Santa Rosa County
Probate Court
In Florida, estates are probated in the Circuit Court (Probate & Guardianship Division). This page gathers where to file in Santa Rosa County, the state rules that apply, and where every detail comes from.
located via OpenStreetMap
Where to file in Santa Rosa County
- Handled by
- Circuit Court (Probate & Guardianship Division)In Florida, probate is heard by the Probate Division of the 20 Judicial Circuit Courts. Florida has three procedures: Disposition Without Administration, Summary Administration, and Formal Administration.
- County building
- Santa Rosa County Court House 6865 Caroline Street, Milton, FL 32570 Main line: (850) 981-5554 OpenStreetMap · view the map entry
- Phone
- (850) 981-5554OpenStreetMap
- Opening hours
- Not published in an open source. Check the court or county website before you go.
- County website
- santarosa.fl.govWikidata
- State courts & e-filing
- flcourts.govCase search: Florida Courts E-Filing Portal / County Clerk Odyssey Portals
How probate runs in Santa Rosa County
Six stages, with the Florida rules that set the pace.
- 01
Secure the original will
Find the original signed will and order certified death certificates. Florida deadline: Custodian must deposit will with Circuit Court Clerk within 10 days of notice of death (Fla. Stat. § 732.901).
- 02
Pick the right track
If the probate estate is under $75,000, a small-estate procedure (Fla. Stat. § 735.201 (Summary Administration)) may avoid full administration.
- 03
Petition the court
File the petition with the Circuit Court (Probate & Guardianship Division) for Santa Rosa County. The court appoints the executor or administrator and issues letters.
- 04
Inventory the estate
Open an estate bank account (the IRS issues the EIN), list assets at date-of-death values and file the inventory if the court requires it.
- 05
Notify creditors
Publish or send notice to creditors. Window: 3 months after the date of first publication of Notice to Creditors, or 30 days after service of direct notice (absolute 2-year bar).
- 06
Account and distribute
Pay debts, taxes and fees (Fla. Stat. § 733.617 & § 733.6171 (Attorney Fees)), file the final account if required, distribute to heirs and ask to close the estate.
Where to get help.
We don't sell leads or take referral fees. Eligibility, availability and fees depend on the provider; confirm them directly.
- 01 Florida courts — self-help & formsOfficial judiciary website: forms, filing rules and e-filing.
- 02 Legal aid directory — LawHelp.orgNonprofit directory of free and low-cost legal aid by state, including probate and estates.
- 03 Find a probate lawyer — American Bar AssociationState-by-state links to bar lawyer-referral services and pro bono programs.
Florida rules that apply here
Probate law is state law — these apply in all 67 Florida counties.
- Small estates
- $75,000 (Summary Administration) or no limit if deceased > 2 yearsFla. Stat. § 735.201 (Summary Administration)
- Filing the will
- Custodian must deposit will with Circuit Court Clerk within 10 days of notice of death (Fla. Stat. § 732.901)
- Creditor claims
- 3 months after the date of first publication of Notice to Creditors, or 30 days after service of direct notice (absolute 2-year bar)Fla. Stat. § 733.702 & § 733.710
- Executor fees
- Presumed Reasonable Statutory Scale: 3% first $1M, 2.5% next $4M, 2% next $5M, 1.5% above $10M (Fla. Stat. § 733.617)Fla. Stat. § 733.617 & § 733.6171 (Attorney Fees) · estimate the fee
- Handwritten wills
- Not recognized without witnesses. Florida strictly PROHIBITS holographic (unwitnessed) wills. Even handwritten wills executed out-of-state are invalid unless executed with two attesting witnesses (Fla. Stat. § 732.502(2)).
- Estate tax
- No state estate tax.Florida Constitution Article VII, Section 5 prohibits any state estate tax exceeding the federal credit.
- Inheritance tax
- No.No state inheritance tax in Florida.
- Typical duration
- 6 to 12 monthsA lawyer is generally required to represent the estate.