Leon County probate help.

Clerk and filing

E-filing and records search

• The clerk points filers to the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (myflcourtaccess.com) to file in Leon County. leonclerk.com
• E-filing is not required for self-represented (pro se) litigants. leonclerk.com
• Documents to be filed must be in Microsoft Word 97 (or higher), WordPerfect or Adobe PDF format. leonclerk.com
• The portal sends two emails for each filing: one when the filing is submitted and one when it is accepted. leonclerk.com

Probate filing fees posted by the clerk

Source: Leon County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller fee schedule, checked October 16, 2026. Each posted fee that has a § 28.2401 amount is $1 above that amount (plus the $4 petition charge where § 28.2401(3) applies), except the $7.00 exemplified certificate, which matches it.

Judges and divisions

2nd Judicial Circuit. Serves Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty and Wakulla counties.

Courthouses that hear probate

• Leon County Courthouse, 301 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32301; 850-606-4000 2ndcircuit.leoncountyfl.gov probate assignment

• Florida Statutes § 26.021 places Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty and Wakulla counties in the Second Judicial Circuit. flsenate.gov
• AO 2026-02 (Second Amendment) names Francis J. Allman as Chief Judge of the Second Circuit. 2ndcircuit.leoncountyfl.gov

Administrative orders

Orders of the 2nd Judicial Circuit that apply to probate and guardianship cases in Leon County. Circuit order index.

• AO 2026-02, Second Amendment, Circuit and County Judge Assignments. Date: August 21, 2026 (effective immediately). Assigns Leon County probate cases 50% each to Judge Jason L. Jones and Judge Michael Beato, Leon County guardianship and incapacity cases to Judge Andrew B. King, and names the circuit and county judges for Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Liberty and Wakulla counties.
• AO 2026-04, Courthouse Security. Date: October 8, 2026 (effective immediately). Requires a bailiff to screen every visitor entering a courthouse, courtroom, hearing room or chambers in the Second Circuit.

Local requirements and forms

Filing and venue

• The clerk's probate division takes the petition that starts a probate case, and the clerk's page says an interested person files it. leonclerk.com
• Every personal representative must be represented by a Florida attorney unless the personal representative is the sole interested person (Florida Probate Rule 5.030, quoted by the clerk). leonclerk.com

Wills

• The custodian of a will must deposit it with the clerk within 10 days after receiving information that the person is deceased. leonclerk.com

Required filings

• Judge Jones requires the original authenticated copy of the death certificate in every probate case, and an Affidavit of Heirs in all cases, with the Summary Administration Checklist or the Formal Administration Opening and Closing Checklists. 2ndcircuit.leoncountyfl.gov
• Judge Beato expects a petition for administration to come with an affidavit of heirs, a death certificate, the will if there is one, a personal representative oath if applicable, and all necessary waivers, consents and notices. 2ndcircuit.leoncountyfl.gov
• Judge Beato expects personal representative oaths to conform to Florida Probate Rule 5.320. 2ndcircuit.leoncountyfl.gov
• Judge Beato's page says that when the decedent was over 55, a copy of the death certificate goes to the Agency for Health Care Administration (§ 733.2121(3)(d); Probate Rule 5.241(e)). 2ndcircuit.leoncountyfl.gov
• The clerk's Formal Administration opening checklist asks whether the original will and the death certificate are filed, whether the Affidavit of Heirs is filed, the bond status, and whether notice of the petition went to all interested persons. It also states that all orders given to the court must show the persons to whom the order is copied, with self-addressed stamped envelopes (no return address) for mailing. leonclerk.com

Bond and homestead

• A Petition to Determine Homestead Status filed before Judge Jones must state the petitioner's relation to the owner and whether the property is inside or outside a municipality. 2ndcircuit.leoncountyfl.gov
• A petition to determine homestead before Judge Beato must state whether the decedent was domiciled in the property, whether it is inside or outside a municipality, and the acreage. A petition to determine exempt personal property must identify and describe the property. 2ndcircuit.leoncountyfl.gov

Small estates

• A disposition of personal property without administration needs the certified death certificate, the funeral bill showing who paid it (the same person as the petitioner), any medical bills for the last 60 days, an Affidavit of Heirs, and a statement that there is no real estate in the estate. leonclerk.com

