Duval County Probate Court Records

Duval County probate court records are filed with the Clerk of Courts in Jacksonville, covering estates, wills, guardianships, and trust proceedings for Florida's most populous county. This guide explains how to search those records, what the process looks like, and where to get help.

Duval County Clerk of Courts

All probate filings in Duval County go through the Clerk of Courts office in Jacksonville. Because Duval County and the City of Jacksonville operate as a consolidated government, there is one central courthouse handling all probate matters. The clerk's office maintains the official case files and public records for every probate proceeding opened in the county.

The office handles intake, docketing, and records management for both formal and summary probate cases. Staff can confirm whether a case file exists, but they cannot give legal advice. For help completing forms, you need to contact a licensed Florida attorney or a legal aid organization.

The Duval County Clerk of Courts homepage gives access to online case searches, e-filing options, and fee schedules. The site is one of the more robust county clerk portals in Florida, which is useful if you want to pull basic case information before visiting in person.

The Duval County Clerk of Courts website is shown below. You can use it to look up active and closed probate cases, check filing status, and download certain documents.

The clerk's online portal lets you search by case number, party name, or filing date. Not all documents are available to download for free, but the case index is public.

How to Search Duval County Probate Records

There are three main ways to search probate court records in Duval County. Online search is the fastest for basic lookups. In-person access at the courthouse gives you the most complete view of a file. Mail requests work but can take longer.

For online searches, start with the clerk's public access portal at duvalclerk.com. Enter a name or case number. The system will return a list of matching cases with filing dates, case types, and disposition information. This works well for finding whether a probate estate was opened for a specific person.

The Florida Clerks of Court directory is also a good starting point if you need to confirm contact details or locate a specific clerk's office. It links to all 67 county clerk websites statewide.

The statewide directory shown above is maintained by the Florida Association of Court Clerks and Comptrollers. It is a reliable way to get current contact information for any county clerk in Florida.

If you need certified copies of probate documents, you must request those from the clerk's office directly. Fees vary by document type. Certified copies typically cost more than plain copies. Call (904) 255-2000 ahead of your visit to confirm current fees and what ID you may need to bring.

In-person visits to 501 West Adams Street in Jacksonville are best when you need to review the full case file. Staff at the probate division window can pull physical files for review at a public terminal. You can take notes or request copies on the spot.

Types of Probate in Duval County

Florida law sets out three main types of probate administration. Which one applies depends on the size of the estate and how long ago the person died. All three are governed by Florida Statutes and are handled through the Duval County Circuit Court.

Formal Administration

Formal administration applies to estates worth more than $75,000 in non-exempt assets. It is the full probate process under Florida Statutes Chapter 733. A personal representative must be appointed by the court, and creditors are given time to file claims. The process typically takes six months to a year, sometimes longer if the estate is complex or contested.

A licensed Florida attorney must represent the personal representative in formal administration. The court oversees each step, from opening the estate to final discharge. Case records from each stage are filed with the Duval County Clerk and become part of the public record.

Summary Administration

Summary administration is available when the estate's non-exempt assets are $75,000 or less, or when the person died more than two years ago. It is a shorter, simpler process under Florida Statutes Chapter 735. There is no personal representative. Instead, beneficiaries petition the court directly for an order of summary administration. The process is faster and generally less expensive than formal administration.

Summary administration filings are also public records kept by the Duval County Clerk. If you are searching for whether a family member's estate was probated this way, the clerk's case search can confirm it.

Disposition Without Administration

This is the simplest option. It applies when the estate has no real property and the only assets are exempt property or amounts that don't exceed final expenses like medical bills and funeral costs. The value threshold is generally $6,000 or less in non-exempt personal property. The surviving spouse or family member files a petition with the clerk. No court hearing is required in most cases. This process is also governed under Chapter 735 of Florida law.

The 4th Judicial Circuit Court

Duval County's probate cases are heard in the 4th Judicial Circuit. The circuit also covers Clay and Nassau counties. Judges assigned to the probate division handle estate matters, guardianship proceedings, and trust litigation. The 4th Judicial Circuit Court website has information on judges, court divisions, and local administrative orders that may affect probate practice in the county.

Local rules and administrative orders from the 4th Circuit can affect deadlines, required forms, and filing procedures. Always check current local requirements before filing. The clerk's office can tell you which forms are currently accepted and whether any local rules have changed recently.

The Florida Courts website provides statewide probate forms and general procedural guidance. Many of the standard probate forms used in Duval County are available there at no charge.

The Florida Courts portal shown above is the official statewide resource for court forms, self-help information, and links to each circuit court. It is a good reference if you are not sure which forms apply to your situation.

Legal Resources for Duval County Probate

If you need help with a probate case and cannot afford an attorney, there are options. The Florida Courts self-help center has general guidance and standard forms. Jacksonville Area Legal Aid serves Duval County residents with limited incomes and may be able to help with simple probate matters.

The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service can connect you with a licensed probate attorney in the Jacksonville area. Initial consultations are often low-cost. For complex estates, working with an attorney from the start will save time and reduce the chance of costly errors.

Florida's probate statutes are publicly available online. Chapter 733 governs formal administration. Chapter 735 covers summary administration and disposition without administration. Reading the relevant sections can help you understand the process before you meet with an attorney or visit the clerk's office.

The Florida Clerks directory is also worth bookmarking. It links to every county clerk in the state and is maintained with current contact details.

Cities in Duval County

Because of the consolidated city-county government, Jacksonville serves as both the county seat and the primary municipality of Duval County. Nearly all incorporated areas within the county boundary fall under Jacksonville's city government. Probate cases for residents throughout Duval County are handled at the same courthouse at 501 West Adams Street.

Jacksonville is the only city in Duval County with its own records page on this site. Small communities like Baldwin, Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, and Atlantic Beach exist as separate municipalities within the county but share the same clerk's office for probate matters.

Nearby Counties

Duval County borders several other Florida counties. Each has its own clerk of courts and probate records. If a decedent owned property in more than one county, ancillary probate proceedings may be needed in each county where real property is located.