Okaloosa County probate help.

Clerk and filing

E-filing and records search

• The Okaloosa probate checklists must be completed and e-filed with the proposed order, and an attorney certifies in writing that the checklist and supporting documents were reviewed. A deficient submission gets a single email identifying the deficiency, and the file does not move forward until it is corrected. cdn.sanity.io
• E-filing assistance for the portal is at (850) 577-4609. okaloosaclerk.com
• The clerk's disposition packet asks for permission to use email with the filing. okaloosaclerk.com

Probate filing fees posted by the clerk

Source: Okaloosa County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller fee schedule, checked October 16, 2026. The sheet prints "Last update: 12/9/2024". 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 sheet 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

• Okaloosa County Courthouse Annex Extension, Fort Walton Beach (south Okaloosa), 1940 Lewis Turner Blvd., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547; (850) 651-7200; Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. okaloosaclerk.com probate assignment
• Okaloosa County Courthouse, Crestview (north Okaloosa), 101 East James Lee Blvd., Crestview, FL 32536; (850) 689-5000; Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. okaloosaclerk.com

• Florida Statutes § 26.021 places Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties in the First Judicial Circuit. flsenate.gov
• OCAD 2026-01 is signed by William F. Stone as Administrative Judge, and the Okaloosa directive index lists OCAD 2009-06, 2009-07 and 2017-02 without a vacating order. cdn.sanity.io

Administrative orders

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

• OCAD 2026-01, Circuit and County Court Division Assignments for Okaloosa County. Date: February 27, 2026 (effective April 1, 2026). Assigns the Probate Division and Guardianship, north and south, to Judge Brown (Division 004) and sets the divisions at the Crestview courthouse and the Fort Walton Beach annex.
• OCAD 2009-06, Time Requirements (probate). Date: December 21, 2009. Sets presumptive times in estate cases measured from letters: inventory in 60 days, death certificate in 90 days, petition for discharge in 12 months (24 months if contested or a federal estate tax return is required); an extension needs a motion before the time runs.
• OCAD 2009-07, Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration. Date: December 21, 2009. Authorizes named deputy clerks to obtain asset information on a decedent's accounts from Okaloosa County financial institutions for dispositions without administration.
• OCAD 2017-02, Time Requirements in Guardianship Cases. Date: April 21, 2017. Sets the annual guardianship report filing due dates by the month the letters of guardianship issued, under Probate Rule 5.695.

Local requirements and forms

Filing and venue

• Probate proceedings are filed with the clerk of the circuit court, usually in the county where the decedent lived at death, and a filing fee is paid to the clerk. okaloosaclerk.com

Checklists

• The Okaloosa checklists for opening formal administration, summary administration, closing formal administration, determining homestead and determining exempt property each state that the checklist is completed and e-filed with the proposed order, with an attorney's written certification. cdn.sanity.io
• The Okaloosa summary administration checklist asks whether non-exempt assets are under $75,000.00 or the decedent died 2 years or more ago. cdn.sanity.io
• The Okaloosa homestead checklist asks whether the verified petition to determine homestead complies with Probate Rule 5.406. cdn.sanity.io
• The First Judicial Circuit probate page says the Okaloosa checklists are filed through the Florida e-Portal to OKALOOSA, PROBATE-GUARDIANSHIP ONLY with their orders, except three: Checklist Guardianship (MH), Petition for Interim Fees and Expenses, and Checklist for Guardianship Fees. Those three checklists and their orders go through the portal to Judge Stone directly. OCAD 2026-01 assigns the Probate Division and Guardianship to Judge Brown (Division 004). firstjudicialcircuit.org

Time requirements

• Under OCAD 2009-06, counsel and the personal representative must follow the presumptive times measured from the letters of administration: inventory within 60 days, death certificate within 90 days, and petition for discharge within 12 months, or 24 months if the will is contested or a federal estate tax return is required. cdn.sanity.io
• Under OCAD 2009-06, counsel files a motion for an extension of time and a proposed order before a time requirement expires; without it the court issues an order to show cause why counsel or the personal representative should not be held in contempt. All papers needed for discharge are filed no later than the petition for discharge. cdn.sanity.io

Guardianship

• OCAD 2017-02 sets the annual guardianship report due dates by the month the letters of guardianship issued, under Probate Rule 5.695. cdn.sanity.io

Small estates

• The clerk's instructions say a disposition of personal property is for very small estates with no real property and no creditors, and the asset may not exceed $6000. The filing includes a certified death certificate, the original will if there is one, a copy of the paid funeral bill or a statement of costs from the funeral home, paperwork showing the asset, and permission to use email. okaloosaclerk.com

Forms and checklists

• Clerk probate forms: Disposition of Personal Property packet, Caveat by Interested Person, Caveat by Creditor, Email Consent, Statement of Claim, SITUS Designation, Okaloosa County Clerk
• Disposition of Personal Property instructions, Okaloosa County Clerk
• Checklist for Opening Formal Administration Estate, First Judicial Circuit, Okaloosa County
• Checklist for Summary Administration Estate, First Judicial Circuit, Okaloosa County
• Checklist for Closing Formal Administration Estate, First Judicial Circuit, Okaloosa County
• Checklist for Petition to Determine Homestead, First Judicial Circuit, Okaloosa County
• Checklist for Petition to Determine Exempt Property, First Judicial Circuit, Okaloosa County
• First Judicial Circuit probate page (Okaloosa checklists and filing instructions), First Judicial Circuit