Hearings

• Judge Jones sets hearings by email to the judicial assistant with the case number, the matter, whether the hearing is evidentiary and the time needed. A notice of hearing must be filed within 48 hours, and hearing time is not reserved until the judicial assistant has the notice. 2ndcircuit.leoncountyfl.gov
• Judge Beato holds a hearing over Zoom only if both parties consent; otherwise it is in person. 2ndcircuit.leoncountyfl.gov

Proposed orders

• Judge Jones takes proposed orders by email to the judicial assistant in Word format; the clerk does not accept or forward e-filed orders attached to motions. 2ndcircuit.leoncountyfl.gov
• Judge Beato asks parties to email proposed orders to the judicial assistant when petitions and motions are ripe for review. 2ndcircuit.leoncountyfl.gov

Guardianship

• In Judge Jones's procedures, a petition for emergency temporary guardianship prompts the clerk to open an MH case and a GA case, so petitions and orders may be filed in both. 2ndcircuit.leoncountyfl.gov

Forms and checklists

• Circuit approved probate forms: Affidavit of Heirs, Formal Administration Opening and Closing Checklists, Summary Administration Checklist (Word), Second Judicial Circuit
• Checklist for Opening Estate (formal administration), Leon County Clerk
• Checklist for Closing Estate (formal administration), Leon County Clerk
• Summary Administration Checklist, Leon County Clerk
• Affidavit of Heirs, Leon County Clerk
• Summary Administration Joinder, Consent and Waiver, Leon County Clerk
• Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration instructions, Leon County Clerk
• Disposition of Personal Property Verified Statement, Leon County Clerk
• Disposition of Personal Property Joinder, Waiver and Consent, Leon County Clerk
• Disposition of Personal Property Proposed Order, Leon County Clerk
• Probate Creditor Statement of Claim, Leon County Clerk
• Index to Probate Forms (revised January 1, 2017), Leon County Clerk

Property and homestead

• March 1 is the homestead filing deadline for each tax year, and ownership and residency on January 1 decides the first year of eligibility. leonpa.gov
• The Leon County Property Appraiser's office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. leonpa.gov

Death certificates

• Death certificates cover deaths in Florida from 2009 to the present; earlier deaths go to the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville or VitalChek. leon.floridahealth.gov
• A copy of a valid driver's license, passport, state-issued ID or military ID goes with every request, and cause of death is released to family members and legal representatives. leon.floridahealth.gov
• The Department of Health's Leon County main office is at 1515 Old Bainbridge Road, Tallahassee, FL 32303, phone 850-404-6300. leon.floridahealth.gov
• VitalChek is the only vendor the Department of Health authorizes for online orders. leon.floridahealth.gov

Records and help

• The clerk's probate page prints $75,000 as the summary administration limit, the figure that chapter 2026-57 replaced with $150,000 in § 735.201(2). leonclerk.com
• Section 735.201(2) in the 2026 Florida Statutes reads $150,000, as amended by chapter 2026-57. flsenate.gov
• Chapter 2026-57, Laws of Florida, took effect July 1, 2026. laws.flrules.org
• The clerk's Guardianship department answers questions at (850) 606-4180. leonclerk.com

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

   • Summary administration may be filed when the value of the entire estate does not exceed $75,000 or, that the decedent has been dead for more than 2 years.
   • Florida Rules of Probate Procedure 5.030 says:
   • Every guardian and every personal representative, unless the personal representative remains the sole interested person, shall be represented by an attorney admitted to practice in Florida.
   • The custodian of the will must deposit the will with the Clerk of the Circuit Court, within 10 days after receiving information that the person is deceased.
   • Itemized, paid funeral bill. Receipt must identify the individual paying the bill.
   • Paid receipts for any medical expenses incurred sixty days prior to death.
   • If the decedent has a will, it must be filed with the Clerk of Circuit Court within ten days of the notice of death.
   • Probate proceedings are initiated with the filing of a petition by an interested person

   Note: The clerk's page prints $75,000 as the summary administration limit. Section 735.201(2), as amended by chapter 2026-57 effective July 1, 2026, reads $150,000.

