Probate in Flagler County: Where It’s Filed
Palm Coast is in Flagler County, which sits in Florida’s 7th Judicial Circuit. Probate is filed with the Flagler County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. Cases are handled at the Kim C. Hammond Justice Center at 1769 East Moody Boulevard in Bunnell. Attorneys e-file every document through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, which is why an out-of-state family can have a Flagler County estate handled without anyone traveling to the courthouse.
Flagler County files probate at the Justice Center in Bunnell, the county seat, not in Palm Coast. We serve Palm Coast and Flagler County residents, including Palm Coast, Bunnell, Flagler Beach, Beverly Beach.
Which Kind of Probate You’ll Need
Most Flagler 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 Flagler 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 Flagler 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 Palm Coast and Flagler 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 Flagler County, including which division gets the case, which checklists are required, and how proposed orders reach the judge. Flagler probate is heard by a judge whose chambers are in another county, and the Flagler standing order makes remote appearance mandatory rather than optional. Hearings under one hour are conducted by video, while hearings of an hour or more and all evidentiary hearings are in person. The Clerk keeps a dedicated probate counter on the second floor of the Kim C. Hammond Justice Center with its own direct line. 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 Flagler 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.
Handling a Palm Coast 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 Palm Coast?
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 Palm Coast and Flagler County families.
Where is probate filed in Flagler County?
Probate is filed with the Flagler 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 Flagler 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 Palm Coast and Flagler 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 Flagler 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 Palm Coast and Flagler County residents from Miami; this is not a Palm Coast office.