Clerk of Court
Jody Phillips
Clerk of the Circuit Court, Duval County. Main line 904-255-2000.
Official sourceStaff review draft · Not indexed
Florida Probate Guide · Fourth Judicial Circuit
Duval County Probate Court Guide2026 EDITION
Duval County probate is filed with the Clerk at the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville. The Fourth Circuit lists two probate judges: Kevin A. Blazs in Division PR-A and Thomas M. Beverly in Division PR-B. Their procedures are not the same.
Court details last reviewed October 29, 2026
Court information
Where is probate filed in Duval County?
Probate filings go through the county Clerk of Court and are assigned within the Fourth Judicial Circuit. Check the Clerk’s current instructions before mailing documents or visiting in person.
Check the official court sourceDuval County Courthouse
- Address
- 501 West Adams Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202Probate Department, Room 1260
- Public counter hours
- Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., excluding holidays.
- Probate contact
- 904-255-1990
Current assignments
Who handles probate matters in Duval County?
Judicial assignments and staff contacts can change. These names were checked against official court sources on October 29, 2026.
Probate Judge — Division PR-A
Hon. Kevin A. Blazs
Chambers at 501 W. Adams Street, Room 7264. Procedures dated October 13, 2026. Judicial assistant: Barbara Elrod Friedmann. Hearing line 904-255-1282.
Official sourceProbate Judge — Division PR-B
Hon. Thomas M. Beverly
The circuit publishes a separate procedures sheet for this division.
Official sourceLocal procedure
What local probate rules apply?
Division PR-A and Division PR-B each publish procedures. The steps below are from Judge Blazs’s October 13, 2026 sheet and apply to PR-A only. Judge Beverly’s sheet controls PR-B. The Clerk’s probate department is in Room 1260.
Proposed-order checklist
- 1E-file the petition so it appears on the docket before a proposed order is submitted.
- 2In Division PR-A, submit most proposed orders through the e-portal. They go to the court, not through the Clerk first.
- 3In Division PR-A, testate opening orders are the exception. The order admitting the will, the order appointing the personal representative, letters, and a testate summary-administration order are prepared for a wet signature and delivered to the Clerk, not uploaded.
- 4Judge Blazs requires an affidavit of heirs even in a testate estate. The circuit posts a form on its probate self-help page.
- 5After the testate packet is with the Clerk, call the Clerk and ask that the will and packet be sent to the court.
- 6For a PR-A hearing, call 904-255-1282, clear the date with the other side, and call back to confirm. The judicial assistant gives the Zoom link when the time is confirmed.
Are probate hearings remote?
In Division PR-A, non-evidentiary hearings are by Zoom and evidentiary hearings are in person in Hearing Room 746 unless the notice says otherwise. Division PR-B has its own procedures. Do not use the PR-A Zoom practice for a PR-B case.
Can Lauren handle the case remotely?
Duval filings are electronic. In Division PR-A, a non-evidentiary hearing is by Zoom and an evidentiary hearing is in Jacksonville unless the court notes otherwise. Division PR-B can differ. Out-of-state families should read the division sheet before booking travel.
Process overview
How does a Duval County probate move forward?
The exact path depends on the estate and the court’s orders. This overview shows the common sequence for a matter filed in the Fourth Judicial Circuit; it is not a filing checklist or a promise of timing.
- 01
Open the estate
File the petition, original will when applicable, death certificate, and required supporting documents.
- 02
Court review
The Clerk processes the filing and the assigned division reviews petitions, checklists, and proposed orders.
- 03
Administer assets
Address notices, creditors, inventory, taxes, property, and distributions required for the selected process.
- 04
Distribute and close
After court requirements are met, distribute the remaining assets and complete the steps needed to close.
2026Threshold
Florida Summary Administration may be available when the estate subject to administration, less exempt property, does not exceed $150,000 or the decedent has been dead for more than two years, subject to the other requirements of Florida Statute § 735.201.
Court costs
What does probate cost in Duval County?
Court filing fees are separate from attorney fees. Lauren reviews the estate before confirming the legal scope and whether flat-fee representation is available.
These amounts are from the Duval Clerk’s probate fee table. On that same table, a guardianship of the person and property is $400, which is not the formal-administration amount. Confirm the line that matches the filing.
Clerk servicePosted fee
Formal administration$401
Summary administration — estate $1,000 or more$346
Summary administration — estate under $1,000$236
Caveat or notice of trust$42
Disposition of personal property$231
Straight answers
Duval County probate FAQ
Where do I file probate in Duval County?
File with the Duval County Clerk at the Duval County Courthouse, 501 West Adams Street, Room 1260, Jacksonville. The probate department is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding holidays. The probate phone is 904-255-1990.
Which judges handle Duval County probate?
The Fourth Circuit lists Judge Kevin A. Blazs in Division PR-A and Judge Thomas M. Beverly in Division PR-B. Each division has its own procedures.
Are Duval probate hearings on Zoom?
In Division PR-A, non-evidentiary hearings are by Zoom and evidentiary hearings are in person in Hearing Room 746 unless the notice says otherwise. Division PR-B follows a different procedures sheet.
What estates qualify for Florida Summary Administration in Duval County?
Under Florida Statute § 735.201, Summary Administration may be available when the Florida estate subject to administration, less exempt property, does not exceed $150,000 or when the decedent has been dead for more than two years, subject to the statute’s other requirements. The monetary test is statewide.
Clear next steps after a difficult loss.
Call for a free 15-minute consultation about a Duval County probate. Lauren Richardson Law serves families throughout Florida, including people managing an estate from another state.
Verification record
Official sources
Last checked October 29, 2026
- Duval Clerk — Probate Department
- Duval Clerk — fee schedules, probate fees
- Duval Clerk — Meet the Clerk
- Fourth Judicial Circuit — Duval judge procedures, probate division
- Judge Kevin A. Blazs, Division PR-A procedures, October 13, 2026
- Florida Statutes § 735.201 — Summary administration
- Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
- Florida Statutes § 28.2401 — Service charges and filing fees in probate matters
This guide provides general information, not legal advice. Court assignments, procedures, fees, and hearing formats can change. Confirm current requirements with the Clerk and assigned division before acting.