8. Leon County Clerk, Contact page, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • The Leon County Clerk and Comptroller’s Office is open from 8 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
   • Leon County Courthouse 301 S. Monroe Street, #100 Tallahassee, FL 32301
   • Probate, Wills & Estates Phone: (850) 606-4180
   • Leon County Clerk & Comptroller’s Office Attn: (Insert Division Name from the List Below) 301 S. Monroe Street, #100 Tallahassee, FL 32301
9. Leon County Clerk, E-Filing page, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • The link to the central portal is myflcourtaccess.com .
   • but e-filing is not required for pro se litigants.
   • Documents to be filed must be in one of the following formats: Microsoft Word 97 (or higher), WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF.
   • You will receive two emails from the portal regarding your filing: One when the filing is submitted and a second when the filing is accepted.
10. Leon County Clerk, Fees page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Probate (FS 28.2401)
    • 1. Opening any estate of one document or more
    • $231.00 2. Caveat $41.00
    • 3. Petition & order to admit foreign wills, authenticated copies, exemplified copies, or transcript of record $231.00 4. Disposition of personal property without administration $231.00
    • 5. Summary administration a. $1,000.00 or more $345.00 b. Less than $1,000.00 $235.00
    • 6. Formal administration, guardianship, ancillary, curatorship, or conservatorship $400.00
    • 7. Guardianship of person only $235.00
    • 8. Veteran’s Administration guardianship $235.00
    • 9. Petition for determination of incapacity $231.00
    • 10. Exemplified certificates $7.00
    • 13. Reopening a case (does not apply to guardianships or mental health cases) $50.00
11. Leon County Clerk, Guardianship division page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Guardianship department at (850) 606-4180
12. Second Judicial Circuit, home page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Welcome to the 2nd Judicial Circuit of Florida
13. Second Judicial Circuit, Administrative Orders page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • The Chief Judge of each of Florida's 20 judicial circuits has administrative supervision over all courts within the circuit.
    • Administrative orders provide guidance to court partners, the public, and to attorneys on a variety of topics, such as judge assignments, court processes, policies, and priorities within the circuit.
14. Administrative Order 2026-02, Second Amendment (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 2026-02
    • SECOND AMENDMENT
    • IN RE: CIRCUIT AND COUNTY JUDGE ASSIGNMENTS
    • 4. Probate Division
    • a. Probate: Circuit Judge Jason L. Jones and Circuit Judge Michael Beato shall each be assigned 50% of all probate cases.
    • b. Guardianship: Circuit Judge Andrew B. King shall be assigned all guardianship cases (GA) and associated cases to determine incapacity (MH)
    • D. Effective Date: This Second Amendment shall be effective immediately and shall supersede Administrative Order 2026-02, First Amendment.
    • DONE AND ORDERED in chambers in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida, this 21st day of August 2026.
    • FRANCIS J. ALLMAN CHIEF JUDGE
15. Administrative Order 2026-04, Courthouse Security (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 2026-04
    • IN RE: COURTHOUSE SECURITY
    • All visitors entering any Courthouse, courtroom, hearing room, or chambers will be screened by a bailiff prior to entering.
    • ORDERED, effective immediately:
16. Second Judicial Circuit, Leon County courthouse page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Leon County 301 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, Fl 32301 850-606-4000
17. Second Judicial Circuit, Circuit Approved Forms page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Probate Forms
    • » Affidavit Of Heirs (Word)
    • » Formal Administration Closing Checklist (Word)
    • » Formal Administration Opening Checklist (Word)
    • » Summary Administration Checklist (Word)
18. Judge Jason L. Jones, Procedures and Preferences (PDF, 02/04/2026), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Current Assignments: Leon and Jefferson Counties
    • SECTION 7 - PROBATE
    • 1. In all cases, you must file with the Clerk's office the Original "Authenticated Copy" of the Death Certificate.
    • a. Affidavit of Heirs in all cases
    • b. Summary Administration Checklist
    • c. Formal Administration Opening Checklist
    • d. Formal Administration Closing Checklist
    • 3. When filing the Petition to Determine Homestead Status please include the following:
    • (1) relation to the petitioner to the owner and (2) if the property is inside or outside of a municipality
    • 2.3 Specially Set Motion Hearings - To set a hearing please e-mail Beth Rissinger, JA
    • A notice of hearing must be filed within 48- hours and it must indicate if the hearing is evidentiary or not.
    • **PLEASE NOTE: Hearing time is not reserved until the JA has received the Notice of Hearing and a Notice of Hearing is filed.**
    • All proposed orders must be e-mailed to the JA in Word format.
    • When a petition to appoint emergency temporary guardianship is filed, it should queue the clerk to open an "MH" case as well as a "GA" case.
19. Judge Michael Beato, Policies and Procedures (PDF, revised July 18, 2026), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • (revised July 18, 2026)
