How Does Probate Work in Duval County, Florida?

Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Duval County, probate runs through the Clerk of Circuit Court at 501 W. Adams Street, Room 1260, Jacksonville. The court sits in the 4th Judicial Circuit.

The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Florida intestacy law when there is no will.

Most Florida estates take 9 monthsFla. Stat. § 733.402Verified May 7, 2026 to 12 monthsFla. Stat. § 733.402Verified May 7, 2026 to move through this process. The 3 monthsFla. Stat. § 733.702Verified May 7, 2026 creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.

Probate cases in Duval County are filed with the Clerk of Circuit Court, located at 501 W. Adams Street, Room 1260, Jacksonville, FL 32202. The clerk's office is open Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Reach the clerk at 904-255-2000.

Attorneys must e-file in Duval County, but families handling probate without an attorney are exempt and can file on paper at the clerk's office or by mail.

A will cannot be deposited before death. Within 10 days after the death, the original will should be deposited with the Clerk in the county where the decedent resided per F.S. 732.901. A certified death certificate is required for the Disposition of Personal Property procedure, available for estates of $6,000 or less.

The court operates across 2 locations in Duval County. Probate filings may need to go to a specific location—check with the clerk's office before your visit.

Handling an estate in Duval County, Florida means working through both immediate tasks (securing property, ordering death certificates, stopping benefits) and the formal probate process at the Clerk of Circuit Court at 501 W. Adams Street, Room 1260, Jacksonville. The court is part of the 4th Judicial Circuit.

Probate matters here are routed through Probate Department and Beaches Branch. Knowing which office handles what saves time during the first few weeks.

Duval County has local procedures worth knowing before you start: Original will deposited with the Clerk within 10 days of death; Statements of claim require an original plus one copy; Certified death certificate required for Disposition of Personal Property.

Whether probate is necessary in Duval County depends on how the deceased's assets were titled and what estate planning was in place. The local court is the Clerk of Circuit Court at 501 W. Adams Street, Room 1260, Jacksonville. The court sits in the 4th Judicial Circuit.

Duval County has local procedures that affect when and how to file: Original will deposited with the Clerk within 10 days of death; Certified death certificate required for Disposition of Personal Property.

Assets in a funded revocable living trust pass directly to beneficiaries without probate. Life insurance, retirement accounts with named beneficiaries, and jointly-held property with survivorship rights also transfer automatically. Only assets titled solely in the deceased's name — or caught by a pour-over will for unfunded trust assets — go through the Clerk of Circuit Court.

Florida has a low threshold for simplified procedures — only estates under $0Fla. Stat. § 733.402Verified May 7, 2026 qualify. Most estates in Duval County with real property will require full probate through the Clerk of Circuit Court.

Without a valid will, inheritance in Duval County is governed by Florida statute rather than the deceased's wishes. The law assigns shares based on family structure—and the default distribution often catches families off guard.