Walton County Probate Court Records Search

Walton County probate court records are filed with the Clerk of Courts in DeFuniak Springs and cover estate administration, will deposits, guardianship cases, and all related matters for county residents. The Walton County Clerk serves the 1st Judicial Circuit, which covers Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties. This page covers how to search Walton County probate records, what types of cases the courts handle, what fees apply, and where to find help with an estate.

Walton County Clerk of Courts

The Walton County Clerk of Courts maintains all official probate records for the county. Clerk Alex Alford handles filings from both the main courthouse in DeFuniak Springs and a South Walton branch office in Santa Rosa Beach. Walton County has grown steadily in recent years due to its coastal communities along the Gulf of Mexico, and the clerk's office now handles a higher volume of filings than its population alone might suggest, particularly for estates involving beach property or vacation homes.

The South Walton branch office at 31 Coastal Centre Blvd in Santa Rosa Beach provides access for residents and heirs dealing with estates tied to properties along the 30A corridor and surrounding Gulf communities. For most probate filings, the main courthouse in DeFuniak Springs is the proper filing location, but confirm with clerk staff whether the branch office can accept your specific filing before making the drive.

The 1st Judicial Circuit covers four counties: Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton. Probate cases filed in Walton County are handled by judges assigned to the 1st Circuit. Hearings may be held at the main circuit courthouse in Pensacola or at the Walton County Courthouse in DeFuniak Springs. Ask the clerk's office when scheduling to confirm where your hearing will take place.

The Florida Courts Find a Clerk tool provides current contact details and web links for the Walton County Clerk and every other county clerk in Florida.

The Florida Courts Find a Clerk page is updated regularly and gives direct links to Walton County's online case search portals and clerk office contact information.

Types of Probate Cases in Walton County

Florida law provides three ways to close an estate, and the Walton County Clerk handles all three. The right option depends on the estate's size, the type of assets involved, and how long the decedent has been deceased. Walton County sees a wider range of estate values than many Panhandle counties because of its coastal real estate market, which means both very small estates and high-value estates requiring Formal Administration are filed here regularly.

Formal Administration

Formal Administration is required when the estate's gross value exceeds $75,000 and the decedent died 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. That means gathering assets, notifying creditors, paying valid claims, handling any required tax filings, and distributing what is left to heirs. A court order is required before real property can be transferred to heirs.

Walton County's coastal real estate means Formal Administration comes up more often here than in counties without significant property values. Even a modest Gulf-front lot or a share in a beach condo can push an estate over the $75,000 threshold. When the death occurred within two years and real property is involved, Formal Administration is almost always required. The mandatory creditor notice period set by Chapter 733 means the process takes at minimum several months. Contested estates or those with unclear title can take much longer.

If there is no valid will, Florida's intestacy rules under Chapter 732 control who inherits. The law prioritizes a surviving spouse, then descendants, and then more distant relatives.

Summary Administration

Summary Administration is 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 simpler process. No personal representative is appointed. Heirs or beneficiaries file a petition with the Walton County Clerk, and the court issues an Order of Summary Administration directing how the assets are distributed. The process is faster and less expensive than Formal Administration.

For Walton County residents who died more than two years ago and whose estates were never probated, Summary Administration becomes available regardless of the estate's value, as long as other Chapter 735 requirements are met. This two-year rule is important for families who delayed opening an estate, which happens more often than people expect.

Disposition Without Administration

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

Searching Walton County Probate Records

Probate court records in Walton County are public court records. Most can be accessed through the Walton County Clerk's office in DeFuniak Springs. Call (850) 892-8115 or visit the clerk's office at 571 US-90 to search for specific case files. The South Walton branch at 31 Coastal Centre Blvd in Santa Rosa Beach may also be able to assist with record lookups. Call ahead to confirm which location can handle your request before making the trip.

To search for a probate case, have the decedent's full name and a general timeframe ready. An approximate year of death or the year a case was filed will help clerk staff locate the correct record. Walton County's online case search options may vary. Check the clerk's website at clerkofcourts.co.walton.fl.us to see what is available electronically before making an in-person visit.