    • IV. Probate Cases
    • A. When petitions and motions are ripe for review, parties should email proposed orders to the judicial assistant.
    • (1) an affidavit of heirs, (2) a death certificate, (3) the decedent's last will and testament, if applicable, (4) a personal representative oath, if applicable, and (5) all necessary waivers, consents, and notices.
    • C. Parties should be aware that personal representative oaths are expected to conform to Florida Probate Rule 5.320.
    • D. Parties should also be aware that if the decedent is over fifty-five years old, the parties must provide a copy of the decedent's death certificate to the Agency for Health Care Administration.
    • (1) whether the decedent was domiciled in the at-issue property, (2) whether the property is located inside or outside of a municipality, and (3) the acreage of the homestead.
    • F. For a petition to determine exempt personal property, the petition must identify and sufficiently describe the personal property.
    • III. In-Person and Zoom Hearings
    • If both parties consent to a Zoom hearing
20. Leon County Clerk, Checklist for Opening Estate (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • FORMAL ADMINISTRATION CHECKLIST FOR OPENING ESTATE
    • (All orders provided to the court must show the persons to whom the order is copied; and self-addressed stamped envelopes (with no return address) shall be provided for mailing)
    • 5. Affidavit of Heirs filed? Yes _______ No _______
    • 7. Has Notice Been Given of Petition for Administration to all Interested Persons?
21. Leon County Clerk, Checklist for Closing Estate (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • FORMAL ADMINISTRATION CHECKLIST FOR CLOSING ESTATE
22. Leon County Clerk, Summary Administration Checklist (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • SUMMARY ADMINISTRATION CHECKLIST
    • 1. Original WILL Filed? Yes _____ No _____ N/A ___
23. Leon County Clerk, Affidavit of Heirs (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • AFFIDAVIT OF HEIRS
    • IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SECOND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA
24. Leon County Clerk, Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration instructions (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • DISPOSITION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY WITHOUT ADMINISTRATION
    • Certified copy of the Death Certificate
    • The funeral bill showing who paid it. The person who paid it should be the same person as the petitioner.
    • Medical bills for the last 60 days (if any).
    • Affidavit of Heirs
    • There cannot be any real estate in the estate.
25. Leon County Clerk, Disposition of Personal Property Verified Statement (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • DISPOSITION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY
26. Leon County Clerk, Disposition of Personal Property Joinder, Waiver and Consent (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • JOINDER, WAIVER AND CONSENT
27. Leon County Clerk, Disposition of Personal Property Proposed Order (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • ORDER ON DISPOSITION WITHOUT ADMINISTRATION
28. Leon County Clerk, Statement of Claim (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • STATEMENT OF CLAIM
29. Leon County Clerk, Summary Administration Joinder, Consent and Waiver (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • JOINDER, WAIVER AND CONSENT
30. Leon County Clerk, Index to Probate Forms (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • INDEX TO PROBATE FORMS
    • (As Reviewed and Revised January 1, 2017)
31. Leon County Property Appraiser, home page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • (850) 606-6200
32. Leon County Property Appraiser, Homestead Exemption page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • March 1 is the filing deadline for each tax year.
    • Your ownership and residency status as of January 1 determines your first year of eligibility.
    • NOTE: If your property is exempt from public records, you will need to file an application by email, mail, fax, or in-person.
33. Leon County Property Appraiser, Contact page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Phone: (850) 606-6200
    • Mailing Address: Leon County Property Appraiser P.O. Box 1750 Tallahassee, FL 32302-1750
    • 315 South Calhoun Street, Leon County Government Annex Building, Suite 300 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday.
34. Florida Department of Health in Leon 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.
    • open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    • A legible copy of a valid driver’s license, passport, state-issued ID, or military identification card must accompany all requests.
    • You must be a family member or legal representative when requesting cause of death.
    • Any death prior to 2009 must be requested from the Florida Department of Health’s Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville or through VitalChek® .
    • $15 Death Certificate
    • Order death certificates online through VitalChek® , the only vendor authorized by the Florida Department of Health.
35. Florida Department of Health in Leon County, Main Office, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Physical Address: 1515 Old Bainbridge Road, Tallahassee, FL 32303 Phone: 850-404-6300