Suwannee County probate help.

Clerk and filing

E-filing and records search

• The clerk's home page links the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal as eFile a Case Online. suwgov.org

Probate filing fees posted by the clerk

Source: Suwannee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller fee schedule, checked October 16, 2026. The clerk's site links this schedule as Fee Schedules. It is headed effective January 1, 2021; amounts are shown as printed on it.

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

• Suwannee County Courthouse, 200 South Ohio Avenue, Live Oak, FL 32064; (386) 362-0500 suwgov.org probate assignment

• The circuit's general magistrate hears probate and guardianship matters as specifically assigned in Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Suwannee and Taylor counties. thirdcircuitfl.org
• Judge Griffin's office: 200 South Ohio Avenue, Live Oak, FL 32064; phone 386-362-3431. thirdcircuitfl.org
• The clerk's Locations page also lists a Judicial Annex Building at 218 Parshley Street SW, Live Oak; the page does not say which proceedings it hears. suwgov.org

Administrative orders

Orders of the 3rd Judicial Circuit that apply to probate and guardianship cases in Suwannee 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

• Probate proceedings are filed with the clerk of the circuit court, usually in the county where the decedent lived at death; a filing fee is required. suwgov.org
• The clerk's page says it is important and typically required that the personal representative of an estate have legal representation. suwgov.org

Disposition without administration

• Paperwork the clerk lists: an itemized, paid funeral bill; paid receipts for medical expenses in the 60 days before death; a statement of the type of asset to be released; identification of the person filing; and the filing fee. The assets cannot include real property. suwgov.org

Wills

• The custodian of a will deposits the original with the clerk within ten days after learning of the death; no attorney is needed and there is no deposit fee, with a $7.00 fee if a receipt is requested. suwgov.org

Hearings and proposed orders

• Probate and guardianship hearings before the general magistrate are scheduled through Court Administration at (386) 758-2163; an attorney who reserves magistrate time files a Notice of Hearing within five days. thirdcircuitfl.org
• Proposed orders for Columbia, Suwannee, Hamilton, Dixie and Taylor counties are e-mailed to the general magistrate at [email protected] with the circuit's certificate of service. 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's probate overview and estates FAQ, Suwannee County Clerk
• General Magistrate page (certificate of service for proposed orders), Third Judicial Circuit

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. suwannee.floridapa.com
• The Property Appraiser's office is at 215 Pine Ave SW, Suite B, Live Oak, open 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday except holidays. suwannee.floridapa.com

Death certificates

• Death certificates are ordered through VitalChek, the only vendor the Department of Health authorizes online, or in person or by mail; in-person and mail orders cover deaths in Florida from 2009 to the present, and earlier deaths go to the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. suwannee.floridahealth.gov
• A copy of a valid driver's license, passport, state-issued ID or military ID goes with every request. suwannee.floridahealth.gov
• The clerk's estates page says death certificates come from the Health Department of the county where the decedent died, not from the clerk. suwgov.org

Records and help

• The clerk's estates page prints $75,000 as the summary administration limit and up to $6,000.00 for disposition without administration. suwgov.org
• § 735.201(2) reads $150,000 for summary administration under chapter 2026-57. flsenate.gov
• § 735.301(1) sets no fixed dollar amount for disposition without administration: the value may not exceed the preferred funeral expenses plus reasonable and necessary medical and hospital expenses of the last 60 days of the last illness. flsenate.gov

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

   • Probate is a court-supervised process for identifying and gathering the assets of a deceased person (decedent), paying the decedent’s debts, and distributing the decedent’s assets to his or her beneficiaries.
   • There are two types of probate administration under Florida law: formal administration and summary administration.
   • 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.
6. Suwannee County Clerk, Probate Estates page, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • This type of proceeding is used when the value of the entire estate does not exceed $75,000 or the decedent has been deceased over two years.
   • This type of proceeding is used to request the release of assets of the deceased up to $6,000.00 or reasonable funeral expenses
   • These assets cannot include real property.
   • If the decedent has a will, it must be filed with the Clerk of Court for safekeeping within ten days of the notice of death;
   • An itemized, paid funeral bill;
   • Paid receipts for any medical expenses incurred sixty days prior to death;
   • A statement regarding the type of asset to be released;
   • Identification of the person filing;
   • The filing fee.
   • There is no fee to deposit a will. If a receipt is requested, the fee is $7.00.
   • an attorney is not necessary to deposit the will with the Clerk of the Circuit Court
   • Death certificates must be obtained from the Health Department of the county where the decedent died.
   • it is important and typically required that the personal representative of an Estate have legal representation.

   Note: The page prints $75,000 as the summary administration limit and up to $6,000.00 for disposition without administration. § 735.201(2) reads $150,000 (chapter 2026-57), and § 735.301(1) states no dollar limit (preferred funeral expenses and the last 60 days of medical and hospital expenses).

