Find Probate Court Records in Taylor County
Taylor County probate court records document estate cases, will filings, and guardianship proceedings filed with the Clerk of Court in Perry, Florida. Taylor County is part of the 3rd Judicial Circuit, one of seven rural north Florida counties served by that circuit. The Clerk of Court is the official keeper of these records, and the Perry courthouse is where you go to file documents, request copies, or look up an existing case. This page explains how probate works in Taylor County, what types of cases are filed here, and how to get the records you need.
Taylor County Quick Facts
Taylor County Clerk of Court
Janet Parrish serves as Taylor County Clerk of Court. The clerk's office in Perry processes all probate petitions, accepts will deposits, issues letters of administration, and keeps the official case docket for every probate matter filed in the county. Staff can look up a case by name or number, confirm what documents are on file, and tell you the current copy fees. They cannot give legal advice about how to handle an estate or which type of proceeding to use.
| Clerk of Court | Janet Parrish |
|---|---|
| Address | 108 N Jefferson St, Perry, FL 32347 |
| Phone | (850) 838-3506 |
| Website | taylorcountyclerk.com |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
The clerk's office is located at the Taylor County Courthouse in downtown Perry. If you are coming in person to search records or file documents, plan to arrive before 4:30 PM to allow enough time. Bring cash or a check for any copy fees. Call ahead to confirm payment options, since policies can change.
For certified copies of probate documents, there is typically a per-page fee plus a certification fee. The clerk's office can give you the exact amounts when you call. If you are mailing a request, include the decedent's full name, approximate year of death, and a self-addressed stamped envelope along with your payment.
The image below shows the Florida Courts statewide clerk finder, which lists Taylor County alongside every other county clerk office in Florida.
Use the Florida Courts Find a Clerk page to verify current contact information for the Taylor County Clerk of Court.
Contact details for county clerks sometimes change when a new clerk is elected, so this statewide directory is a useful cross-reference for the most current information.
3rd Judicial Circuit Probate Division
Taylor County is served by the 3rd Judicial Circuit, which also covers Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, and Suwannee counties. The 3rd Circuit handles all contested probate matters and guardianship hearings for this group of north Florida counties. Circuit judges travel among county seats to hold hearings. For Taylor County probate cases that require a court appearance, the hearing will take place in Perry at the Taylor County Courthouse.
Many probate cases in Taylor County do not need a hearing at all. Summary administration petitions, which apply to smaller estates, can often be approved by the court without anyone appearing before a judge. The clerk's office reviews the petition, and if everything is in order, it goes to the judge for signature. This makes summary administration much faster than formal administration in most cases.
The Florida Courts website covers the overall structure of the state's circuit court system and provides contact information for each of the 20 judicial circuits. If you have questions about a specific Taylor County probate case, the clerk's office in Perry is the best first call.
Guardianship matters are also part of the probate division's workload. When a Taylor County resident can no longer manage their own personal or financial affairs, a family member or other interested party may petition for guardianship under Chapter 744 of the Florida Statutes. These cases involve medical evaluations, a court-appointed examining committee, and a formal hearing before a judge. The clerk's office maintains guardianship records, though some parts of those files are kept confidential by law.
Probate Options for Taylor County Estates
Florida law provides three ways to handle a deceased person's estate. The right choice depends on the total value of the estate's non-exempt assets and how long the person has been dead. Here is how each option works.
Formal Administration is the standard probate process. It is required when a decedent's non-exempt assets exceed $75,000. The process starts with filing a petition to open the estate and appoint a personal representative. The personal representative must be represented by a Florida-licensed attorney in most cases. After the court issues letters of administration, the personal representative notifies creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, pays valid debts, and ultimately distributes what remains to the beneficiaries. The full process often takes six months to a year, and it can take longer if there are disputes or complex assets.
