Gulf County probate help.

Clerk and filing

E-filing and records search

• The clerk's e-Filing page describes the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal as the statewide access point and says an account is needed to use it. gulfclerk.com
• Online court records need a signed Gulf County registration agreement to view. gulfclerk.com

Probate filing fees posted by the clerk

Source: Gulf County Clerk of Circuit Court and County Comptroller fee schedule, checked October 16, 2026. Gulf County's Fees & Costs page links a statewide 2025 Distribution Schedule and lists no probate filing amounts; the rows above show the § 28.2401 maximum for each filing. Call the clerk at (850) 229-6112 for the amount due.

Judges and divisions

14th Judicial Circuit. Serves Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties (§ 26.021(14), Fla. Stat.).

Courthouses that hear probate

• Gulf County Courthouse, 1000 Cecil G. Costin Sr. Blvd., Port St. Joe, FL 32456; (850) 229-6112; Doors open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern time jud14.flcourts.org probate assignment

• The circuit's general magistrates hear family law, civil, foreclosure, mental health, dependency, early childhood court and truancy matters; the page lists Shannon Lord for Bay, Gulf, Holmes and Washington and Erin Baur for Bay, Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson and Washington. Probate is not in that list. jud14.flcourts.org

Administrative orders

Orders of the 14th Judicial Circuit that apply to probate and guardianship cases in Gulf County. Circuit order index.

• AO 2026-00-03, Judge Assignment Plan, July 1, 2026 to January 1, 2029. Date: June 2026; in effect July 1, 2026 through January 1, 2029. Assigns each circuit judge to counties and divisions, including Bay County Probate, Guardianship and Mental Health and Jackson County Probate and Guardianship; rescinds AO 2025-00-13.
• AO 2023-00-11, Guardianship Annual Reporting Time Periods. Date: November 16, 2023. Rescinds AO 2011-00-07 so that judges may require guardianship reports and plans to be filed as § 744.367 provides.
• AO 2019-00-04, Incapacity Examining Committee and Attorneys for Incapacity and Guardianship Cases. Date: Effective June 21, 2019. Governs appointment of incapacity examining committee members and of attorneys for allegedly incapacitated persons under § 744.331; rescinds AO 2011-00-05.

Local requirements and forms

Checklists

• The circuit's Probate Division checklist for opening a formal administration asks for the certified death certificate, the original will (or an authenticated copy for ancillary), the oath and designation of registered agent, and states that proposed orders are e-filed through the E-Portal. jud14.flcourts.org
• The circuit's summary administration checklist (revised 7/2026) asks whether nonexempt assets are under $150,000 or the decedent has been dead two years or more, whether notice went to the Agency for Health Care Administration for a decedent age 55 or older, whether an Affidavit of Heirs was filed in an intestate case, and whether a petition to determine homestead was filed. jud14.flcourts.org
• The circuit's homestead checklist cites Rule 5.405 and says all four homestead criteria must be met for the property to be the decedent's homestead. jud14.flcourts.org
• The circuit's closing checklist asks for a petition for discharge under Rule 5.400 and whether the Department of Unclaimed Property was checked. jud14.flcourts.org

Small intestate estates

• The circuit's instruction sheet for disposition of personal property in a small intestate estate lists a decedent dead more than one year and funds not over $20,000 plus the preferred funeral and last-60-days medical expenses paid by the petitioner, with the death certificate, an Affidavit of Heirs and the funeral home receipt. § 735.304(1) states the same $20,000 and one-year terms. jud14.flcourts.org

Proposed orders

• The Chief Judge's memo (December 15, 2020) says proposed orders go with a PDF cover letter, in Word format, with signature codes in capital letters used in pairs (for example JJJJ with DDDD for the judge's signature and date, CCCC for the service list). jud14.flcourts.org
• The circuit's attorney instructions for proposed orders say to use the codes in pairs and not to use page breaks or section breaks in the document. jud14.flcourts.org

Filing and wills

• The clerk's office cannot give legal or procedural advice; the clerk's page directs heirs to an attorney when a decedent solely owned real property. gulfclerk.com
• The custodian of a will deposits the original with the clerk within 10 days after learning of the death. The clerk charges nothing to deposit a will and also requires a death certificate filed with the original will. gulfclerk.com
• Certified copies of a will cost $1.00 per page plus $2.00 for certification. gulfclerk.com

Disposition without administration

• The packet for Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration (small estate): the original will if one exists, a death certificate, the funeral home statement showing who paid the bill, signed and notarized consents from all heirs, and the bank statements, stock certificates, insurance checks or policy value forms for the assets. The form is not used when real property is involved. The filing fee is due when the petition is filed, and a certified copy of the Order for Payment of Funds carries its own charge. gulfclerk.com

