Taylor 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). taylorclerk.com
• TurboCourt, a fee-based online program, helps the public complete Supreme Court approved forms; TurboCourt fees are separate from the clerk's filing fee. taylorclerk.com

Probate filing fees posted by the clerk

Source: Taylor County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller fee schedule, checked October 16, 2026. § 28.2401(3) adds a $4 service charge on petitions seeking summary administration, formal administration, ancillary administration, guardianship, curatorship and conservatorship.

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

• Taylor County Courthouse, 108 North Jefferson Street, Perry, FL 32347; (850) 838-3506; Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. taylorclerk.com 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 Parker's office: P.O. Drawer 1000, Perry, FL 32348; phone 850-838-3520. thirdcircuitfl.org

Administrative orders

Orders of the 3rd Judicial Circuit that apply to probate and guardianship cases in Taylor 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 and incapacitated persons at extension 110 of (850) 838-3506; the Mental Health Department (Baker Act and Marchman Act) is also extension 110. taylorclerk.com

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

• TurboCourt do-it-yourself forms (clerk page), Taylor County Clerk
• General Magistrate page (certificate of service for proposed orders), Third Judicial Circuit
• DR-501 Original Application for Homestead and Related Tax Exemptions, Florida Department of Revenue

Property and homestead

• The Department of Revenue's exemption page 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
• The Property Appraiser's site links the state DR-501 homestead application; the form states that permanent Florida residency is required on January 1 and that the application is due to the property appraiser by March 1. floridarevenue.com
• The Property Appraiser administers homestead, widow, widower, blind, disability and non-profit exemptions and maintains property ownership records and parcel maps. qpublic.net

Death certificates

• Death certificates are ordered through VitalChek, the only vendor the Department of Health authorizes online, or in person or by mail; the county page lists deaths in Florida from 2009 to the present and a $15 fee. taylor.floridahealth.gov
• A copy of a valid driver's license, passport, state-issued ID or military ID goes with every request; cause of death is released to a family member or legal representative. taylor.floridahealth.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. Taylor County Clerk, Court Services page, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • All departments within the Clerk’s office can be reached at (850) 838-3506
   • Probate & Guardianship Department
   • Inquire here about Information about estates, wills, guardians and incapacitated persons. Ext. 110
   • Mental Health Department
   • Inquire here about the Baker Act (mental) or Marchman Act (substance abuse). Ext. 110
6. Taylor County Clerk, Fee Schedule, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Probate / Guardianship Service Fee
   • Formal Administration / Ancillary Administration $400
   • Petition to Establish a Trust $400
   • Curator / Conservatorship $400
   • Summary Administration: Estates valued at $1,000 or more $345
   • Summary Administration: Estates valued less than $1,000 $235
   • Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration $231
   • Petition to Admit Foreign Will, Authenticated / Exemplified Copies or Transcript of Record (only) $231
   • Petition to Determine Homestead Status (only), Petition to Determine Beneficiaries / Heirs (only), Petition to Open a Safe Deposit Box (only) $231
   • Caveat / Notice of Trust (no estate open) $41
   • Guardianship, Person and Property / Property only $400
   • Guardianship, Person only / Veteran’s $235
   • Determination of Incapacity / Incompetency $231
   • Maintain Professional Guardian files $7.50
   • Reopen Fee $50
   • Pro Hac Vice Motion $100
   • Verified Inventory (Value of Ward’s property exceeds $25,000) $85
   • Estates with a value of $25,000 or less $20
   • Estates with a value of more than $25,000 up to and including $100,000 $85
   • Estates with a value of more than $100,000 up to and including $500,000 $170
   • Estates with a value of more than $500,000 $250
   • Exemplified / Authenticated Certificate, including signing and sealing $7
   • Searching of Court / Non-Court Records, per name / per year (10 year / $20 courtesy maximum) $2
   • Sealing of any court file / Expungement of any record $42
   • Certifying copies of any instrument in the public records, per instrument (additional copy fees apply per page) $2
7. Taylor County Clerk, Contact page, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • 108 North Jefferson St. Suite 102 Perry, FL. 32347
   • Taylor County Clerk of Courts & Comptroller Gary Knowles, Clerk P.O. Box 620 Perry, FL. 32348
   • (850) 838-3506
   • Monday – Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm
8. Taylor County Clerk, home page, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Records Search Official Records
   • E-File File Court Documents Online
9. Taylor County Clerk, DIY Forms page, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • TurboCourt: Do it Yourself Forms
   • an interactive online program that assists the public in completing the Supreme Court approved legal forms to be filed with the court.
   • TurboCourt fees are separate from any filing fee required by the Clerk’s Office.
10. Third Judicial Circuit, Taylor County page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • 108 North Jefferson Street Perry, FL 32348
    • Judicial Assignments for Taylor County
11. 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
    • Taylor County
    • Domestic relations; DOR cases; Juvenile Dependency and Probate and Guardianship Disqualifications and recusals to Judge Hardee then Judge Blue
    • Judge Greg Parker

    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.

12. Third Judicial Circuit, Judge Gregory S. Parker, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Judge Gregory S. Parker
    • Taylor
    • Probate & Guardianship
    • Mailing Address P.O. Drawer 1000 Perry, FL. 32348
    • Phone: 850-838-3520
13. 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] .
14. Taylor County Property Appraiser (qPublic home page), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Welcome to the Taylor County Property Appraiser's Office
    • Homestead Exemption Application
    • Shawna Beach, CFA
15. Taylor County Property Appraiser, Duties of the Property Appraiser, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • The Property Appraiser is also responsible for maintaining property ownership records and parcel ownership maps, and for administering tax exemptions such as homestead exemption, widows, widowers, blind exemptions, and disability and non-profit exemptions.
16. Florida Department of Revenue, DR-501 Original Application for Homestead, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • ORIGINAL APPLICATION FOR HOMESTEAD DR-501
    • Permanent Florida residency required on January 1.
    • Application due to property appraiser by March 1.
17. Florida Department of Health in Taylor 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.
    • 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.
    • $15 for death certificates
    • 850-584-5087
    • 1215 North Peacock Ave. Perry, FL 32347
18. Florida Department of Health in Taylor County, location page, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • 1215 North Peacock Ave., Perry, FL 32347
    • Monday
    • 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
    • Saturday
    • Closed
19. 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.
20. 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.
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.
23. 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.