Summary Administration is a faster option for smaller estates. It applies when the estate's non-exempt assets are worth $75,000 or less, or when the person has been dead for two or more years (regardless of estate size). There is no personal representative. The petitioner files a summary administration petition that lists the assets and debts and names the beneficiaries. If the court approves it, a judge signs an order directing the distribution of assets. This can be done in a matter of weeks in many Taylor County cases.
Disposition Without Administration is for very small estates with no real property. It applies only when the estate's personal property does not exceed the amount needed to cover final medical and funeral expenses. The court can authorize payment to whoever paid those costs, without opening a full probate case. This is rarely used, but it is available in the right circumstances.
If you are not sure which type of proceeding fits your situation, consult a probate attorney before you file. Filing the wrong type of petition wastes time and money. The Florida Bar's lawyer referral service can connect you with a probate attorney in the Taylor County area.
Will Deposits and Filing Requirements
Florida law is clear on this point: anyone who has a person's original will must file it with the county clerk within 10 days of learning of that person's death. This rule is found at Florida Statutes section 732.901. It does not matter whether anyone plans to open a probate case. The will must still be filed. Keeping a will after someone dies and not filing it can expose the holder to legal liability.
Filing a will with the Taylor County Clerk does not automatically open a probate case. It just places the document on file as a matter of public record. Anyone can then look up the will and get a copy. If someone later decides to probate the estate, the will is already on file and can be admitted to probate at that point.
Original wills that were deposited with the clerk before death are also kept on file. A person can leave their original will with the clerk for safekeeping during their lifetime. These are sealed records until the person dies, at which point they become part of the public record.
If you believe someone had a will but cannot find it, contact the Taylor County Clerk's office. A search by the decedent's name can reveal whether a will was ever deposited, even years ago. The clerk keeps these records long-term as part of the official court archive.
Public Access and Confidential Records
Most Taylor County probate records are open to the public. The petition, the will, court orders, and the final distribution order are all part of the public record. You can review these documents at the clerk's office or, if the county has an online case search, look them up from home.
Some records are not public. Florida law makes probate inventories and accountings filed after October 1, 2006 confidential. The inventory is the document that lists all of the estate's assets and their values. The accounting shows how funds moved through the estate during administration. Both are shielded from public view to protect the financial privacy of beneficiaries. If you are a party to the case, you can access these records. If you are not, you will need a court order.
Guardianship files also contain confidential sections. Medical reports, psychological evaluations, and certain financial documents in guardianship cases are restricted to parties and their attorneys. The clerk's office can tell you which parts of any file are available for public inspection.
To search Taylor County probate records, call the clerk at (850) 838-3506 or visit the courthouse at 108 N Jefferson St in Perry. You can also check the clerk's website at taylorcountyclerk.com for an online case search option. Not all older records are available online, so a direct call or visit is often needed for historical cases.
Legal Resources for Taylor County Residents
Probate can be done without an attorney in some limited cases, but most Florida courts expect attorneys to represent parties in formal administration cases. For Taylor County residents who need legal help, a few resources are worth knowing about.
The Florida Bar's lawyer referral service connects people with licensed Florida attorneys, including those who handle probate matters in rural counties. You can search by practice area and location to find someone familiar with the 3rd Circuit.
Legal aid organizations serve lower-income residents in the 3rd Circuit area. North Central Florida Legal Services covers several counties in this part of the state and may be able to assist with probate questions or refer you to other resources. Eligibility is based on income, so call them to find out if you qualify for free or reduced-cost help.
The Florida Courts self-help resources page provides forms and guides for people who are handling legal matters without an attorney. Not all of these forms apply to probate, but the site has useful general information about how Florida courts work.
Cities in Taylor County
Perry is the county seat and largest city in Taylor County. No cities in Taylor County exceed the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All probate filings for residents throughout the county are handled through the Clerk of Court's office in Perry, regardless of where in the county the decedent lived.
Nearby Counties
Taylor County shares borders with several other north Florida counties. If a decedent owned real property in more than one county, a separate ancillary probate filing may be required in each county where that property is located.