Probate in Duval County: Where It’s Filed
Jacksonville is in Duval County, which sits in Florida’s 4th Judicial Circuit. Probate is filed with Jody Phillips, the Duval County Clerk of the Circuit Court, in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. Cases are handled at the Duval County Courthouse at 501 W. Adams Street in Jacksonville, where the Probate Department is in Room 1260. Attorneys e-file every document through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, which is why an out-of-state family can have a Duval County estate handled without anyone traveling to the courthouse.
In Duval County the original will is deposited with the Clerk within 10 days of learning of the death rather than e-filed, and the Clerk’s probate page names no room for it, so call the Probate Department at (904) 255-1990 before carrying the original in. We serve Jacksonville and Duval County residents, including Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Baldwin.
Which Kind of Probate You’ll Need
Most Duval County estates pass through one of three doors. The cheapest one may be open.
- Disposition without administration. Tiny estates with only exempt property and final-expense reimbursement; days to weeks.
- Summary administration. Estates of $150,000 or less (raised from $75,000 on July 1, 2026) after exempt property, or when the decedent died more than two years ago; often weeks.
- Formal administration. Everything else; a personal representative is appointed and the case runs about 6 to 12 months.
We confirm which applies at your consultation and quote a flat fee. Estimate the cost and timeline first →
How Long, and What It Costs
Formal administration is paced by the 3-month creditor-claim window; clean distribution waits for it to pass. Florida law sets a presumed-reasonable attorney fee scaled to the estate, but it’s a ceiling, not a mandate. Our flat fees start at $1,500 (disposition), $2,500 (summary), and $3,500 (formal). Government costs, the Duval County filing fee (about $400), newspaper publication, and certified copies, are additional and passed through at cost. See the full Florida probate guide →
Out-of-State Personal Representatives
Under Florida law, you can serve as personal representative of a Duval County estate from another state if you’re related to the decedent by blood, adoption, or marriage; an out-of-state child qualifies. We represent personal representatives across Jacksonville and Duval County by phone, video, and e-signature.
Inherited a house or other real property here, or took charge of one as personal representative or trustee? Our guide to inheriting a house in Duval County maps every office that now matters to you, including the property appraiser, tax deadlines, code enforcement, and how to watch what the county is planning near the property.
Local Rules, Judges, and the Clerk’s Probate Office
Every circuit publishes administrative orders and local procedures that control how probate actually runs in Duval County, including which division gets the case, which checklists are required, and how proposed orders reach the judge. Duval runs two circuit probate divisions, PR-A and PR-B, and each posts its own Ex Parte and Procedures document on the circuit site. Decedent estates are filed with the Clerk’s Probate Department at 501 West Adams Street, Room 1260, phone (904) 255-1990. The circuit posts its administrative orders through the Duval Clerk repository rather than on the court site.
- Administrative orders of the Fourth Judicial Circuit
- Fourth Judicial Circuit judges directory
- The clerk’s probate office for Duval County
- Local probate forms and checklists
You do not have to learn any of this yourself. Part of what a flat fee covers is an attorney who already files under these rules, so nothing bounces back for a missing checklist.
Rather handle the filing yourself? Our Duval County Probate Court filing guide is the procedural version of this page, with the courthouse address, where the original will goes, which forms the county wants, the posted filing fee, and an eleven-step checklist for opening the estate.
Handling a Jacksonville estate?
A free consultation tells you which kind of probate applies and what it will cost.
Book a free consultationFrequently Asked Questions
How do I choose a probate lawyer in Jacksonville?
Ask the same four questions everywhere in Florida. Is the fee flat or the statutory percentage, in writing? Does the lawyer litigate if a will contest or objection erupts mid-case? Can the whole case be handled without you coming to Florida, since Florida probate e-files statewide? And does the estate, not you personally, pay the fee? We answer flat, yes, yes, and yes for Jacksonville and Duval County families.
Where is probate filed in Duval County?
Probate is filed with Jody Phillips, the Duval County Clerk of the Circuit Court, in the 4th Judicial Circuit, where the decedent was domiciled. Attorneys e-file through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, so you don't have to appear in person. We handle Duval County estates wherever you are.
How long will it take?
Formal administration in any Florida county usually runs 6 to 12 months because the 3-month creditor-claim window (§733.702) must pass. Summary administration is faster, often a few weeks to about two months.
Do I need a local attorney if I live out of state?