Florida law limits public access to certain probate documents. Inventories and accountings filed in a probate case are not automatically open to the public. They can be reviewed by interested parties such as heirs or creditors, but they are not open to general public inspection. Petitions, orders, and filed wills are generally public records. Certified copies of court documents are available from the clerk for fees set under Florida law. Certified copies are often required by banks and title companies before they release assets or transfer property.

Probate Fees in Walton County

Filing fees for Walton County probate cases follow the statewide Florida fee schedule set under Florida Statute s.28.241. The filing fee for a Formal Administration petition varies based on the estimated value of the estate. Summary Administration petitions have a lower flat filing fee. The clerk may also assess service fees for certain filings.

Plan to budget for the initial petition filing fee, fees for certified copies of letters of administration or summary administration orders, and any service of process fees if documents need to be served on creditors or interested parties. Attorney fees, if you hire a probate attorney, are governed by s.733.6171, which sets reasonable compensation standards based on the estate's value. Contact the Walton County Clerk at (850) 892-8115 for the current fee schedule before filing anything.

Wills and Filing Requirements in Walton County

Under Florida Statute s.732.901, anyone who has custody of a will after the testator 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. The duty to file is mandatory. Keeping a will after learning of a death without filing it is a violation of Florida law.

In Walton County, that filing goes to the Clerk of Courts at 571 US-90 in DeFuniak Springs. Filing a will does not automatically open a probate case. It places the will on the public record. If probate is later needed, the will is already on file with the Walton County Clerk. If no probate is ever opened, the will stays on record as a permanent document.

Anyone who has physical custody of the will must file it, regardless of whether they are a family member, heir, or attorney. If you find a will and are unsure whether to file it, contact the Walton County Clerk at (850) 892-8115 for guidance on the process and the current filing fee.

Florida Probate Statutes That Apply in Walton County

All Walton County probate cases follow Florida's statewide probate code. The rules are the same in every Florida county. The 1st Judicial Circuit may also have local administrative orders that add specific procedural requirements for cases filed in Walton County. Check with the clerk's office or review the 1st Judicial Circuit website for any local rules before filing.

• Chapter 731: General provisions and definitions for all Florida probate proceedings.
• Chapter 732: Wills and intestate succession. Covers valid will requirements and how property passes when there is no will.
• Chapter 733: Estate administration. Personal representative duties, creditor claims, asset inventories, and distribution rules.
• Chapter 735: Small estates. Summary Administration and Disposition Without Administration.
• Chapter 744: Guardianship proceedings for incapacitated adults or minors. These cases are handled through the probate division of the Walton County Circuit Court.

Legal Help for Walton County Estates

The Florida Courts Self-Help Center offers approved forms and step-by-step guides for people handling their own probate cases without an attorney. For smaller Walton County estates going through Summary Administration or Disposition Without Administration, these resources can be enough. The forms are free to use, and the guides walk through each step of the process.

For larger or more complex estates, particularly those involving coastal real estate, multiple heirs, or contested claims, hiring a probate attorney familiar with the 1st Judicial Circuit is the better route. The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service can connect you with a licensed Florida attorney who handles probate matters in Walton County. North Florida Legal Services provides civil legal aid to qualifying low-income residents of Walton County and the surrounding region.

The Florida Courts website has general probate information and links to statewide resources that apply to every Florida county. The Florida Association of Court Clerks also provides general information on probate procedures and what clerk offices can and cannot help you with during the process.

Cities in Walton County

Walton County's communities range from the county seat in DeFuniak Springs to coastal communities along the Gulf such as Santa Rosa Beach, Destin's neighboring areas, and the 30A corridor. No cities in Walton County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site.

All probate cases for Walton County residents are filed at the Clerk of Courts main office in DeFuniak Springs, regardless of which community the decedent lived in. The South Walton branch office may also assist with certain inquiries.

Nearby Counties

Walton County borders three counties that are also part of the 1st Judicial Circuit, plus Bay and Washington counties to the east. File in the county where the decedent lived at the time of death, not where property is located.