Probate in Escambia County: Where It’s Filed
Pensacola is in Escambia County, which sits in Florida’s 1st Judicial Circuit. Probate is filed with the Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court, in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. Cases are handled at the M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building at 190 West Government Street in Pensacola. Attorneys e-file every document through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, which is why an out-of-state family can have a Escambia County estate handled without anyone traveling to the courthouse.
We serve Pensacola and Escambia County residents, including Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, Cantonment, Molino, Brent, Ferry Pass, Bellview, Gonzalez.
Which Kind of Probate You’ll Need
Most Escambia 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 Escambia 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 Escambia 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 Pensacola and Escambia 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 Escambia County, including which division gets the case, which checklists are required, and how proposed orders reach the judge. Escambia requires a signed attorney certification checklist filed at the same moment as the petition, one for opening a formal administration, one for summary administration, and one for closing, and the opening checklist makes the attorney certify line by line that the original will was filed and that it is self-proved or backed by a witness oath. A conflict in an Escambia probate case also does not move it to another probate judge, it sends the case to a civil division. The circuit keeps circuit-wide administrative orders and a separate set of county administrative directives, and in Escambia it is the county directives that govern probate practice.
- Administrative orders of the First Judicial Circuit
- First Judicial Circuit judges directory
- The clerk’s probate office for Escambia 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 Pensacola 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 Pensacola?
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 Pensacola and Escambia County families.
Where is probate filed in Escambia County?
Probate is filed with the Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court, in the 1st 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 Escambia 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 Pensacola and Escambia 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 Escambia County Clerk of the Circuit Court (1st 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 Pensacola and Escambia County residents from Miami; this is not a Pensacola office.