You need a Florida attorney for most formal administrations (Fla. Prob. R. 5.030), but you don't need to be local. We represent personal representatives across Jacksonville and Duval County by phone, video, and e-signature.
Sources
- Fla. Stat. ch. 733 to 735 (administration); §733.304 (nonresident PR); §733.702 (creditor claims); Fla. Prob. R. 5.030 (attorney required). Filing via Jody Phillips, the Duval County Clerk of the Circuit Court (4th Judicial Circuit) and the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. (retrieved 2026-06-07)
Updated September 29, 2026. Reviewed by Kevin D. Klagge, Esq., Fla. Bar No. 99502. Attorney Kevin Klagge represents families, businesses, and international clients in estate and tax planning, business structuring, and international law, with a focus on Florida legal tools. He litigates estate and business issues in court. General information about Florida law, not legal advice. We serve Jacksonville and Duval County residents from Miami; this is not a Jacksonville office.
Notary Services in Jacksonville
The firm prepares your deed or trust and most clients sign from home by online notarization, with the firm arranging the notary and the two witnesses by video. Some people prefer to sign on paper in person. A Florida deed must be signed in front of two witnesses and acknowledged before a notary, so you need to bring two adult witnesses who are not named in the deed. Do not count on the store to supply witnesses. Call the store first to confirm a notary is on duty that day.
| Store | Address | Phone | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| The UPS Store #4509Downtown At Adams & Hogan, On Right Mid Block | 221 N Hogan St, Jacksonville 32202 | (904) 355-4190 | Mon to Fri 8 am to 6 pm · Sat to Sun 10 am to 4:30 pm |
| The UPS Store #3458Riverside Market Square | 1650-302 Margaret St, Jacksonville 32204 | (904) 381-6678 | Mon to Fri 8 am to 6:30 pm · Sat 9:30 am to 3 pm · Sun closed |
| The UPS Store #0692Beach And University Next To Virginia College | 5800 Beach Blvd, Ste 203, Jacksonville 32207 | (904) 398-6650 | Mon to Fri 9 am to 7 pm · Sat 9 am to 5 pm · Sun 10 am to 3 pm |
| The UPS Store #2665Miramar Shopping Ctr About 2 Miles South Of Historic San Marco | 4446 Hendricks Ave, Ste 1A, Jacksonville 32207 | (904) 739-9490 | Mon to Fri 8 am to 6:30 pm · Sat 9 am to 3 pm · Sun 10 am to 3 pm |
| The UPS Store #3773Corner Of Roosevelt And St Johns Ave Near Pet Supermarket, Tuesday Morning, La Nopalera | 4530 St Johns Ave, Ste 15, Jacksonville 32210 | (904) 388-7220 | Mon to Fri 9 am to 7 pm · Sat 9 am to 5 pm · Sun closed |
| The UPS Store #4627Southside Blvd & Touchton Rd | 4320 Deerwood Lake Pkwy, #101, Jacksonville 32216 | (904) 998-2000 | Mon to Fri 9 am to 7 pm · Sat to Sun 9:30 am to 4 pm |
| The UPS Store #3879The Stonewood Restaurant Shopping Center | 3832-10 Baymeadows Rd, Jacksonville 32217 | (904) 739-1363 | Mon to Fri 7:30 am to 6 pm · Sat 10:30 am to 4 pm · Sun 10 am to 3 pm |
| The UPS Store #4856Next To Publix @ Intersection Of Starratt Rd & Duval Station Rd | 731 Duval Station Rd, #107, Jacksonville 32218 | (904) 751-6582 | Mon to Thu 8 am to 6:30 pm · Fri 8:30 am to 6:30 pm · Sat 9 am to 3 pm · Sun 10 am to 3 pm |
| The UPS Store #7292Highlands Square | 1036 Dunn Ave, Ste 4, Jacksonville 32218 | (904) 337-1076 | Mon to Fri 8:30 am to 6:30 pm · Sat 8:30 am to 4:30 pm · Sun 10 am to 3 pm |
| The UPS Store #82286765 Dunn Avenue Unit 329 Jacksonville Fl. 32219 | 6765 Dunn Ave, B329, Jacksonville 32219 | (904) 586-2013 | Mon to Fri 8:30 am to 7 pm · Sat 9 am to 3 pm · Sun 10 am to 3 pm |
Hours read from each store’s own page on October 30, 2026. Confirm by phone before you go. 18 more Jacksonville locations are listed on The UPS Store locator.
