Lafayette County probate help.

Clerk and filing

E-filing and records search

• The clerk's home page links the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal as E-File (File Court Documents Online). lafayetteclerk.com
• The clerk's TurboCourt page offers an online filing platform for court documents. lafayetteclerk.com
• The general public, parties to a case and Florida attorneys request secure online access to court records by completing a Lafayette County Access Agreement. lafayetteclerk.com

Probate filing fees posted by the clerk

Source: Lafayette County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller fee schedule, checked October 16, 2026. Lafayette County's clerk site lists no probate filing fees; the rows above show the § 28.2401 maximum for each filing. Call the clerk at (386) 294-1600 for the amount due.

Judges and divisions

3rd Judicial Circuit. Serves Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee and Taylor counties (§ 26.021(3), Fla. Stat.).

Courthouses that hear probate

• Lafayette County Courthouse, 120 West Main Street, Mayo, FL 32066; (386) 294-1600; Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. lafayetteclerk.com probate assignment

• Judge Jackson's office: P.O. Box 197, 120 W Main Street, Mayo, FL 32066; phone 386-294-1555. thirdcircuitfl.org

Administrative orders

Orders of the 3rd Judicial Circuit that apply to probate and guardianship cases in Lafayette County. Circuit order index.

• GAO 2026-020, General Assignment of Judges, July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026. Date: July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026 (signed June 2026). Assigns each Third Circuit judge to divisions by county, including Probate and Guardianship in each county, with the recusal order for each assignment.
• AO 2024-001, Appointment of General Magistrate. Date: Signed February 21, 2024; effective March 7, 2024. Appoints Christina Nieto Seifert as General Magistrate for the Third Judicial Circuit; the order lists probate, guardianship, mental health, trusts, substance abuse and adult protective services among the matters and sends emergent matters to the circuit judges.
• AO 2007-010, Sealing of Confidential Non-Criminal Court Files and Records. Date: Procedures effective December 1, 2006. Requires a written Motion to Seal and a noticed hearing before the assigned judge before a non-criminal court record is sealed or made confidential.

Local requirements and forms

Filing

• The clerk's Probate & Guardianship Department handles estates, wills, guardians for minors and incapacitated persons; all clerk departments answer at (386) 294-1600. lafayetteclerk.com
• The clerk's Mental Health Department handles Baker Act and Marchman Act filings. lafayetteclerk.com

Hearings and proposed orders

• The General Magistrate page lists probate and guardianship assignments for Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Suwannee and Taylor counties and does not list Lafayette County; Lafayette probate and guardianship goes to Judge Jackson under GAO 2026-020. thirdcircuitfl.org

Sealed records

• A non-criminal court record is sealed only after a written Motion to Seal and a noticed hearing before the assigned judge (AO 2007-010). thirdcircuitfl.org

Forms and checklists

• Clerk TurboCourt online filing and DIY forms page, Lafayette County Clerk

Property and homestead

• The homestead exemption requires that the owner was living in the dwelling on January 1 and made it a permanent home; the appraiser's page lists a $5000 widow's exemption under § 196.202 for a widow who is a permanent Florida resident. lafayette.floridapa.com
• The Property Appraiser's office is at 120 West Main Street, Mayo, open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday except holidays. lafayette.floridapa.com

Death certificates

• Death certificates are ordered through VitalChek, the only vendor the Department of Health authorizes online; the county page lists years available from 2007 to the present and a picture ID requirement, with earlier years from the State Office of Vital Statistics. lafayette.floridahealth.gov
• A death certificate that shows the cause of death goes to an immediate family member of legal age or a legal representative of the family member or the estate, with legal documentation. lafayette.floridahealth.gov

Records and help

• Recording a document costs $10.00 for the first page and $8.50 for each additional page. lafayetteclerk.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

   • (3) The third circuit is composed of Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, and Taylor Counties.
2. Third Judicial Circuit, home page, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • The Third Judicial Circuit is one of twenty trial court circuits in the State of Florida.
   • Its main administrative offices are in Lake City.
3. Third Judicial Circuit, Administrative Orders index, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • GAO 2026-020
   • General Assignment Of Judges No. 2026- 020 July 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026
   • AO 2024-001-APPOINTMENT OF GENERAL MAGISTRATE
   • SEALING OF CONFIDENTIAL NON-CRIMINAL COURT FILES AND RECORDS
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. Lafayette County Clerk, Court Services page, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • All departments within the Clerk’s office can be reached at (386) 294-1600
   • Probate & Guardianship Department – Inquire here for information about estates, wills, guardians for minors, and incapacitated persons.
   • Mental Health Department – Inquire here about the Baker Act (mental) or Marchman Act (alcohol or drugs).
   • Courthouse Address 120 West Main Street Mayo, Florida 32066
   • Office Hours Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST
6. Lafayette County Clerk, Contact page, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • In Person: 120 West Main Street Mayo, Florida 32066
   • PO Box 88 Mayo, Florida 32066
   • Phone: (386) 294-1600
   • Office Hours Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST
7. Lafayette County Clerk, home page, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Records Search Court & Official
   • E-File File Court Documents Online
8. Lafayette County Clerk, Records Search page, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • The General Public, Parties to a Case, and Florida Attorneys may request secure access subscription and access information by completing a Lafayette County Access Agreement
   • Search court records to view case details, filings, and hearing information.
9. Lafayette County Clerk, Fee Calculators page, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • The per-page cost to record a document is $10.00 for the first page and $8.50 for each additional page.
10. Lafayette County Clerk, TurboCourt page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • TurboCourt Interactive Intelligent iFiling provides a quick and easy-to-use online platform for filing and managing court documents
11. Lafayette County Online Court Records Search (OCRS), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Public
    • This option allows for anonymous access to court records.
    • Attorney
    • This option allows for Attorneys of Record to see their cases.
12. Third Judicial Circuit, Lafayette County page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • 120 West Main Street Mayo, FL 32066
    • Judicial Assignments for Lafayette County
13. Third Judicial Circuit, General Assignment of Judges No. 2026-020 (July 1 to December 31, 2026), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • IN RE:General Assignment Of Judges No. 2026- 020 July 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026
    • The judicial assignments for the Third Judicial Circuit are as follows
    • Lafayette County
    • Domestic Relations; Injunctions for Protection; Juvenile Delinquency; Dependency; Marchman and Baker Acts; Risk Protection Orders; DOR; and Probate and Guardianship Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Johnson, then to Judge Douglas
    • Acting Circuit Judge Darren K. Jackson

