In DeFuniak Springs, this funeral home and crematory traces its history to 1931, when it opened as Page Funeral Home, and is family owned. Its second location, the Freeport Chapel, serves the Freeport, Bruce, Portland and South Walton communities.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Walton County, Florida
How probate works in Walton County: the Clerk of Circuit Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Walton County Clerk of Circuit Court
Walton County · 1st Judicial Circuit
Phone
1-850-892-8115 (option 1 for Court Services including probate)
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM CT
Office
571 US Highway 90 East, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433
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
AllowedUnder Fla. Prob. R. 5.030, every guardian and every personal representative, unless the personal representative is the sole interested person, is represented by a Florida attorney. The Clerk's probate page points filers to the Florida Bar for forms and for its Lawyer Referral Service.
Self-help center
- 571 U.S. Highway 90 East, DeFuniak Springs, and 31 Coastal Centre Boulevard, Santa Rosa Beach1-850-892-8115 · Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM CTThe Clerk's Self-Help Center page gathers resources for filing without an attorney in civil, family, eviction, small claims, probate and guardianship matters.
P.O. Box 1260
DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435
Fax
1-850-892-8017
Departments
- Probate (South Walton Courthouse Annex)1-850-267-3066 · 31 Coastal Centre Boulevard, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
About the court
- Probate matters are handled at the Clerk's office in DeFuniak Springs and at the South Walton Courthouse Annex in Santa Rosa Beach. Office hours are in Central Time.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Walton 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 Walton County, probate runs through the Clerk of Circuit Court at 571 US Highway 90 East, DeFuniak Springs. The court sits in the 1st Judicial Circuit. Walton County shares the 1st Judicial Circuit with Escambia, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa.
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 Walton County
What probate costs in Walton 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 571 US Highway 90 East, DeFuniak Springs. 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 Walton 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 (South Walton Courthouse Annex).
The Clerk's Self-Help Center page gathers resources for filing without an attorney in civil, family, eviction, small claims, probate and guardianship matters.
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 Walton County Self-Filing Assessment.
Walton 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
Depositing an original will
The Clerk files an original will only after the testator's death, and filing it carries no fee.
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 Walton County
In Florida a death is registered locally, and in Walton County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Florida Department of Health in Walton County as well as by Florida Department of Health - Bureau of Vital Statistics.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Registrar
Walton County · Florida Department of Health in Walton County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
362 State Highway 83, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433
Website
Certified copies
At the counter
Fax
1-850-892-8457
Local rule
- A legible copy of a valid driver license, passport, state-issued ID or military identification card accompanies every request.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $10 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
District Medical Examiner
Walton 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 Walton County
5 funeral homes and crematories in Walton County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
In DeFuniak Springs, Davis-Watkins - DeFuniak Springs is one of the two places where Davis-Watkins Funeral Homes & Crematory began, alongside Fort Walton Beach. The family owned firm serves Holmes, Okaloosa and Walton counties from homes in Bonifay, Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, Fort Walton Beach and Miramar Beach.
In DeFuniak Springs, McDonald Family Funeral Home offers cremation, including direct cremation with prompt return of the remains, and graveside services. Its staff meets with families who plan ahead to explain the service options.
In Freeport, this chapel opened in April 2000 to give families in the Freeport, Bruce, Portland and South Walton communities a nearer location. It is family owned, as is its sister funeral home and crematory in DeFuniak Springs, whose history goes back to 1931.
In Miramar Beach, Davis-Watkins - Miramar Beach is one of the locations of Davis-Watkins Funeral Homes & Crematory, which is family owned. The firm serves Holmes, Okaloosa and Walton counties from homes in Bonifay, Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, Fort Walton Beach and Miramar Beach.
Funeral homes by city: DeFuniak Springs, Freeport, Miramar Beach
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in Walton 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 Walton County are recorded with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 571 US Highway 90 East, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433. Phone: 1-850-892-8115. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM CT.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court charges $10 for the first page plus $9 for each additional page.
Walton County accepts electronic recording through CSC, ePN, Hopdox and Simplifile.
Recording Office Record
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Walton County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM CT
Office
571 US Highway 90 East, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433
Website
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 Walton County
Florida uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Walton 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. Walton 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 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.
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.
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.
Destin firm serving Okaloosa, Walton, and the rest of Northwest Florida, founded in 2014 by Destin native William G. Kilpatrick Jr. and now three attorneys. Handles formal and summary probate administration for personal representatives and trust administration for trustees, including notices, accountings, and creditor claims. Estate planning is quoted on flat fees.
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)
- Walton County Clerk of Circuit Court, official page
- Walton County Clerk of the Circuit Court, official page
- Walton 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
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