Property and homestead

• An application for all exemptions must be filed on or before March 1 of each year; failing to apply waives the exemption for that year. okaloosapa.com
• A person who holds legal or beneficial title on January 1 and makes the property a permanent residence in good faith is eligible for homestead. okaloosapa.com
• The Property Appraiser's office is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. okaloosapa.com

Death certificates

• Death certificates cover deaths in Florida from 2009 to the present. okaloosa.floridahealth.gov
• VitalChek is the only vendor the Department of Health authorizes for online orders. okaloosa.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 customer service lines are (850) 651-7200, option 4, in Fort Walton Beach and (850) 689-5000, option 4, in Crestview. okaloosaclerk.com
• The clerk's summary administration checklist prints $75,000.00; § 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
    • These checklists should be filed through the Florida e-Portal to OKALOOSA, PROBATE-GUARDIANSHIP ONLY along with their corresponding Orders. The only exceptions are Checklist Guardianship (MH)2, Okaloosa County Checklist Petition for Interim Fees and Expenses and Checklist for Guardianship Fees. These three (3) Checklists and their corresponding Orders should be submitted through the Florida e-Portal to Judge Stone directly.

    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. The Okaloosa filing-instruction paragraph was read in a browser on October 16, 2026; the source checker reads only the title.

11. Okaloosa County Administrative Directive OCAD2026-01, Circuit and County Court Division Assignments (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE NO: OCAD2026-01
    • IN RE: CIRCUIT AND COUNTY COURT DIVISION ASSIGNMENTS
    • 1. EFFECTIVE DATE: The administrative policies and procedures herein, shall be effective April 1, 2026.
    • SOUTH OKALOOSA COUNTY DIVISIONS
    • OKALOOSA COUNTY COURTHOUSE ANNEX EXTENSION
    • Judge Brown (Division 004)
    • Probate Division & Guardianship
    • (100% North & South)
    • DONE AND ORDERED at Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa County, Florida this 27th day of February 2026.
    • WILLIAM F. STONE ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE

    Note: The two-column layout interleaves the divisions in the text layer. Read on the rendered page (page 5): Judge Brown, Division 004, hears Family Law (50%), the Injunctions for Protection Against Violence Division (100%), and the Probate Division and Guardianship (100% North and South).

12. Okaloosa County Administrative Directive OCAD2009-06, Time Requirements (probate) (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE OCAD2009-06
    • IN RE: TIME REQUIREMENTS
    • Uncontested, no federal estate tax return - 12 months (from issuance of letters of administration to final discharge).
    • Contested - 24 months (from filing to final discharge)
    • Counsel SHALL file a motion for an extension of time and a proposed order thereon in the event that the time requirements set forth herein cannot be filed in a timely manner.
    • All times shall be measured from the issuance of the Letters of Administration.
    • (B) INVENTORY shall be filed within sixty (60) days.
    • (C) DEATH CERTIFICATE shall be filed within (90) days.
    • within twenty-four (24) months
    • 4. All papers necessary for discharge SHALL be filed no later than the Petition for Discharge.
    • DONE AND ORDERED at Shalimar, Okaloosa County, Florida this 21st day of December, 2009.
13. Okaloosa County Administrative Directive OCAD2009-07, Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE OCAD2009-07
    • IN RE: DISPOSITION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY WITHOUT
    • ADMINISTRATION IN THE ESTATE OR DECEASED PERSONS
    • designated and authorized, on behalf of this court, to obtain from the financial institutions located in Okaloosa County, Florida information relative to the assets of deceased persons
    • ORDERED in Okaloosa County, Florida this 21st day of December, 2009.
14. Okaloosa County Administrative Directive OCAD2017-02, Time Requirements in Guardianship Cases (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE OCAD2017-02
    • RE: TIME REQUIREMENTS IN GUARDIANSHIP CASES
    • Pursuant to Florida Probate Rule 5.695
    • DONE AND ORDERED in Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa County, Florida this 21st day of April,
15. Okaloosa County Administrative Directives index (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • 2009-06 Time Requirements
    • 2009-07 Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration in the Estate or Deceased Persons
    • 2017-02 Time Requirement in Guardianship Cases

    Note: The index shows no vacating note beside these three directives. It does not list OCAD 2026-01; its last entry is 2025-01, Circuit and County Court Division Assignments, with a printed effective date of 1/28/25.

