Okaloosa County Probate Court Records

Okaloosa County probate court records are filed with the Clerk of Courts in Crestview and cover formal estate administrations, summary administration cases, will deposits, guardianship proceedings, and related matters for residents of this northwest Florida Panhandle county. The 1st Judicial Circuit covers Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties, with Okaloosa County probate cases handled under 1st Circuit jurisdiction. This page covers how to search records, understand which probate type applies, contact the clerk, and find legal resources in the Okaloosa area.

Okaloosa County Clerk of Courts - Probate Division

The Okaloosa County Clerk of Courts in Crestview handles all probate filings for the county. The main courthouse is on James Lee Boulevard in Crestview. If you are coming from Fort Walton Beach or Destin on the southern end of the county, the drive to Crestview takes about 30 to 40 minutes depending on traffic. Call ahead or check the clerk's website before making the trip.

Most probate documents are public records. However, inventories and accountings filed in estates are confidential under Florida law. Florida law also prohibits the Clerk from placing an image or copy of a court file on a publicly available Internet Web site. This means some case documents can only be obtained in person at the clerk's office or through a formal copy request.

The Okaloosa County Clerk's website lists all court divisions, the online case search portal, filing fee information, and direct contacts for each division. Review the site before your first contact with the clerk's office to identify the right department for probate matters.

The homepage also shows current news from the clerk, including any fee changes or updates to filing procedures that may affect your case.

1st Judicial Circuit

The 1st Judicial Circuit covers Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties in the Florida Panhandle. Okaloosa County probate cases fall under this circuit's jurisdiction. The circuit court website at jud1.flcourts.org provides judge listings, local administrative orders, and hearing schedules for the circuit.

Because the 1st Circuit covers four counties, its probate resources are distributed across a wider area than a single-county circuit. Each county files and hears its own cases locally, but circuit-level rules and administrative orders apply throughout. Before filing, check the 1st Circuit website for any current local orders that set requirements for probate filings in Okaloosa County.

Okaloosa County has a significant military population due to Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field. Estates involving active duty military members may have additional considerations under federal law, including issues related to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. If the decedent was active duty at the time of death, consult an attorney familiar with both Florida probate law and military estate issues.

How to Search Okaloosa County Probate Records

The Okaloosa County Clerk of Courts provides an online case search tool accessible from the clerk's website. You can search by the decedent's name, the personal representative's name, or a case number. Public case information includes filing dates, party names, docket entries, and scheduled hearing dates. Some document images may be available through the portal; others require an in-person visit due to Florida's restriction on posting court file images online.

For certified copies or documents that are not available through the online search, call the clerk's office at (850) 689-5000. Staff can tell you the current copy fees, confirm whether a specific case file is open for inspection, and let you know if additional records are needed before copies can be released. Certified copies of letters of administration are commonly required by banks, brokerage firms, and title companies.

The Florida Association of Court Clerks and Comptrollers maintains a statewide Find-a-Clerk directory that covers all 67 Florida county clerk offices. This is useful if an estate involved assets in multiple counties or if you are not certain where the decedent filed their will.

The directory at flclerks.com/page/findaclerk provides direct links to each county clerk's contact page, including Okaloosa County.

Types of Probate in Okaloosa County

Florida law sets out three main probate processes, and which applies to any given estate depends on the gross value of assets and how long ago the person died. All three types are filed with the Okaloosa County Clerk of Courts.

Formal Administration

Formal administration is used when the estate's gross value exceeds $75,000 and the decedent died less than two years ago. This is the full probate process. The circuit court appoints a personal representative, creditors receive formal notice and have time to file claims, an inventory of estate assets must be filed, and a final accounting is submitted before the estate can close. Florida law requires attorney representation in most formal administration cases. The process typically runs from six months to over a year depending on the estate's complexity and whether any creditor claims or family disputes arise.

Summary Administration

Summary administration is available when the estate's gross value is $75,000 or less, or when two or more years have passed since the decedent's death. The two-year rule often matters in Okaloosa County cases where family members wait before addressing an estate. Under summary administration, no personal representative is appointed. Interested parties file a petition, and the court issues an order directing how assets should be distributed. The process is faster and less expensive than formal administration. Many estates in Okaloosa County will qualify under one of these two criteria.

Disposition Without Administration

When an estate consists only of personal property valued at $6,000 or less and includes no real estate, a family member may seek a disposition without administration. This is the simplest path and does not require opening a full court case. The clerk's office has the form needed to file this request. It is most often used to collect a small bank account or obtain a vehicle title transfer after someone dies with very limited assets.

All three processes are governed by Florida Statutes Chapter 733, which sets out the requirements for petitions, notice, creditor claims, inventories, accountings, and distribution in Florida estate administration.

Filing Fees and Costs

Okaloosa County follows the statewide probate filing fee schedule set by Florida law. Filing fees for formal administration are calculated based on the estate's estimated gross value. Summary administration petitions have a separate flat fee. Certified copies of court orders, letters of administration, or other probate documents cost additional amounts per page plus a certification fee. Contact the clerk's office at (850) 689-5000 to confirm current fees before filing.

Beyond filing fees, common costs in a probate case include service of process fees, publication fees for notice to creditors (required in formal administration), and attorney fees. Attorney fees in formal administration are governed by Florida Statutes Section 733.6171, which sets a statutory fee schedule based on the estate's gross value. Additional costs may arise if real property needs to be sold, if there are creditor disputes, or if the estate requires a professional appraisal of assets.

Legal Resources for Okaloosa County Probate

The Florida Courts website at flcourts.gov provides approved probate forms and self-help guides for common estate situations. These forms are accepted statewide and can be downloaded at no cost. They are a useful starting point if you are trying to understand what documents are needed for a summary administration or a simple formal administration case.

Legal Aid Service of Broward County does not serve the Panhandle area, but Northwest Florida Legal Services provides free civil legal assistance to low-income residents in the Panhandle region, including Okaloosa County. Contact their office to find out if your situation qualifies for free probate help. The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service can also connect you with a local probate attorney in the Fort Walton Beach or Crestview area if paid legal help is needed.

Okaloosa County has a mix of estate types. Some involve only personal property and bank accounts, while others include real estate near the Gulf coast, investment accounts, or retirement funds. Real property complicates estate administration and often pushes cases into formal administration. Get a clear picture of all the assets before deciding which probate process to pursue.

Cities in Okaloosa County

Okaloosa County includes Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Destin, Valparaiso, Shalimar, Mary Esther, and other communities. None of these cities currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Fort Walton Beach is the county's largest coastal city at roughly 24,000 residents. All probate filings from across the county are made with the Clerk of Courts at 101 East James Lee Boulevard in Crestview.

Nearby Counties

Okaloosa County borders Escambia County to the west, Santa Rosa County to the west and south, Walton County to the east, and Holmes County to the north. All neighboring counties are in the 1st Judicial Circuit except Holmes County, which is in the 14th Circuit.