Jefferson County, Florida Probate
Cost Calculator

The Jefferson County Circuit Court in Monticello administers all probate matters for Jefferson County, Florida. Local court procedures supplement the state's probate code and can affect scheduling, filing requirements, and overall costs.

The Jefferson County Circuit Court in Monticello handles probate alongside other civil matters, and the lighter docket often means more scheduling flexibility. Confirm local filing norms with the clerk's office.

The typical timeline runs 6-12 months, though straightforward estates may resolve faster.

Florida establishes separate statutory fee schedules for personal representatives (§ 733.617) and attorneys (§ 733.6171). Summary administration is available for estates under $75,000 or when the decedent died more than two years ago.

For Florida's full fee tiers and filing details, see our Florida Probate Calculator.

The Jefferson County Clerk of the Circuit Court is located at 1 Courthouse Cir, Monticello, FL 32344. The court clerk can be reached at (850) 342-0218.

Visit the court's website for current forms, fee schedules, and filing instructions. Electronic filing is available.

Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM.

• Florida has separate statutory fee schedules for personal representatives (§ 733.617: 3% on the first $1M, declining to 1.5% above $10M) and attorneys (§ 733.6171).
• The Jefferson County Circuit Court in Monticello must approve any fees exceeding statutory amounts.
• Summary administration — for estates under $75,000 — significantly reduces court costs.

• Probate in Jefferson County — ranked 62nd of Florida's 67 counties — begins with filing a Petition for Administration at the Jefferson County Circuit Court in Monticello.
• Florida offers two primary pathways: formal administration for estates above $75,000, and summary administration for smaller estates or those where the decedent has been dead for more than two years.
• The choice of pathway significantly affects both the timeline and cost of administration in Jefferson County.

• Under formal administration, the personal representative must publish a Notice to Creditors in a Monticello-area newspaper, file an inventory within 60 days of appointment, and manage the estate through the creditor claims period (which runs 90 days from the first publication or 30 days from service on known creditors).
• The typical probate timeline in Jefferson County runs 6-12 months, though summary administration can resolve qualifying estates significantly faster.
• Florida's homestead protections — among the strongest in the nation — create additional complexity for estates that include the decedent's primary residence.

Florida's summary administration procedure — available for estates valued under $75,000 or when the decedent has been dead for more than two years — provides a streamlined alternative to formal probate in Jefferson County, ranked 62nd of the state's 67 counties. Summary administration eliminates the need for a personal representative and allows the court to order direct distribution of assets to beneficiaries.

The petition is filed at the Jefferson County Circuit Court in Monticello.

Florida also offers a Disposition Without Administration procedure for estates consisting solely of exempt property (including homestead) and non-exempt personal property that does not exceed the cost of preferred funeral expenses and reasonable medical expenses of the last 60 days. In Jefferson County, where estate compositions tend toward residential property and retirement accounts, summary administration and disposition without administration handle a meaningful share of estate transfers.

Florida's strong homestead protections mean that the primary residence often passes outside the probate estate entirely, reducing the value subject to formal administration.

• Getting an accurate cost estimate before you start probate in Jefferson County helps you budget for Florida's statutory percentage schedule plus local filing fees at the Jefferson County Circuit Court.
• The clerk's office in Monticello can answer procedural questions about required forms and hearing schedules.

• This free probate calculator applies Florida's specific rules automatically — enter the estate's approximate value to get an instant breakdown of expected fees.
• No account required.