16. Okaloosa County Checklist for Opening Formal Administration Estate (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • CHECKLIST FOR OPENING FORMAL ADMINISTRATION ESTATE
    • This Checklist must be completed and e-filed with your proposed Order. An Attorney shall certify in writing that she/he has reviewed both the checklist and supporting documents prior to submission.
    • If the submission is deficient, you shall receive a single email identifying the deficiency for correction. Pending correction, the file will not move forward.
17. Okaloosa County Checklist for Summary Administration Estate (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • CHECKLIST FOR SUMMARY ADMINISTRATION ESTATE
    • Non-Exempt Assets less than $75,000.00

    Note: The checklist prints $75,000.00; § 735.201(2), as amended by chapter 2026-57 effective July 1, 2026, reads $150,000.

18. Okaloosa County Checklist for Closing Formal Administration Estate (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • CHECKLIST FOR CLOSING FORMAL ADMINISTRATION ESTATE
    • Petition for Discharge Complying with 5.400 filed?
19. Okaloosa County Checklist for Petition to Determine Homestead (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • CHECKLIST FOR PETITION TO DETERMINE HOMESTEAD
    • Verified Petition to Determine Homestead Property complying with R. 5.406 filed?
20. Okaloosa County Checklist for Petition to Determine Exempt Property (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • CHECKLIST FOR PETITION TO DETERMINE EXEMPT PROPERTY
    • Verified Petition to Determine Exempt Property complying with R. 5.406 filed?
21. Okaloosa County Clerk, Probate page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Probate proceedings are filed with the clerk of the circuit court, usually in the county in which the decedent lived at the time of his or her death. A filing fee is required and should be paid to the clerk.
    • There is also a non-court supervised administration proceeding called “Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration.”
    • Probate Forms Disposition of Personal Property Packet Caveat by Interested Person Caveat by Creditor Email Consent Form Probate Probate Statement of Claim SITUS Designation Notice of Change of Mailing Address or Designated Email Request To Be Excused From Email Designation
    • Okaloosa County Courthouse 101 East James Lee Blvd. Crestview, FL 32536 (opens in a new tab) (850) 689-5000 Courthouse Annex Extension 1940 Lewis Turner Blvd. Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32547 (opens in a new tab) (850) 651-7200 Hours of Operation Monday – Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm
22. Okaloosa County Clerk, Phone Directory, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Clerk of Court Customer Service – Fort Walton Beach (850) 651-7200 Option 4
    • Clerk of Court Customer Service – Crestview (850) 689-5000 Option 4
    • E-Filing Assistance (850) 577-4609
23. Okaloosa County Clerk, Filing Fee Schedule (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Probate/Guardianship
    • Opening any Estate
    • Caveat/Notice of Trust
    • Admit Foreign Wills
    • Disposition of Personal Property without Administration
    • Summary Administration less than $1,000
    • Summary Administration $1,000 or more
    • Formal Administration
    • Guardianship of Person Only
    • Guardianship of Property
    • V.A. Guardianship
    • Petition for Determination of Incompetency
    • Reopen Fee
    • $231.00
    • $41.00
    • $235.00
    • $345.00
    • $400.00
    • $50.00
    • Last update: 12/9/2024

    Note: The text layer of this PDF separates item names from amounts, so they are quoted separately. Amounts as laid out in the table on page 2: opening any estate $231.00; caveat or notice of trust $41.00; admit foreign wills $231.00; disposition of personal property without administration $231.00; summary administration under $1,000 $235.00 and $1,000 or more $345.00; formal administration $400.00; guardianship of person only $235.00; guardianship of property $400.00; V.A. guardianship $235.00; petition for determination of incompetency $231.00; reopen fee $50.00. The sheet also lists accounting audit fees of $20.00, $85.00, $170.00 and $250.00 and $85.00 for an inventory over $25,000.

24. Okaloosa County Clerk, Disposition of Personal Property instructions (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • DISPOSITION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY INSTRUCTIONS
    • A disposition of personal property is filed for very small estates where there is no real property and no creditors.
    • the asset may not exceed $6000
    • Certified Death Certificate
    • Original Will
    • Copy of Paid Funeral Bill or if unpaid a Statement of costs from the funeral home
    • Permission to Use E-mail
25. Okaloosa County Property Appraiser, Real Property (exemptions) page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • An application for ALL exemptions must be filed, on or before March 1 of each year.
    • Failure to make application, when required, shall constitute a waiver of the exemption privilege for that year.
    • A person who, on January 1, has legal title or beneficial title in equity to real property in the State of Florida and who in good faith makes the property his or her permanent residence is eligible.
    • Widow and widowers who are permanent residents of Florida and who have not remarried are eligible.
    • 1250 Eglin Parkway N., Suite 201
    • Shalimar, FL 32579
    • Phone: 850-651-7240
    • Fax: 850-651-7244
    • Office Hours: M-F 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

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

26. Okaloosa County Property Appraiser, home page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Okaloosa County Property Appraiser

    Note: Read in a browser on October 16, 2026; scripted requests receive a Cloudflare browser check (HTTP 403).

27. Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa 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.
    • $15 Death Certificate
    • open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    • Vital Statistics 850-833-9255 Mailing Address 221 Hospital Drive NE Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 Office Hours Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed daily from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
    • Order death certificates online through VitalChek® , the only vendor authorized by the Florida Department of Health.