Columbia County Probate Court Records

Columbia County probate court records document the legal proceedings used to settle estates, validate wills, and handle guardianship matters for residents of this north-central Florida county. The Columbia County Clerk of Courts in Lake City maintains these records and provides access both in person and, for many cases, through an online search portal that lets you pull up case information without a trip to the courthouse.

Columbia County Clerk of Courts

James M. Swisher, Jr. serves as the Columbia County Clerk of Courts. The clerk's office in Lake City is the central point for all probate filings in the county. The clerk receives petitions, deposits original wills, issues letters of administration, and maintains the official probate case docket. Staff can help you find a case number or explain how to request a copy of a document, but they cannot give legal advice about which type of proceeding to file.

The clerk's office handles probate filings for all communities in Columbia County. Lake City is the county seat, and that is where all probate cases are filed and managed. Whether you are an heir, a creditor, or a researcher, reaching out to this office is the best first step for locating a case.

For statewide searches or when you need to confirm contact information, the Florida Clerks of Court directory provides up-to-date details for every county clerk in Florida.

The image below shows the Florida Clerks of Court statewide directory, which helps locate Columbia County and other county clerk offices across Florida.

This directory is maintained by the Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers association and is a reliable starting point when you need to contact any Florida county clerk's office.

3rd Judicial Circuit Court

Columbia County is part of the 3rd Judicial Circuit, which covers Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, and Taylor counties. That is seven rural counties spread across north Florida, served by a relatively small number of circuit judges. The 3rd Circuit probate division handles contested estate matters and guardianship hearings for all seven counties.

Because the 3rd Circuit covers a large geographic area, hearings in contested probate cases may require travel to Lake City or to the county seat of whichever county the case is filed in. For uncontested cases, summary administration petitions in Columbia County can often be handled without a formal hearing, which reduces the time and cost involved.

The Florida Courts website gives an overview of the circuit court structure statewide and links to resources for each circuit, including the 3rd Circuit's contact page. If you have questions about a pending Columbia County probate case, you can contact the clerk's office in Lake City or check the circuit's website for hearing information.

Guardianship cases in Columbia County are also handled in the 3rd Circuit's probate division. If an adult in the county loses the capacity to manage their own affairs, a family member or other interested party can petition the court for guardianship under Chapter 744 of the Florida Statutes. These cases involve court-appointed examiners, a court-appointed attorney for the alleged incapacitated person, and a judge's hearing.

Types of Probate Proceedings in Columbia County

Florida probate law applies uniformly across all 67 counties, and Columbia County follows the same rules as every other Florida county. There are three main options, and which one you use depends on the size of the estate and how long the person has been dead.

Formal Administration is the full process, required when probate assets total more than $75,000. Under Chapter 733 of the Florida Statutes, a personal representative must be appointed by the court, given authority to act, and then work through a structured process: inventory the estate's assets, publish a notice to creditors, pay valid claims and taxes, and file a final accounting before the court closes the case. Creditors have 90 days from the first publication date to file their claims. Formal administration typically runs six months to a year for a straightforward estate. Disputes or complex asset situations take longer.

Summary Administration is available for smaller estates. It applies when total probate assets are $75,000 or less, or when the decedent has been dead for two or more years. Chapter 735 sets out the rules for this process. There is usually no personal representative appointed. Instead, the beneficiaries file a petition listing assets and proposed distribution, give notice to creditors, and ask the court for a summary administration order. It is simpler and cheaper than formal administration. Given the smaller estate sizes common in rural north Florida, summary administration is used frequently in Columbia County.

Disposition Without Administration is the simplest path. It requires no real property and applies only when the remaining assets are exempt personal property or amounts owed to the estate that do not exceed the cost of final expenses, including funeral and medical bills up to $6,000. The clerk's office issues an authorization letter without opening a formal court case. No judge or hearing is required.

Chapter 731 of the Florida Statutes contains general definitions and procedural rules that apply across all three types of proceedings. Chapter 732 governs what happens when a person dies without a valid will, which is called dying intestate. These two chapters, along with Chapters 733 and 735, make up the core of Florida's probate code.

How to Search Columbia County Probate Records

The first step is contacting the Columbia County Clerk of Courts at (386) 758-1342 or visiting the office at 173 Northeast Hernando Avenue in Lake City. Ask about online case search access and whether the records you need are available electronically. The clerk's office can tell you whether a case is currently open or closed and what documents are on file.

If an online search portal is available, you will typically search by the decedent's name or by case number. The docket shows a list of every document filed in the case. Many documents are viewable on screen at no charge. For certified copies, the clerk charges a per-page fee set by Florida statute.

Keep in mind that not every estate passes through probate court. Assets held in trust, property owned jointly with right of survivorship, payable-on-death accounts, and assets with named beneficiaries all transfer outside the court system. If you search the clerk's records and find no probate case, the estate may have been handled through one of these non-probate methods.

For broader statewide searches, the Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers website gives you access to resources across all Florida counties. The Florida Courts Self-Help page also provides guidance on searching records and understanding the probate process.

The screenshot below shows the Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers main website, a statewide resource for locating clerk offices and accessing court information.

This resource covers all 67 Florida counties and provides links to each clerk's individual website, where county-specific records search tools are usually available.

Filing Probate in Columbia County

To open a probate case in Columbia County, go to the clerk's office at 173 Northeast Hernando Avenue in Lake City. Bring the original will, if one exists. Under Florida law, whoever holds the original will must file it with the county clerk within ten days of the person's death, even if no probate is planned at that time. Filing the will preserves it and makes it part of the public record.

Approved Florida Supreme Court probate forms are available at Florida Courts Self-Help. Download current versions directly from that official site. The clerk's office will reject filings on outdated form versions, so always verify the form date before printing and filing. Forms cover petitions for all three types of proceedings.

Filing fees are set by state law and collected at the time of filing. Call the clerk's office before you go to confirm the current fee schedule for your case type. Summary Administration generally carries a flat filing fee. Formal Administration fees may scale based on estate size. If financial hardship makes fees a barrier, the court has a process for requesting a fee waiver. Ask the clerk how to apply.

For complex estates, consulting a Florida-licensed probate attorney before filing can prevent costly mistakes. Attorney fees in formal administration are also governed by Florida statute, providing a framework for what is considered reasonable. The Florida Courts website can help you find legal aid resources if cost is a concern.

Cities in Columbia County

Columbia County's main communities include Lake City (the county seat), Fort White, and White Springs. None of these communities currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city records page. All probate filings for Columbia County residents are processed at the clerk's office in Lake City.

Nearby Counties