In Cantonment, Faith Chapel Funeral Home and Crematory's north (Highway 29) location arranges traditional funeral services, immediate burial and cremation, along with advance funeral planning. The firm states it has served the area since 1965 and owns and operates its own crematory.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Escambia County, Florida
How probate works in Escambia County: the Clerk of Circuit Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Escambia County Clerk of Circuit Court
Escambia County · 1st Judicial Circuit
Phone
Hours
Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM; Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
190 West Government Street, Pensacola, FL 32502
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
Required for attorneysE-filing mandatory for attorneys since April 1, 2013. Optional for self-represented parties. Statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal for all circuit courts.
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe Clerk publishes Disposition of Personal Property instructions and forms; an attorney is not required to deposit a will. The Clerk's FAQ states that a petition to appoint a personal representative where the will names none is filed by an attorney, and that a probate petition is normally prepared by an attorney. The Probate Division suggests calling ahead to confirm the required items before filing.
Accepted payment
- At the counterThe Disposition of Personal Property filing fee is made payable to Clerk of Court and due at the time of filing.
County forms
- Disposition of Personal Property InstructionsChecklist of the documents and fees required to file a Disposition of Personal Property
- Disposition of Personal Property Without AdministrationPetition for release of a decedent's personal property without administration
- Consent and Waiver of Interested Party (DPP)Consent of an interested party to a Disposition of Personal Property
Probate / Guardianship / Mental Health
P.O. Box 333
Pensacola, FL 32591-0333
Departments
- Probate / Guardianship / Mental Health1-850-595-4300 · 190 West Government Street
About the court
- Westernmost county in Florida. Recording/Finance office at 221 Palafox Place.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Escambia County
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 Escambia County, probate runs through the Clerk of Circuit Court at 190 West Government Street, Pensacola. The court sits in the 1st Judicial Circuit. Escambia County shares the 1st Judicial Circuit with Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton.
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 months to 12 months to move through this process. Creditors have 3 monthsFla. Stat. §§ 733.2121, 733.702 (later of 3 months from first publication or 30 days from service on a served creditor), 733.703, 733.705, 733.707, 733.710Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present a claim, counted from the first publication of the notice to creditors.
What Probate Costs in Escambia County
What probate costs in Escambia County, Florida comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Clerk of Circuit Court at 190 West Government Street, Pensacola. The court is part of the 1st Judicial Circuit.
Florida charges $400Fla. Stat. §§ 28.2401(1)(g), (3); 44.108(1)Verified Oct 17, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Florida are based on reasonable compensation — usually hourly billing or a flat fee for the engagement.
Florida sets executor compensation on a statutory schedule that is presumed reasonable — about $15,000 on a $500,000 estate, roughly 3.0%Fla. Stat. § 733.617Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Florida requires publishing notice to creditors in a local newspaper, and the estate pays for it.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Industry surety premium estimate; the bond itself under Fla. Stat. § 733.402Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in Florida typically runs 9 months to 12 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the Clerk of Circuit Court
Probate cases in Escambia County, Florida are filed at the Clerk of Circuit Court. The court sits in the 1st Judicial Circuit.
Beside the filing office, the court lists a separate line for Probate / Guardianship / Mental Health.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
Florida has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not available.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Escambia County Self-Filing Assessment.
Escambia County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Disposition of Personal Property checklist
Bring or mail a valid ID (the Clerk charges an oath fee unless the petition is notarized), the original death certificate (no photocopies), the funeral contract and the funeral home receipt naming who paid, identification of the asset with its current value, and the original will if any (it stays on deposit). No real property may be involved and the asset may not exceed the funeral expenses; the case is assigned to a circuit judge.
SourceDocument Requirements
Original will deposited within 10 days; no attorney required
The custodian deposits the original will with the Clerk within ten days of receiving information that the person is deceased, and supplies the date of death or Social Security number if available. An attorney is not necessary to deposit the will.
SourceRecords Access
Probate images viewable only at Clerk public terminals
Imaged probate documents are viewable on the public view terminals at the Clerk's locations; paper files are at the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building. Call ahead to confirm a file is available. Copies of unsealed documents may be ordered by telephone or email and are mailed on receipt of the fee and postage.
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Clerk of Circuit Court: Verified Petition for Administration drafted to Fla. Prob. R. 5.200 (petitioner interest, decedent data, beneficiaries, venue, § 733.301 priority, will statement, asset value); Original of the decedent's last will and any codicils (deposited with the court within 10 days of knowledge of death, Fla. Stat. § 732.901), in a testate estateFla. Stat. §§ 733.101-733.402 (venue, petition, appointment, letters, bond); Fla. Prob. R. 5.200 (petition), 5.235 (issuance of letters, bond), 5.030 (attorney required)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Death Certificates and the Medical Examiner in Escambia County
In Florida a death is registered locally, and in Escambia County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Florida Department of Health in Escambia County as well as by Florida Department of Health - Bureau of Vital Statistics.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Registrar
Escambia County · Florida Department of Health in Escambia County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
1295 West Fairfield Drive, Pensacola, FL 32501
Website
Certified copies
At the counter
Local rule
- A legible copy of a valid driver license, passport, state-issued ID or military identification card accompanies every request. Certificates are also issued at the Northside Service Center, 8390 North Palafox St., Tuesday through Thursday.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $12 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
District Medical Examiner
Escambia County · District One Medical Examiner's Office
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
5961 Commerce Road, Milton, FL 32583
Website
Serves this county
District One Medical Examiner's Office (District 1 (Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton Counties))
Mail and offices
Fax
1-850-285-0774
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in Escambia County
12 funeral homes and crematories in Escambia County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
In Pensacola, Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel stands on the grounds of Bayview Memorial Park, where it handles cremation arrangements, traditional funerals with cemetery burial and arrangements planned in advance. Its team includes Spanish-speaking staff, and the funeral home dates its history in the city to 1868.