Guardianship

• The clerk's guardianship division audits and monitors active guardianship files, charges an audit fee for verified inventories and annual accountings of the guardian of the property, and requires a guardian of the property when a minor receives a settlement greater than $15,000. gulfclerk.com

Forms and checklists

• Checklist for Opening Formal Administration Estate (rvd 4/2019), Fourteenth Judicial Circuit
• Checklist for Summary Administration Estate (rvd 7/2026), Fourteenth Judicial Circuit
• Checklist for Petition to Determine Homestead (1/2016), Fourteenth Judicial Circuit
• Checklist for Closing Formal Administration Estate (rvd 1/2024), Fourteenth Judicial Circuit
• Instructions: Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration of Intestate Property in Small Estates, Fourteenth Judicial Circuit
• Probate and guardianship forms (circuit forms page), Fourteenth Judicial Circuit

Property and homestead

• The Department of Revenue states that a homestead exemption can decrease taxable value by as much as $50,000, that applications go to the property appraiser in the county where the property is located, and that the property appraiser determines whether a parcel is entitled to an exemption. floridarevenue.com

Death certificates

• The county page says the Gulf County Vital Statistics Office sells certified death certificates for deaths in Gulf County from 1962 to the present; immediate family, attorneys for immediate family, and banks, executors, insurers or others needing one to pay a benefit may obtain them, and a photo ID copy is required when the cause of death is listed. gulf.floridahealth.gov

Records and help

• The clerk's Contact page prints Room 148 in its mail and in-person lines and Room 149 in its courthouse address block; the probate, estates and wills, guardianship, fees and costs, e-filing and record search pages print Room 149. gulfclerk.com
• The clerk's Probate Department keeps records of estates, trusts, guardianships, Baker Act and Marchman Act cases. gulfclerk.com

Sources

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

1. Florida Statutes § 26.021, judicial circuits (2026), checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • (14) The fourteenth circuit is composed of Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, and Washington Counties.
2. Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, home page, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Welcome to Floridas Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, which includes the six counties of Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, and Washington counties.
3. Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, Administrative Orders, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Administrative Court Orders
   • 2026-00-03
   • RE: JUDGE ASSIGNMENT PLAN
   • (Rescinding AO# 2025-00-06)
4. 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.
5. Florida Department of Revenue, Property Tax Exemptions and Additional Benefits, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Submit all applications and documentation to the property appraiser in the county where the property is located.
   • The property appraiser determines if a parcel is entitled to an exemption.
   • the property owner may be eligible to receive a homestead exemption that would decrease the property’s taxable value by as much as $50,000.
6. Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, Checklist for Opening Formal Administration Estate, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • PROBATE DIVISION
   • CHECKLIST FOR OPENING FORMAL ADMINISTRATION ESTATE rvd 4/2019
   • 1. Certified Death Certificate Filed?
   • Original Will filed? (or authenicated copy for ancillary)- Rule 5.200
   • Oath and designation of registered agent filed?
   • Proposed Orders to be entered by the Judge efiled through the Eportal
7. Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, Checklist for Summary Administration Estate, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • CHECKLIST FOR SUMMARY ADMINISTRATION ESTATE rvd 7/2026
   • Non Exempt Assets less than $150,000
   • Notice given to Agency for Health Care Administration age 55+ F.S. 733.2121?
   • An Affidavit of Heirs has been filed if intestate case?
   • Verified Petition to Determine Homestead filed?
8. Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, Checklist for Petition to Determine Homestead, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • CHECKLIST for Petition To Determine Homestead - 1/2016
   • Verified Petition to Determine Homestead complying with R. 5.405 filed?
   • For the property to be the homestead of the decedent all four criteria must be met.
9. Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, Checklist for Closing Formal Administration Estate, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • CHECKLIST FOR CLOSING FORMAL ADMINISTRATION ESTATE rvd 1/2024
   • Petition for Discharge complying with R.5.400 filed?
   • Checked with the Department of Unclaimed Property?
10. Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, Instructions for Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration of Intestate Property in Small Estates, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration of Intestate Property
    • in Small Estates
    • Decedent has been deceased more than one year
    • The value of the funds to be distributed does not exceed $20,000
    • Certified copy of the Death Certificate
    • Affidavit of Heirs (form on the court's website).
    • Copy of receipt from funeral home showing who paid
11. Florida Statutes § 735.304, disposition of intestate property in small estates (2026), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • the value of which does not exceed the sum of $20,000 and the amount of preferred funeral expenses and reasonable and necessary medical and hospital expenses of the last 60 days of the last illness
    • provided the decedent has been deceased for more than 1 year and no administration of the decedent’s estate is pending in this state
12. Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, Forms page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Probate Court:
    • Disposition of Personal Property without Administration of Intestate Property in Small Estates
    • Summary Administration Probate:
    • Guardianship:
    • Checklist for Opening Formal Administration
    • Checklist for Closing Formal Administration
    • Checklist for Summary Administration
    • Checklist for Petition to Determine Homestead
    • Affidavit of Heirs
13. Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, memo on submitting proposed orders (December 15, 2020), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Christopher N. Patterson
    • December 15, 2020
    • RE: Submission of Proposed Order to Judiciary
    • DDDD = Judge Signature Date/ JJJJ = Judge Signature
    • The codes must be all capital letters.

