; the order was read on the rendered page. It creates an additional probate and guardianship division, Division U, assigns Judge W. Joel Boles to it effective June 1, 2018, moves pending cases by decedent or ward last name A through K from Division T to Division U (L through Z stay in T), and assigns newly filed qualifying cases to Divisions T and U in alternating order.

15. Escambia County Administrative Directive ECAD2018-05, Mandatory Checklists, Probate Divisions (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • ESCAMBIA COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE ECAD2018-05
    • MANDATORY CHECKLISTS - PROBATE DIVISIONS

    Note: Scanned image with no text layer, so the source checker cannot read it; the directive was read on the rendered page. It orders that the Checklist for Opening Formal Administration is filed with a Petition for Administration, the Checklist for Summary Administration with a Petition for Summary Administration, and the Checklist for Closing Formal Administration with a Petition for Discharge, each filed with the Clerk of Court at the time of the petition. Signed May 23, 2018 by Administrative Judge John L. Miller; effective June 1, 2018.

16. Escambia County Clerk, Probate page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Probate is the legal process through which a deceased person's assets are distributed to the heirs or beneficiaries
    • Wills (not filed until the death of the party)
    • Disposition of Personal Property
    • 190 W Government Street Pensacola, FL 32502
    • P.O. Box 333
    • Pensacola, FL 32591-0333
    • Phone: 850-595-4300
    • Monday - Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
    • Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

    Note: escambiaclerk.com answers scripted requests with a bot wall (HTTP 403), so this page was read in a browser on October 16, 2026 and the source checker cannot re-read it.

17. Escambia County Clerk, FAQ: types of probate proceedings, wills, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • the custodian of the will must deposit the will with the Clerk of the Circuit Court, within ten days after receiving information that the person is deceased.
    • An attorney is not necessary to deposit the will with the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
    • Summary administration may be filed when the value of the entire estate does not exceed $75,000.
    • The disposition is filed to request release of assets of the deceased to the person who paid the final expenses
    • This cannot include real property.

    Note: escambiaclerk.com answers scripted requests with a bot wall (HTTP 403), so this page was read in a browser on October 16, 2026 and the source checker cannot re-read it. The page prints $75,000 as the summary administration limit; § 735.201(2), as amended by chapter 2026-57 effective July 1, 2026, reads $150,000.

18. Escambia County Clerk, Guardianship page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • all Guardianship matters in the State of Florida require an attorney (Florida Probate Rule 5.030)
    • Guardianships are also filed for minors when the minor child has inherited money or property in excess of $15,000 from a deceased person

    Note: escambiaclerk.com answers scripted requests with a bot wall (HTTP 403), so this page was read in a browser on October 16, 2026 and the source checker cannot re-read it.

19. Escambia County Clerk, Fee Schedule (PDF, effective January 1, 2023), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Effective January 1, 2023
    • Probate (850) 595-4300
    • Opening of Estate
    • Caveat/Notice of Trust
    • Admit Foreign Wills
    • Disposition of Personal Property without Administration
    • Guardianship Person Only
    • Guardianship of Property
    • Petition to Determine Incapacity
    • Summary Administration less than $1,000
    • Summary Administration $1,000 or more
    • Formal Administration
    • Trust Proceedings
    • CIRCUIT COURT
    • Reopen fee
    • 231.00
    • 41.00
    • 235.00
    • 345.00
    • 400.00
    • 50.00

    Note: escambiaclerk.com answers scripted requests with a bot wall (HTTP 403), so the source checker cannot re-read it. The link redirects to https://escambiaclerk.com/DocumentCenter/View/91/Fee-Schedule-PDF (PDF, 4 pages). On October 16, 2026 the PDF text was read in a browser without saving the file and every amount below matched; the schedule's heading reads "Effective January 1, 2023". Amounts under the Probate heading, (850) 595-4300: opening of estate 231.00; caveat or notice of trust 41.00; admit foreign wills 231.00; disposition of personal property without administration 231.00; guardianship of the person only 235.00; guardianship of property 400.00; V.A. guardianship of the person only 235.00; petition to determine incapacity 231.00; summary administration under $1,000 235.00 and $1,000 or more 345.00; formal administration 400.00; trust proceedings 400.00; accounting audit fees 20.00, 85.00, 170.00 and 250.00 by estate size; inventory for estates over $25,000 85.00. The reopen fee 50.00 is listed under the Circuit Court heading, not under Probate.

20. Escambia County Property Appraiser, office locations, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Main Office 221 Palafox Place, Suite 300 Pensacola, FL 32502-5836 Phone: (850)434-2735
    • Hours: Mon - Fri 8:00AM to 5:00PM
    • Molino Branch 6440 Highway 95A North, Suite B Molino, FL 32577-9308
21. Escambia County Property Appraiser, homestead brochure (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Exemption filing deadline for tax year
    • Widow/Widower Exemption [F.S. 196.202]
    • Homestead Exemption [F.S. 196.031]
22. Escambia County Property Appraiser, home page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • What you need to know about Homestead Exemption
23. Florida Department of Health in Escambia County, Death Certificates, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Death certificates are available for deaths occurring in the state of Florida from 2009 to present.
    • All requests must include a legible copy of a valid driver’s license, passport, state-issued ID, or military identification card. You must be a family member or legal representative when requesting cause of death.
    • Fairfield Service Center – Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    • Northside Service Center – Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    • Death certificate – $12
    • Order death certificates online through VitalChek® , the only vendor authorized by the Florida Department of Health.
24. Florida Department of Health in Escambia County, Fairfield Service Center, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Physical Address: 1295 W. Fairfield Drive, Pensacola, FL 32501 Phone: 850-595-6500
25. Florida Department of Health in Escambia County, Northside Service Center, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Physical Address: 8390 North Palafox St., Pensacola, FL 32534 Phone: 850-484-5121