Florida uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in St. Johns 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. St. Johns 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.
Solo PracticeSt. Augustine, FL
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 AdministrationGuardianshipProbate Administration
- Office
- 2802 N 5th St.St. Augustine, FL 32084
Solo PracticeJacksonville, FL
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
FirmSt. Augustine, FL
Serves 4 counties
St. Augustine firm on A1A Beach Boulevard with a second office in Jacksonville, handling St. Johns and Duval County probate and trust administration. Guides personal representatives through formal administration and small-estate dispositions, and pairs that with estate planning, elder law, and tax work. Jonathan P. Hermes is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Wills, Trusts and Estates.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawTax PlanningProbate Administration
- Office
- 460 A1A Beach BlvdSt. Augustine, FL 32080
Solo PracticeSt. Augustine, FL
Since 2007 · Serves 1 county
St. Augustine tax and estate planning practice serving St. Johns County from Anastasia Island. Andrew Jackson handles tax law and IRS matters, estate planning, probate, and trust administration, and holds a master's degree in taxation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawTax Planningand 3 more
- Office
- 1301 Plantation Island Drive South, Suite 304St. Augustine, FL 32080
Solo PracticeSt. Augustine, FL
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 AdministrationProbate AdministrationSealing ExpungementWills Trusts
- Office
- 1510 N. Ponce De Leon Blvd., Suite BSt. Augustine, FL 32084
FirmJacksonville, FL
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
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.
