Not taking new clients until late October 2026Mon–Fri 8a–6p67 FL countiesFlat fees, published
★★★★★Florida Bar member · 9 years
← Florida service area
Panhandle · Circuit 2

Franklin County probate help.

We serve Franklin County (including Apalachicola, Carrabelle, Eastpoint, and surrounding areas) under the 2nd Judicial Circuit, with the county seat in Apalachicola. Probate, estate planning, and trust administration — all on flat fees, all remote-friendly.

Franklin County is the Forgotten Coast — about 12,000 residents, anchored by Apalachicola and the surrounding oyster/seafood economy. 2nd Judicial Circuit.
— A probate attorney near you

Looking for a probate or estate planning attorney near you in Franklin County?

We serve all of Franklin County — Apalachicola, Carrabelle, Eastpoint, St. George Island, and the surrounding communities — with flat-fee probate, estate planning, wills, and trusts. Most of it happens by phone, email, and e-signature, so “near me” really means wherever you are in Franklin County.New-client intake is closed until late October 2026; the Franklin County filing details on this page stay free to use.

— At a glance

Where you'll go. What you'll need.

The courthouse
Franklin County Clerk of Court
Address33 Market St, Suite 203, Apalachicola, FL 32320Phone(850) 653-8861HoursMonday–Friday, 8:00am – 4:30pm

Probate at the Apalachicola courthouse. Some hearings travel to Tallahassee. E-filing via myflcourtaccess.com.

Death certificates
FL Department of Health in Franklin · Vital Statistics
Address139 12th St, Apalachicola, FL 32320Phone(850) 653-2111HoursMonday–Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm
Cost · Local DOH fees vary — call ahead. Order 8–12 certified copies for an estate.

Order 8–12 certified copies — banks, title companies, the IRS, and the court each need their own. Ordering more upfront saves trips back later.

— Local notes

Probate in Franklin County, as we see it.

Franklin is the oyster coast. Probate filings go to the Franklin County Clerk in Apalachicola under the 2nd Judicial Circuit (judges sit primarily in Tallahassee/Leon, requiring some hearings to travel).

Estates frequently include oyster leases, seafood-business interests, and working waterfront — a unique probate asset class. St. George Island and Alligator Point coastal lots are high-value beach properties; valuation and insurance issues are routine.

The 2012 oyster fishery collapse and ongoing Apalachicola Bay water litigation still affect valuation of bay-related assets in some estates. We work each case carefully.

— What's different about probate here

Local quirks worth knowing.

  • 2nd Judicial Circuit. Shared with Leon, Gadsden, Jefferson, Liberty, Wakulla.
  • Oyster leases and seafood-business interests. Unique probate asset class — working waterfront in many inventories.
  • St. George Island / Alligator Point coastal lots. High-value beach properties with insurance and valuation complexity.
  • 2012 oyster fishery collapse and water litigation. Still affects valuation of bay-related assets.
  • Travel for hearings. Some matters heard in Tallahassee since circuit judges primarily sit in Leon.
— Cities & neighborhoods

Local where you live — Franklin County, top to bottom.

Apalachicola
Historic port and county seat; famous for oysters and Gulf seafood.
Eastpoint
Fishing community across the bay; home to many oyster harvesters.
Carrabelle
Small Gulf town near Tate's Hell State Forest with a working waterfront.
St. George Island
Barrier-island community of beach homes and second residences.
Alligator Point
Narrow peninsula community with high-value coastal property.
— Other helpful local contacts

Save these to your phone.

Franklin County Property Appraiser
Address33 Market St, Suite 101, Apalachicola, FL 32320Phone(850) 653-9236

Homestead, coastal valuations, oyster-lease interests

Franklin County Tax Collector
Address33 Market St, Suite 202, Apalachicola, FL 32320Phone(850) 653-9323

Vehicle title transfers, property tax

Florida Unclaimed Property

Search forgotten accounts in the deceased's name

Weems Memorial Hospital — Records
Address135 Avenue G, Apalachicola, FL 32320Phone(850) 653-8853

Apalachicola's hospital — records release for estate claims

— Take this with you

One-tap kit for Franklin County probate.

Save Franklin probate contacts to your phone (.vcf)
.vcf

Adds the firm + courthouse + vital records + property appraiser + tax collector to your phone contacts in one tap.

Download
Franklin probate quick-reference (PDF kit)
Coming soon

Single-page printable cheatsheet — courthouse address, hours, where to get death certificates, our contact, top 5 first-call resources.

Notify me when ready
Intake paused · reopens late October 2026

You're going to get through this.

Rachel is not accepting new clients until late October 2026. Every guide, calculator, county page, and statute page here stays free. Leave your details and we'll call when intake reopens — or, if your matter can't wait, The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service refers you to another Florida attorney taking cases now.

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