What to Do When Someone Dies in Nassau County, Florida

Probate in Nassau County runs through the Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.

When someone dies in Nassau County, settling their estate runs through the Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.

Probate Court Record

Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller

Nassau County · 4th Judicial Circuit

Address

76347 Veterans WayYulee, FL 32097

Hours

Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Visit court website →
Paper filing availableE-filing required for attorneysSelf-filing allowed

Departments

  • Civil/Probate Division904-548-4606

Home to Amelia Island. Probate office: 76347 Veterans Way, Suite 456, Yulee. Additional office: 416 Centre St, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034, (904) 491-6430. ADA: ADA@nassauclerk.com or 904-548-4917.

Verified July 3, 2026 · Source

How Probate Works in Nassau 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 Nassau County, probate runs through the Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller at 76347 Veterans Way, Yulee. The court sits in the 4th Judicial Circuit. Nassau County shares the 4th Judicial Circuit with Clay and Duval.

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. The 3 monthsFla. Stat. § 733.702Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.

What Probate Costs in Nassau County

What probate costs in Nassau 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 & Comptroller at 76347 Veterans Way, Yulee. The court is part of the 4th Judicial Circuit.

Probate matters are handled through the Civil/Probate Division. Filing and payment go through these offices, not the main clerk window.

Florida charges $399Fla. Stat. § 28.2401(1)(g), (3)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.

E-filing is mandatory for attorneys filing at the Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller (https://www.myflcourtaccess.com/). Self-represented filers can request a paper-filing exemption.

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.

Executor compensation is based on reasonable pay for time and effort. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.

Florida requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.

A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%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 & Comptroller

If you're handling probate yourself in Nassau County, Florida, you can file at the Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller in person or by mail. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys but families filing without one are exempt and can use paper forms. The court sits in the 4th Judicial Circuit.

Filings here are routed through the Civil/Probate Division. Confirm with the office which intake handles the petition type you're filing.

How to File Your Documents

Paper Filing Available

You can file your probate documents in person or by mail. While attorneys are required to e-file in Nassau County, families handling probate themselves are exempt and can file on paper.

E-Filing Also Available

If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.

View E-Filing Information

Can You File Without an Attorney?

Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller is realistic.

For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Nassau County Self-Filing Assessment.

What to Bring

To file at the Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.

Transferring Property in Nassau 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 and Comptroller.

Deeds and other real property documents for Nassau County are recorded with the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller at 76347 Veterans Way, Suite 456, Yulee, FL 32097. Phone: 904-548-4600. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM.

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

Nassau County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.

Recording Office Record

Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller

Nassau County

Address

76347 Veterans Way, Suite 456Yulee, FL 32097

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

E-recording

Available via Simplifile
Visit recorder website →

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 September 4, 2026 · Source

Probate Attorneys Serving Nassau County

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

FirmFernandina Beach, FL

Amelia Law Group, PLLC

Since 2014 · Serves 2 counties

Boutique Fernandina Beach firm on Amelia Island serving Nassau County and the Jacksonville metro. Handles trust and probate administration for families settling an estate, alongside estate planning and private wealth planning for business owners and high-net-worth clients. Founder Lorie L. Chism earned her CPA in 1990 and has been named a Florida Super Lawyer every year since 2014.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationTax PlanningProbate AdministrationWills Trusts

Office
960194 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 101Fernandina Beach, FL 32034

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 AdministrationProbate AdministrationWills Trusts

Office
233 East Bay Street, 10th Floor, Suite 1032Jacksonville, FL 32202
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 AdministrationProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 4 more

Office
4115 Hendricks AvenueJacksonville, FL 32207
Free consultationVirtual consultations

Solo PracticeJacksonville, FL

Lim & Company, P.L.

Since 2007 · Serves 4 counties

Jacksonville solo practice serving Duval, Clay, Nassau, and St. Johns counties. Ella Lim (Hae Kyung Lim) established the office in 2007 and handles estate planning, probate, guardianship, and business law. Concierge approach: the attorney travels to the client, with video conferencing also available.

PracticesEstate PlanningGuardianshipProbate AdministrationWills Trusts

Office
P.O. Box 350911Jacksonville, FL 32235
Virtual consultations

FirmFernandina Beach, FL

Poole & Poole, P.A.

Since 1994 · Serves 1 county

Fernandina Beach firm serving all of Nassau County -- Amelia Island, Yulee, Callahan, Hilliard, Bryceville -- since 1994, with over 55 years of combined experience. Assists families with estate administration after a death, alongside wills and revocable trusts, real estate, and civil litigation. Of counsel Wesley R. Poole is a retired Nassau County judge.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbate AdministrationReal Estate LitigationWills Trusts

Office
303 Centre Street, Suite 200Fernandina Beach, FL 32034

FirmJacksonville, FL

Schnauss Naugle Law

Since 2001 · Serves 3 counties

Jacksonville firm serving Duval, Clay, and Nassau counties since 2001, and representing out-of-state families who have a Florida estate or probate matter. Attorneys Katherine Schnauss Naugle and Ellen Ball handle probate and estate administration, guardianship, and elder law, and represent estate beneficiaries during probate and trust administration.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawGuardianshipProbate Administration

Office
810 Margaret St.Jacksonville, FL 32204
See all 26 firms serving Nassau 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

Data sourced from Florida statutes and official state code. How we research.