Probate in Santa Rosa County runs through the Clerk of Circuit Court: 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 Santa Rosa County, settling their estate runs through the Clerk of Circuit Court. 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
Santa Rosa County · 1st Judicial Circuit
County forms
Main courthouse for court filings including probate. Administration, Finance & Official Records office at 6495 Caroline Street, Milton, FL 32570. South End Service Center: 5841 Gulf Breeze Pkwy, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563 (850-983-1966). Hours in Central Time (CST). Probate/court mailing address: 6495 Caroline St., Suite A, Milton, FL 32570.
Verified July 3, 2026 · Source
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 Santa Rosa County, probate runs through the Clerk of Circuit Court at 4025 Avalon Blvd, Milton. The court sits in the 1st Judicial Circuit. The same 1st Judicial Circuit also serves Escambia, Okaloosa 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. 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 Santa Rosa 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 4025 Avalon Blvd, Milton. The court is part of the 1st Judicial Circuit.
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 (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.
If you're handling probate yourself in Santa Rosa County, Florida, you can file at the Clerk of Circuit Court 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 1st Judicial Circuit.
How to File Your Documents
You can file your probate documents in person or by mail. While attorneys are required to e-file in Santa Rosa County, families handling probate themselves are exempt and can file on paper.
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 InformationNot every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Clerk of Circuit Court is realistic.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Santa Rosa County Self-Filing Assessment.
This county uses specific forms in addition to state-standard forms. Using the correct forms helps avoid delays or rejected filings.
To file at the Clerk of Circuit Court 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.
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 Santa Rosa County are recorded with the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller at 6495 Caroline Street, Suite A, Milton, FL 32570. Phone: 850-981-5554. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to 6495 Caroline St. Suite A, Milton, FL 32570.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller charges $10 for the first page plus $9 for each additional page.
Recording Office Record
Santa Rosa County
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
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
Florida uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Santa Rosa 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. Santa Rosa 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.
FirmPensacola, FL
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningGuardianshipProbate AdministrationWills Trusts
FirmPensacola, FL
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationTax Planningand 2 more
FirmShalimar, FL
Shalimar firm on Eglin Parkway, near Fort Walton Beach, serving Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa, and Bay counties since 1987. Handles probate administration, guardianships and conservatorships, and tax-efficient estate planning. Founding shareholder H. Bart Fleet is admitted to the U.S. Tax Court and teaches the Wills, Trusts and Probate course at Northwest Florida State College.
PracticesEstate PlanningTax PlanningConservatorshipGuardianshipand 2 more
FirmPensacola, FL
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawTax Planningand 4 more
FirmPensacola, FL
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationProbate AdministrationReal Estate Litigation
FirmGainesville, FL
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationTrust LitigationProbate Administration
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.
Data sourced from Florida statutes and official state code. How we research.
Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.
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Vehicles, jewelry, collectibles, etc.
Mortgages, credit cards, loans, etc.
Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
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This tool provides general information about self-filing probate and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
Step-by-step tools for families in Santa Rosa County, Florida.
Get a personalized plan for settling an estate after someone passes away. Covers trust administration, probate, and intestate estates.
Get a personalized plan for settling a trust after the grantor passes away. Covers beneficiary notification, asset transfers, creditor handling, taxes, and distributions.
Get a score-based recommendation on whether self-filing probate is right for your situation. See estimated savings vs. hiring an attorney and get a step-by-step checklist.
Browse vetted Florida attorneys handling probate matters.
