Clerk of the Circuit Court
Staff review draft · Not indexed
Florida Probate Guide · Fourteenth Judicial Circuit
Holmes County Probate Court Guide2026 EDITION
Holmes County probate is filed with Clerk Sam Bailey in Bonifay. The assignment plan gives Judge Russell S. Roberts all Holmes circuit proceedings. It does not label probate as its own line.
Court details last reviewed October 29, 2026
Court information
Where is probate filed in Holmes County?
Probate filings go through the county Clerk of Court and are assigned within the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit. Check the Clerk’s current instructions before mailing documents or visiting in person.
Check the official court sourceHolmes County Clerk’s Office
- Address
- 201 North Oklahoma Street, Bonifay, FL 32425
- Public counter hours
- Hours were not posted on the probate page checked October 29, 2026.
- Probate contact
- 850-547-1100
Current assignments
Who handles probate matters in Holmes County?
Judicial assignments and staff contacts can change. These names were checked against official court sources on October 29, 2026.
Circuit Judge
Hon. Russell S. Roberts
Administrative Order 2026-00-03 assigns him all Holmes County circuit proceedings. Probate is not labeled separately.
Official sourceLocal procedure
What local probate rules apply?
The office is 201 North Oklahoma Street, Bonifay. Mail may go to P.O. Box 397, Bonifay, FL 32425. The phone is 850-547-1100. Counter hours were not on the probate page. No fee table was verified. Confirm that all Holmes circuit proceedings includes probate estates.
Proposed-order checklist
- 1E-file the petition through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
Are probate hearings remote?
The assignment plan gives Judge Russell S. Roberts all Holmes circuit proceedings and does not label a separate probate division. No proposed-order sheet was verified.
Can Lauren handle the case remotely?
An uncontested Holmes estate can often be e-filed. Confirm hours before a trip to Bonifay.
Process overview
How does a Holmes 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 Fourteenth 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 Holmes 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 figures combine the filing fees in Florida Statutes § 28.2401 with the additional $4 service charge that subsection (3) adds to formal, ancillary, and summary administration. A caveat is $40, and disposition without administration is $230. This clerk did not post a probate fee schedule that could be verified. Confirm the total before filing.
Clerk servicePosted fee
Formal or ancillary administration$399
Summary administration — estate under $1,000$234
Summary administration — estate $1,000 or more$344
Caveat$40
Disposition without administration$230
Straight answers
Holmes County probate FAQ
Where do I file probate in Holmes County?
File with Clerk Sam Bailey at 201 North Oklahoma Street, Bonifay, phone 850-547-1100. Hours were not posted on the probate page.
Who is the Holmes County probate judge?
Administrative Order 2026-00-03 assigns all Holmes County circuit proceedings to Hon. Russell S. Roberts. The order does not label probate separately. Confirm that probate estates are included.
What estates qualify for Florida Summary Administration in Holmes County?
Under Florida Statutes § 735.201, summary administration is available when the decedent has been dead for more than two years, or when the value of the estate subject to administration in Florida, less the value of property exempt from the claims of creditors, does not exceed $150,000.
Clear next steps after a difficult loss.
Call for a free 15-minute consultation about a Holmes 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
- Florida Statutes § 735.201 — Summary administration
- Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
- Florida Statutes § 28.2401 — Service charges and filing fees in probate matters
- Administrative Order 2026-00-03 — Fourteenth Circuit judge assignment plan, July 1, 2026 through January 1, 2029
- Fourteenth Circuit — Clerks of court
- Holmes Clerk — Probate
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.