Benboe Funeral Home is a funeral home on West Wright Street in Pensacola. It arranges funeral services and memorial services, and its site carries an arrangements form.
In Pensacola, Christian Family Funeral on North Davis Highway arranges funeral and memorial services, with private family viewing in a Life Celebration Room. The home states it is locally owned and operated.
In Pensacola, Eastern Gate Memorial Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens arranges services from a basic cremation with a scattering in the Gulf of Mexico to a full traditional funeral with a catered reception. Its cemetery of about 42 acres offers in-ground burial and above-ground burial in a mausoleum. The home was founded in the mid-1980s and has an on-site chapel.
In Pensacola, Faith Chapel Funeral Home and Crematory's south (Beverly Parkway) location arranges traditional funeral services, immediate burial and cremation, along with advance funeral planning. The firm states it has served the area since 1965 and owns and operates its own crematory.
Funeral homes by city: Cantonment, Pensacola
Cremation Services in Escambia County
7 listings
Pre-Need Funeral Plans in Escambia County
7 listings
Burial Services in Escambia County
5 listings
Veterans Funeral Services in Escambia County
4 listings
Spanish-Speaking Funeral Homes in Escambia County
1 listing
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in Escambia County
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Deeds and other real property documents for Escambia County are recorded with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 190 West Government Street, Pensacola, FL 32502. Phone: 1-850-595-3930. Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM; Friday 8:00 AM-3:30 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 333, Pensacola, FL 32591-0333.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court charges $10 for the first page plus $9 for each additional page.
Escambia County accepts electronic recording through CSC, Simplifile and ePN.
Recording Office Record
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Escambia County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM; Friday 8:00 AM-3:30 PM
Office
190 West Government Street, Pensacola, FL 32502
Website
E-recording
P.O. Box 333
Pensacola, FL 32591-0333
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $10 |
| Each additional page | $8.5 |
Fla. Stat. 28.24(13), (13)(c), (13)(d), (13)(e); Fla. Stat. 201.02(1)(a)
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Probate Attorneys Serving Escambia County
Florida uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Escambia County — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.
Florida uses a presumed-reasonable fee schedule for probate attorneys — the percentages are a starting point that can be negotiated, especially for simple estates. Escambia County firms typically follow the schedule for routine work and negotiate on complex matters.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Clerk of Circuit Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Pensacola firm serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, including Gulf Breeze, Cantonment, Milton, and Navarre. Handles probate, guardianships, wills and trusts, powers of attorney, and death certificate corrections. Partners report over half a century of combined legal experience.
Pensacola firm practicing since 1913, with its main office less than a half mile from the Escambia County Court House where Pensacola probate cases are heard. Handles probate and estate administration, ancillary administration of non-residents' Florida property, will contests and probate litigation, guardianships, and estate tax planning. Branch offices in Pace and Miramar Beach.
Pensacola firm serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties and Northwest Florida. Gary B. Leuchtman has been Florida Bar board certified in wills, trusts and estates since 1994 and holds a master's degree in taxation. The firm handles probate, guardianship, trusts, special needs planning, and business succession.
Pensacola firm on Palafox Place serving Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa counties from offices in Pensacola and Santa Rosa Beach. Handles formal, summary, and ancillary probate administration through the Escambia County probate court, plus contested wills, executor-duty disputes, and creditor claims. Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell.
Gainesville firm handling probate in every Florida county on a flat fee, with an Ocala office and a fully remote administration process. Founding partner R. Nadine David advised Florida circuit court probate judges as a probate court staff attorney before entering private practice in 2014. Handles formal and summary administration, trust administration, and estate litigation.
Bradenton firm on State Road 70 East serving Manatee and Sarasota families, and accepting probate cases in any Florida county. Guides personal representatives and trustees through probate and trust administration, and handles estate planning, wills, trusts, and elder law as a National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys member. Rodney D. Gerling and Dana Laganella Gerling founded the firm in 2004.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Legal Sources
(8)·
- Fla. Stat. § 733.617
- Fla. Stat. §§ 28.2401(1)(g), (3); 44.108(1)
- Fla. Stat. §§ 733.101-733.402 (venue, petition, appointment, letters, bond); Fla. Prob. R. 5.200 (petition), 5.235 (issuance of letters, bond), 5.030 (attorney required)
- Fla. Stat. §§ 733.2121, 733.702 (later of 3 months from first publication or 30 days from service on a served creditor), 733.703, 733.705, 733.707, 733.710
- Fla. Stat. 28.24(13), (13)(c), (13)(d), (13)(e); Fla. Stat. 201.02(1)(a)
- Escambia County Clerk of Circuit Court, official page
- Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court, official page
- Escambia County vital records and death investigation offices, official page
Data sourced from Florida statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Tools for Settling an Estate in Florida
Free tools for settling an estate in Florida: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool for Florida.
How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Florida: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 60 daysFla. Prob. R. 5.340; Fla. Stat. § 733.604Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 3 monthsFla. Stat. §§ 733.2121, 733.702 (later of 3 months from first publication or 30 days from service on a served creditor), 733.703, 733.705, 733.707, 733.710Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.
See the Steps
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in Florida happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeFla. Stat. § 736.0101 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 60 daysFla. Stat. §§ 736.0813, 736.1008, 736.10081Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
See the Steps
Can I Self-File Probate?
Florida has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not available.
Get the Answer
Hire a Florida Probate Attorney
Browse vetted Florida attorneys handling probate matters.
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Notify Banks & Financial Institutions
Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.
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