    Note: The memo is dated December 15, 2020 and is the memo the circuit's E-Filing Proposed Orders page links.

14. Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, E-Filing Proposed Orders page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • E-Filing Proposed Orders
    • Attorney Instructions for Successful Submissions of Proposed Orders to Judiciary
15. Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, Attorney Instructions for Submitting Proposed Orders, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Attorney Instructions for Successful Submissions of Proposed Orders to Judiciary
    • You must use the codes as pairs
    • Do not use page breaks or section breaks in your document.
16. Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, Administrative Order 2023-00-11, Guardianship Annual Reporting Time Periods, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER # 2023-00-11
    • RE: GUARDIANSHIP ANNUAL REPORTING TIME PERIODS
    • is rescinded to allow judges the discretion to require guardianship reports and plans filing as provided by Florida Statutes.

    Note: Image-only PDF (no text layer). The wording quoted here was read from the page images, so a text search of the file finds nothing.

17. Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, Administrative Order 2019-00-04, Incapacity Examining Committee and Attorneys, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER #2019-00-04
    • Rescinding 2011-00-05
    • Effective June 21, 2019
    • RE: INCAPACITY EXAMINING COMMITTEE AND ATTORNEYS FOR INCAPACITY & GUARDIANSHIP CASES
    • Florida Statutes 744.331(3)(a) requires the court to appoint an examining committee

    Note: Image-only PDF (no text layer). The wording quoted here was read from the page images, so a text search of the file finds nothing.

18. Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, Magistrates and Hearing Officers, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • The General Magistrate is an attorney appointed by the Chief Circuit Judge to hear certain types of cases, which include family law, civil, foreclosure, mental health, dependency, early childhood court, and truancy
    • Shannon Lord
    • Bay, Gulf, Holmes, Washington
    • Erin Baur
    • Bay, Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson, Washington
19. Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, Administrative Order 2026-00-03, Judge Assignment Plan (July 1, 2026 to January 1, 2029), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER #2026-00-03
    • RE: JUDGE ASSIGNMENT PLAN JULY 1, 2026 - JANUARY 1, 2029
    • Gulf County Circuit Proceedings (100% of identified cases)
    • Gulf County Jimmy Ryce Cases
    • Judge Jarred Patterson

    Note: Image-only PDF (no text layer). The wording quoted here was read from the page images, so a text search of the file finds nothing. Attachment #1 (Circuit Judge Assignment Plan) pairs each judge with the assignments in the same table row.

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

    • The Probate Department maintains court records of the estates of deceased persons, trusts, appointments of guardians of minors, incapacitated persons and adults who voluntarily request the appointment of a guardian of their property.
    • Records are kept pertaining to mental health cases consisting of involuntary examinations and placements under the Baker Act, substance abuse cases pursuant to the Marchman Act
    • Gulf County Courthouse 1000 Cecil G. Costin, Sr. Blvd., Room 149 Port St. Joe, FL 32456
21. Gulf County Clerk, Estates & Wills page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • The term “probate” generally refers to the process by which a decedent’s assets, or estate, are administered.
    • cannot give legal or procedural advice
    • This form may not be used when real property is involved.
    • Original Last Will of the decedent, if one exists
    • Death Certificate
    • Copy of the statement from the funeral home showing by whom the bill was paid
    • Signed and notarized consents from all heirs, if any
    • Copy of the bank statement, stock certificates, insurance checks, policy value information forms, or any related information regarding the assets that you are attempting to transfer with this procedure.
    • please come to the Probate Division for assistance
    • The filing fee is due at the time the petition is filed.
    • There is also a charge for a certified copy of the Order for Payment of Funds
    • within 10 days after receiving information that the testator (a person who dies leaving a will) is dead
    • also requires that a death certificate be filed with the original Will
    • there is no charge or filing fee to deposit a Will with
    • certified copies of the Will at the rate of $1.00 per page, plus a $2.00 charge for certification
22. Gulf County Clerk, Guardianship page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • A function of the Guardianship division of the Gulf County Clerk’s Office is to audit and monitor the guardianship files active in Gulf County.
    • The Clerk’s office may not give legal advice or guidance in completing the various guardianship forms and reports that are required.
    • As some guardianships require the filing of a Verified Inventory of Guardian of the Property or an Annual Accounting of the Guardian of the Property
    • charges an audit fee for these reports.
    • if a minor has received a settlement greater than $15,000, a guardian of his or her property must be appointed.
23. Gulf County Clerk, Contact page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Port St. Joe Office: (850) 229-6112 or (850) 639-5068 : Mon-Fri 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST
    • 2306 – County Civil/Small Claims/Probate/Code Enforcement
    • Wewahitchka Office: (850) 639-2175 Fridays Only: 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM CST
    • Gulf County Clerk of Courts 1000 Cecil G. Costin, Sr. Blvd. Rm. 148 Port St. Joe, FL. 32456
    • Gulf County Courthouse 1000 Cecil G. Costin, Sr. Blvd., Room 148
    • Clerks Annex Office 153 N 3rd Street Wewahitchka, FL 32465
    • Friday Only 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM CST
    • Gulf County Courthouse 1000 Cecil G. Costin, Sr. Blvd., Room 149 Port St. Joe, FL 32456 Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST

    Note: The contact page body prints Room 148 in the mail and in-person lines. The page footer address block prints Room 149 for the Gulf County Courthouse, and the clerk's probate, estates and wills, guardianship, fees and costs, e-filing and record search pages print Room 149.

24. Gulf County Clerk, Fees & Costs page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Fees & Costs
    • 2025 Distribution Schedule
25. Gulf County Clerk, e-Filing and e-Recording page, 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.
    • To use the E-Filing Portal, you will need to register for an account.
26. Gulf County Clerk, Records Search page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Court records include documents, information, and exhibits that the court maintains concerning a case.
    • Click link below for Gulf County’s Registration Agreement To View Online Records:
27. Florida Department of Health in Gulf County, Death Certificates, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • The Gulf County Vital Statistics Office sells certified death certificates of persons who have died in Gulf County from 1962 to present day.
    • For other issuance conditions, contact DOH-Gulf at 850-227-1276 .
    • Copy of valid photo ID (front and back) is required for all requests for certificates with cause of death listed
    • Open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., except holidays
    • Vital Statistics is open the first and third Friday of each month, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., except holidays
    • Gulf County death certificates: $10 per copy
    • Immediate family members
    • Attorney(s) representing immediate family members
28. Florida Department of Health in Gulf County, Port St. Joe Clinic, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Physical Address: 2475 Garrison Ave., Port Saint Joe, FL 32456
    • Phone: 850-227-1276
29. Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, Gulf County Courthouse, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • 1000 Cecil G. Costin Sr. Blvd, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456
30. Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, Calendars and Schedules, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Bay County Courthouse: Doors are open from 8:00AM - 4:30PM
    • Calhoun County Courthouse: Doors are open from 8:00AM - 4:00PM
    • Gulf County Courthouse: Doors are open from 8:00AM - 4:30PM EASTERN STANDARD TIME
    • Holmes County Courthouse: Doors are open from 8:00AM - 4:00PM
    • Jackson County Courthouse: Doors are open from 8:00AM - 4:30PM
    • Washington County Courthouse: Doors are open from 8:00AM - 4:00PM
31. Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, Clerks of the Court, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • James "Matt" Terry
    • 1000 Cecil G. Costin, Sr. Blvd. Port St. Joe, Florida 32456
    • phone: 850-229-6112
    • fax: 850-229-1990
32. Florida Statutes § 28.2401, probate service charges and filing fees (2026), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Fee for the opening of any estate of one document or more
    • Charge for caveat .......... $40
    • Fee for petition and order to admit foreign wills, authenticated copies, exemplified copies, or transcript to record .......... $230
    • Fee for disposition of personal property without administration .......... $230
    • estates valued at $1,000 or more .......... $340
    • estates valued at less than $1,000 .......... $230
    • Fee for formal administration, guardianship, ancillary, curatorship, or conservatorship proceedings .......... $395
    • Fee for guardianship proceedings of person only .......... $230
    • Fee for veterans’ guardianship pursuant to chapter 744 .......... $230
    • Charge for exemplified certificates .......... $7
    • Fee for petition for determination of incompetency .......... $230
    • 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.
33. Florida Department of Revenue, Property Tax Local Officials, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Property appraisers establish the value of your property each year as of January 1.
    • Use the drop-down menu to visit your county property appraiser's website.