7. 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
8. Florida Statutes § 735.301, disposition without administration (2026), checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • No administration shall be required or formal proceedings instituted upon the estate of a decedent leaving only personal property exempt under the provisions of s. 732.402
   • the value of which does not exceed the sum of the amount of preferred funeral expenses and reasonable and necessary medical and hospital expenses of the last 60 days of the last illness
9. Suwannee County Clerk, Fee Schedule (PDF), checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • SUWANNEE COUNTY CLERK OF COURT
   • FEE SCHEDULE
   • Probate January 1, 2021
   • Opening Any Estate $ 231.00
   • Open Safe Deposit Box $ 231.00
   • Settlement of Minor's Claims $ 231.00
   • Caveat $ 41.00
   • Notice of Trust $ 41.00
   • Foreign Wills $ 231.00
   • Disposition without Administration $ 231.00
   • Summary Administration < $1,000 $ 235.00
   • Summary Administration > $1,000 $ 345.00
   • Formal Admin,Guardianship,Curatorship,Conservatorship $ 400.00
   • Guardianship Person Only $ 235.00
   • Veteran's Guardianship $ 235.00
   • Petition of Incompetency $ 231.00
   • Reopen Fee $ 50.00
   • Filing Verified Inventory $ 85.00
   • Accounting Fee - Estate Value $25,000 or less $ 20.00
   • Accounting Fee-Estate Value>$25,000 up to & including $100,000 $ 85.00
   • Accounting Fee-Estate Value>$100,000 up to & including $500,000 $ 170.00
   • Accounting Fee - Estate Value>$500,000 $ 250.00

   Note: The PDF is headed EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2021 and is linked on the clerk's site as Fee Schedules; the file name carries Updated May 2024.

10. Suwannee County Clerk, Contact Us, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Barry Baker: Clerk & Comptroller 200 South Ohio Avenue Live Oak, FL 32064 Phone: (386) 362-0500
11. Suwannee County Clerk, Office Hours, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Office Hours: 8:00am-4:30pm
    • main line is 386-362-0500.
12. Suwannee County Clerk, Locations, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Suwannee County Courthouse 200 South Ohio Avenue Live Oak, Florida 32064
    • Judicial Annex Building 218 Parshley Street SW Live Oak, Florida 32064
13. Suwannee County Clerk, home page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • eFile a Case Online
    • Records Search
    • Download a Court Form
14. Third Judicial Circuit, Suwannee County page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • 200 Ohio Ave South, Live Oak, FL 32064
    • Judicial Assignments for Suwannee County
15. 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
    • Suwannee County
    • Probate and Guardianship; Injunction for Protection cases; Juvenile Delinquency; Truancy; and Marchman and Baker Acts; and Risk Protection Orders Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Land, then Judge Feagle
    • Acting Circuit Judge Jennifer K. Griffin

    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.

16. Third Judicial Circuit, Judge Jennifer K. Griffin, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Judge Jennifer K. Griffin
    • Suwannee County Court
    • Guardianships and Probate
    • Mailing Address 200 South Ohio Avenue Live Oak, FL. 32064
    • Phone: 386-362-3431
17. Third Judicial Circuit, General Magistrate page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Christina N. Seifert
    • PROBATE AND GUARDIANSHIP All hearings are coordinated through Court Administration at (386) 758-2163. If an attorney reserves time on the Magistrate’s calendar, the attorney must file a Notice of Hearing within five (5) days of reserving the time.
    • For Columbia, Suwannee, Hamilton, Dixie, and Taylor Counties, please e-mail all proposed orders to the General Magistrate at [email protected] .
18. Suwannee County Property Appraiser, home page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Suwannee County Property Appraiser - Ricky Gamble, CFA
    • Live Oak, Florida
    • 386-362-1385
19. Suwannee 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.
20. Suwannee County Property Appraiser, Contact Us, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Suwannee County Property Appraiser 215 Pine Ave SW Suite B Live Oak, FL 32064
    • phone: 386-362-1385
    • hours: 8:30am - 5:00pm (Mon-Fri, except holidays)
21. Florida Department of Health in Suwannee 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.
    • Death Certificates are available for deaths occurring in the state of Florida from 2009 to present. Any death prior to 2009 must be requested from the Florida Department of Health’s Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville or through VitalChek® .
    • A legible copy of a valid driver’s license, passport, state-issued ID, or military identification card must accompany all requests.
    • Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
    • $7 Death Certificates
22. Florida Department of Health in Suwannee County, Vital Statistics Office, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Physical Address: 915 Nobles Ferry Road, Live Oak, FL 32064
    • Monday
    • 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
    • Saturday
    • Closed
23. 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.
24. 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.
25. 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;
26. 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.