Calhoun County Probate Records Search

Calhoun County probate court records are filed with the Clerk of Courts in Blountstown and cover estate administration cases, will deposits, guardianship proceedings, and all other probate matters for residents of this rural Florida Panhandle county. The Clerk serves the 14th Judicial Circuit, which spans six counties in northwest Florida. This page explains the types of probate available in Calhoun County, how to search existing records, and where to find legal help when you need it.

Calhoun County Clerk of Courts

The Calhoun County Clerk of Courts in Blountstown handles all probate filings for the county. Clerk Robin "Cissy" Barfield maintains the official probate records and coordinates with the 14th Judicial Circuit for matters that need a judge's order or hearing. Calhoun County is one of the smallest counties in Florida by population, and the clerk's office reflects that scale: smaller staff, more direct access, and often faster response times than in larger counties.

The 14th Judicial Circuit covers Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, and Washington counties. Probate judges assigned to the circuit handle estate matters across all six counties. For Calhoun County cases that require a hearing, the judge may travel to Blountstown or hearings may be held at the main circuit courthouse in Panama City, depending on the case and the judge's schedule. Confirm hearing location with the clerk's office when a date is set.

The 14th Judicial Circuit website provides circuit-wide information on probate procedures, judge assignments, and local administrative orders that apply in Calhoun County. Reviewing this site alongside the clerk's office information gives a more complete picture of what to expect during a Calhoun County probate case.

The 14th Circuit site has procedural rules, administrative orders, and judge contact information for all six counties in the circuit, including Calhoun County.

Types of Probate in Calhoun County

Florida law provides three ways to settle an estate. Calhoun County courts handle all three. In a small rural county, many estates qualify for the simplified options, but Formal Administration is still required when the estate is large enough or recent enough to demand the full process.

Formal Administration

Formal Administration is the complete court-supervised probate process. It is required when the estate's gross value exceeds $75,000 and the death occurred within the past two years. Chapter 733 of the Florida Statutes governs this process. The court appoints a personal representative who has legal authority to manage the estate: locating and inventorying assets, notifying and paying creditors, handling any required tax obligations, and finally distributing what remains to heirs.

Real property in Calhoun County titled solely in the decedent's name requires a court order before it can be transferred to heirs. Even modest properties worth less than $75,000 may need Formal Administration if they carry title issues or if there are disputes among heirs. The process takes at least several months due to the mandatory creditor claim period set by Chapter 733. Simple estates with clear title and no disputes are on the shorter end; contested or complex estates can take much longer.

If there is no valid will, Florida's intestacy law under Chapter 732 controls who inherits. The law sets a priority order starting with a surviving spouse, then children, then more distant relatives.

Summary Administration

Summary Administration is a faster, simplified process available when the estate's net value is $75,000 or less, or when the decedent has been deceased for two or more years. Chapter 735 governs this procedure. No personal representative is appointed. A petition is filed with the Calhoun County Clerk, and the court issues an Order of Summary Administration directing how assets are distributed. For small rural estates in Calhoun County, this is often the right path.

Many Calhoun County estates that involve only a home, a bank account, and personal property may qualify for Summary Administration. If the decedent died more than two years ago and the estate was never probated, Summary Administration is now available regardless of value, as long as the estate otherwise qualifies under Chapter 735.

Disposition Without Administration

This is the most limited and simplest option. It only applies when there is no real property, the estate consists only of personal property, and the total value does not exceed the amount owed for the decedent's last illness and funeral costs, capped at $6,000. The filing must happen within two years of the date of death. If the Calhoun County Clerk approves the application, a letter is issued directing whoever holds the assets to release them to the person who paid those expenses. No court hearing is required. This falls under Chapter 735.

Searching Calhoun County Probate Records

Calhoun County probate records are public court records. To search for an existing case, contact the Calhoun County Clerk's office at (850) 674-4545 or visit in person at 20859 Central Avenue East, Room 130 in Blountstown. As a small county, Calhoun may have more limited online access compared to larger Florida counties, so calling ahead is recommended to confirm what's available electronically versus what requires an in-person visit.

When searching for a case, have the name of the decedent ready and, if possible, an approximate date of death or case filing date. For certified copies of documents, copy fees set by Florida law apply. Staff can help you locate items within a case file, though they cannot advise on legal strategy or what to file next.

The Florida Clerks Find a Clerk tool confirms current contact details and any online portal links for the Calhoun County Clerk. This is useful if you are not sure whether online case search is available for Calhoun County or if the clerk's contact information has changed.

The Find a Clerk tool is the most reliable way to get up-to-date contact details and direct links for any of Florida's 67 county clerk offices, including Calhoun County.

Wills and Filing Requirements in Calhoun County

Under Chapter 732 of the Florida Statutes, anyone who has custody of a will after the testator (the person who made the will) dies must file it with the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the decedent lived. This must happen within 10 days of learning of the death. This is a mandatory legal requirement, not optional.

In Calhoun County, that means filing the will with the Calhoun County Clerk at Room 130 in the Blountstown courthouse. Filing the will does not automatically open a probate case. It just places the will on the public record. If probate is later needed, the will is already on file. If no probate is ever opened, the will remains as a permanent record but no further action is required.

Contact the Calhoun County Clerk at (850) 674-4545 to confirm the current fee for filing a will and for obtaining a receipt if one is needed. The general provisions of Chapter 731 set the baseline rules for all probate filings in Florida, including will deposits.

Florida Probate Statutes for Calhoun County Cases

All Calhoun County probate cases follow Florida's statewide probate code. The key chapters are the same ones that apply in every Florida county:

• Chapter 731: General provisions and definitions that apply across all probate proceedings in Florida.
• Chapter 732: Wills and intestate succession. Covers how property passes when there is no will and the rules for valid wills in Florida.
• Chapter 733: Estate administration. Sets out personal representative duties, creditor claims, asset inventories, and final distribution rules.
• Chapter 735: Small estates. Covers Summary Administration and Disposition Without Administration.
• Chapter 744: Guardianship. Governs proceedings to appoint a guardian for incapacitated adults or minors. These cases are handled through the probate division in Calhoun County.

The 14th Circuit may also have local administrative orders that add specific requirements for cases filed in Calhoun County. Check with the clerk's office or review the 14th Circuit website at jud14.flcourts.org for any local rules that apply.

Legal Help for Calhoun County Estates

The Florida Courts Self-Help Center provides approved forms and step-by-step guides for people handling their own probate cases. For simple Calhoun County estates using Summary Administration or Disposition Without Administration, these resources can be enough. The Florida Courts website also has general probate information and links to statewide resources that apply to every Florida county.

For more complex matters or when heirs disagree, a probate attorney familiar with the 14th Judicial Circuit is the safer route. North Florida Legal Services provides civil legal aid to qualifying low-income residents of Calhoun County and the surrounding Panhandle counties. The Florida Association of Court Clerks also has general information on probate processes and what the clerk's office can help with. The Bay County Bar Association, given its proximity, can often provide referrals to attorneys who practice in Calhoun County as well.

Cities in Calhoun County

Calhoun County is one of Florida's smallest counties by population. No cities in Calhoun County meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site.

Communities in Calhoun County include Blountstown (the county seat) and Altha. All probate cases for residents of Calhoun County are filed at the Calhoun County Clerk of Courts in Blountstown.

Nearby Counties

Calhoun County sits in the Florida Panhandle surrounded by other Panhandle counties, most of which are also part of the 14th Judicial Circuit. Confirm the decedent's county of residence before filing, especially near county boundaries.