What to Do When Someone Dies in Flagler County, Florida

How probate works in Flagler County: the Clerk of Circuit Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.

Probate Court Record

Flagler County Clerk of Circuit Court

Flagler County · 7th Judicial Circuit

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM

Office

1769 East Moody Boulevard, Building 1, Bunnell, FL 32110

Filing in person

Walk-ins accepted

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.

Filing in person

Walk-ins acceptedProbate pleadings can be filed in person at the Clerk's office, by mail, or electronically through the statewide e-filing portal.

Self-represented filing

AllowedThe Clerk sells probate packets at the office and posts them on its forms page: Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration, Summary Administration (testate and intestate), and Statement of Claim, each with a checklist of what to file. Formal administration requires an attorney under Florida Probate Rule 5.030, and the Clerk's office gives no legal advice.

Accepted payment

  • At the counterCash, Credit card, Debit card.Cash paid at the Clerk's office carries no fee. Credit and debit card payments, including Apple Pay and other contactless payments, carry a convenience fee that goes to the processor.

Verified October 15, 2026 · Source

How Probate Works in Flagler 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 Flagler County, probate runs through the Clerk of Circuit Court at 1769 East Moody Boulevard, Building 1, Bunnell. The court sits in the 7th Judicial Circuit. Flagler County shares the 7th Judicial Circuit with Putnam, St Johns and Volusia.

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 Flagler County

What probate costs in Flagler 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 1769 East Moody Boulevard, Building 1, Bunnell. The court is part of the 7th 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 Flagler County, Florida are filed at the Clerk of Circuit Court. The court sits in the 7th Judicial Circuit.

Beside the filing office, the court lists a separate line for Probate Division.

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 Flagler County Self-Filing Assessment.

Flagler 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

Original will filed within 10 days of notice of death

The custodian of an original will files it, with a certified copy of the death certificate, with the Clerk in the county where the decedent lived within ten days after learning of the death. There is no fee to deposit a will.

Source

Proposed orders go to the probate division by email, not through the e-filing portal

Probate and guardianship cases are heard in Division 48. Proposed orders are emailed to division48@circuit7.org as a Microsoft Word attachment with "Proposed Order", the case style and the case number in the subject line, and are not filed through the e-portal.

Source

Court Appearances

Short probate hearings are held by Zoom; longer and evidentiary hearings are in person

Division 48 hearings of one hour or longer, and evidentiary hearings, are attended in person unless the court orders otherwise. Hearings under one hour are held by Zoom, and hearings are scheduled through the division's judicial assistant.

Source

What 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 Flagler County

In Florida a death is registered locally, and in Flagler County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Florida Department of Health in Flagler County, Vital Statistics as well as by Florida Department of Health - Bureau of Vital Statistics.

Vital Records Office Record

Local Registrar

Flagler County · Florida Department of Health in Flagler County, Vital Statistics

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM

Office

200 Dr. Carter Boulevard, Bunnell, FL 32110

Certified copies

At the counter

Mail

Office of Vital Statistics P.O. Box 847 Bunnell, FL 32110

Fax

1-386-586-2165

Verified November 2, 2026 · Source

Coroner or Medical Examiner Record

District Medical Examiner

Flagler County · District 23 Medical Examiner's Office

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:00 PM

Office

4501 Avenue A, St. Augustine, FL 32095

Serves this county

District 23 Medical Examiner's Office (District 23 (Flagler, Putnam and St. Johns Counties))

Mail and offices

Fax

1-904-209-0829

Verified November 2, 2026 · Source

Transferring Property in Flagler 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 Flagler County are recorded with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 1769 East Moody Boulevard, Building 1, Bunnell, FL 32110. Phone: 1-386-313-4360. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM.

The Clerk of the Circuit Court charges $10 for the first page plus $9 for each additional page.

Flagler County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile, CSC, ePN and Hopdox.

Recording Office Record

Clerk of the Circuit Court

Flagler County

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM

Office

1769 East Moody Boulevard, Building 1, Bunnell, FL 32110

Fees

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 Flagler County

Florida uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Flagler 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. Flagler 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.

FirmPalm Coast, FL

Conner Bosch Law, P.A.

Since 1985 · Serves 1 county

Palm Coast firm serving Flagler County, where Timothy Conner opened his practice in 1985; William Bosch joined in 2007 to form Conner Bosch Law. Handles probate, trust administration, guardianship, elder care matters, advance directives, and asset protection, alongside real estate and civil work. The two attorneys report over sixty years of combined experience.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 4 more

Office
4488 N Ocean Shore BlvdPalm Coast, FL 32137

Solo PracticeSt. Augustine, FL

E.P.P.G. Law of St. Johns

Serves 2 counties

St. Augustine firm handling St. Johns and Flagler County probate — formal and summary administration for personal representatives and beneficiaries — plus trust administration and estate planning. Heather S. Maltby, a St. Johns County native and past president of its bar association, has practiced solely in estate planning, probate, and trust administration for over ten years.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateGuardianship

Office
2802 N 5th St.St. Augustine, FL 32084
Free consultation

Solo PracticePalm Coast, FL

Eldredge and Davis, P.A.

Since 1986 · Serves 1 county

Palm Coast firm serving Flagler County families with probate — summary, formal, and ancillary administration — plus trust administration, wills, revocable trusts, powers of attorney, and health care surrogate designations. Managing partner Mike Davis carries on the practice David Eldredge (1945-2018) established in Flagler County in 1986.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateWills Trusts

Office
21 Old Kings Road North, Suite B-212Palm Coast, FL 32137
Free consultation

Solo PracticeJacksonville, FL

Elrod & Elrod, P.A.

Since 1966 · Serves 15 counties

Jacksonville firm handling estate administration for families across northeast Florida, from Duval and Clay through Marion and Suwannee counties. Opens probate estates, investigates creditor claims, addresses estate and income taxes, and distributes assets to heirs; also drafts wills, trusts, and advance directives. Robert W. Elrod, Jr. continues a practice his father started in 1966.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateWills Trusts

Office
233 East Bay Street, 10th Floor, Suite 1032Jacksonville, FL 32202
Free consultation

Solo PracticeSt. Augustine, FL

Law Office of Brittany Fraser Keith, PLLC

Serves 4 counties

St. Augustine solo practice serving St. Johns, Putnam, Flagler, and Clay counties. Handles estate planning, probate, estate and trust administration, and sealing and expungement. Brittany Fraser Keith is a St. Augustine native and offers consultations of up to an hour at no charge.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateSealing ExpungementWills Trusts

Office
1510 N. Ponce De Leon Blvd., Suite BSt. Augustine, FL 32084
Free consultation

FirmJacksonville, FL

Law Office of David M. Goldman PLLC

Since 2008 · Serves 6 counties

Jacksonville firm serving Duval, Clay, St. Johns, Nassau, and Baker counties, with a satellite office in Ponte Vedra Beach. Handles formal and summary probate administration, probate and trust litigation, guardianship, elder law and Medicaid crisis planning, and asset protection trusts. Practicing as this firm since 2008.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 4 more

Office
4115 Hendricks AvenueJacksonville, FL 32207
Free consultationVirtual consultations
See all 27 firms serving Flagler County →

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.

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Legal Sources

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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.

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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.

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