    Note: The page reproduces the order's text. The signed PDF (a scanned image, https://thirdcircuitfl.org/wp-content/uploads/General-Assignment-of-Judges-No.-2026-020-July-1-2026-December-31-2026-pdf-signed.pdf) pairs each judge with the assignment in a table; the judge named here is the one in the row that carries the quoted assignment.

14. Third Judicial Circuit, Judge Darren K. Jackson, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Judge Darren Jackson
    • Lafayette County Court
    • Guardianships and Probate
    • Mailing Address P.O. Box 197 120 W Main Street Mayo, FL. 32066
    • Phone: 386-294-1555
15. Third Judicial Circuit, General Magistrate page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Christina N. Seifert
    • Judicial Assignments Columbia -Probate and Guardianship -Foreclosures -Pro Se Family Dixie -Probate and Guardianship -Foreclosures -Pro Se Family Hamilton -Probate and Guardianship -Foreclosures -Pro Se Family Madison -Foreclosures -Pro Se Family Suwannee -Probate and Guardianship -Foreclosures -Pro Se Family Taylor -Probate and Guardianship -Foreclosures -Pro Se Family
16. Lafayette County Property Appraiser, home page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Lafayette County Property Appraiser - Wayne McCray, CFA
    • Mayo, Florida
    • 386-294-1991
17. Lafayette County Property Appraiser, Tax & Exemptions, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Homestead Exemption (Section 196.031, F.S.)
    • Every person who has legal or equitable title to real property in the State of Florida and in good faith makes it his or her permanent home is eligible to receive a homestead exemption of up to $50,000.
    • be prepared to provide the following information declaring that you were living in the dwelling which is being claimed for homestead exemption on January 1
    • $5000 Widow's Exemption (Section 196.202, F.S)
    • Any widow who is a permanent Florida resident may claim this exemption.
18. Lafayette County Property Appraiser, Contact Us, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Lafayette County Property Appraiser 120 West Main Street Mayo, FL 32066
    • phone: 386-294-1991
    • hours: 8:00am - 5:00pm (Mon-Fri, except holidays)
19. Florida Department of Health in Lafayette County, Death Certificates, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Order death certificates online through VitalChek® , the only vendor authorized by the Florida Department of Health.
    • Vital Statistics Services are available Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
    • call 386-294-1321, Ext. 6025.
    • Applicants must have a picture ID
    • Years available: 2007 to the present (statewide)
    • Fees: $7.00 each certified copy
    • Physical Address 140 SW Virginia Circle Mayo, FL 32066
    • If cause of death is requested, it must be an immediate family member of legal age or a legal representative representing immediate family member or estate of deceased.

    Note: The page prints $7.00 per certified copy and 2007 as the first year available; the Columbia and Dixie county health department pages print $10 and 2009.

20. 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.
21. Third Judicial Circuit, AO 2007-010, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • IN RE:SEALING OF CONFIDENTIAL NON-CRIMINAL COURT FILES AND RECORDS
    • The moving party files a written motion with the Clerk of Circuit Court entitled “Motion to Seal;”
    • The moving party sets the matter for hearing, pursuant to notice entitled “Notice of Hearing on Motion to Seal,” before the judge assigned to the division in which the case is pending;
22. Third Judicial Circuit, AO 2024-001, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • AO 2024-001-APPOINTMENT OF GENERAL MAGISTRATE
    • many matters to include probate, guardianship, mental health, trusts, substance abuse and adult protective services are brought before the Probate, Guardianship and Trust Division of this court
    • Christina Nieto Seifert is hereby appointed as General Magistrate for the Third Judicial Circuit of Florida
    • This order shall be effective as of March 7, 2024.
    • DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Lake City, Columbia County, Florida, this 21st day of February, 2024.
    • emergent matters, styled as such, shall be referred to the Circuit Judges directly by the Clerk of the Circuit Court for review, not to the General Magistrate.