Probate in Putnam County: Where It’s Filed
Palatka is in Putnam County, which sits in Florida’s 7th Judicial Circuit. Probate is filed with the Putnam County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. Cases are handled at the Putnam County Courthouse at 410 St. Johns Avenue in Palatka. Attorneys e-file every document through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, which is why an out-of-state family can have a Putnam County estate handled without anyone traveling to the courthouse.
Putnam probate is heard by a judge whose chambers and mailing address are in Bunnell, in Flagler County, while the hearing itself is noticed at the Putnam County Courthouse in Palatka, in Courtroom 305. We serve Palatka and Putnam County residents, including Palatka, East Palatka, Crescent City, Interlachen, Welaka, Pomona Park, San Mateo.
Which Kind of Probate You’ll Need
Most Putnam 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 consult 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 Putnam 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 Putnam 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 Palatka and Putnam County by phone, video, and e-signature.
Local Rules, Judges, and the Clerk’s Probate Office
Every circuit publishes administrative orders and local procedures that control how probate actually runs in Putnam County, including which division gets the case, which checklists are required, and how proposed orders reach the judge. Putnam probate is heard by a judge whose chambers, telephone number, and mailing address are all in Flagler County, and his procedures tell filers to notice the hearing at the Putnam County Courthouse in Palatka, Courtroom 305, rather than at the Bunnell address. Hearings are noticed as in person, and a party who wants to appear by video files a motion showing cause and emails a proposed order for review. Proposed orders go to the division mailbox in Word, laid out for an electronic signature. The division publishes no probate forms or checklists, and the Clerk takes court filings at the Customer Service Center in the Tim Smith Building at 107 North 6th Street, several blocks from the courthouse. A long-standing order lets the clerk return a probate pleading unfiled, for a caption defect alone, if a proceeding the rules call adversary does not carry the adversary case style. A second order bars any motion to compel in a probate case unless you first gave written notice of the deficiencies and ten days to cure, and attached it.
- Administrative orders of the Seventh Judicial Circuit
- Seventh Judicial Circuit judges directory
- The clerk’s probate office for Putnam County
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 Putnam 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 Palatka estate?
A free 30-minute consult tells you which kind of probate applies and what it will cost.
Book your free consultFrequently Asked Questions
How do I choose a probate lawyer in Palatka?
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 Palatka and Putnam County families.
Where is probate filed in Putnam County?
Probate is filed with the Putnam County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, in the 7th 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 Putnam 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 Palatka and Putnam 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 the Putnam County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller (7th Judicial Circuit) and the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. (retrieved 2026-06-07)
Updated August 12, 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 Palatka and Putnam County residents from Miami; this is not a Palatka office.