Suwannee County Probate Court Guide (2026)

Probate in Suwannee County—serving Live Oak, Branford, and Wellborn—is governed by the 3rd Judicial Circuit. In 2026, the Suwannee court remains focused on accessible, community-centered justice while implementing the Florida Supreme Court’s statewide mandate for streamlined uncontested probate proceedings. This rural yet busy jurisdiction relies on a close coordination between the Clerk’s office in Live Oak and the circuit judges to ensure that family land and assets are transferred without unnecessary delay.

At Florida Probate Law Group, we bring a unique “inside the court” perspective to the 3rd Circuit. Our founding partner, R. Nadine David, served as a Probate Court Staff Attorney for the Florida judiciary, where she managed thousands of cases from the other side of the bench. This internal experience, combined with our firm’s history of handling thousands of cases across all 67 Florida counties, allows us to navigate Suwannee County’s specific local procedures with authoritative ease.

🏛️ Suwannee County Courthouse & Clerk Information

Probate records and filings are managed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court at the historic courthouse in Live Oak.

Courthouse Name: Suwannee County Courthouse
Address: 200 South Ohio Avenue, Live Oak, FL 32064
Clerk of Court: Barry Baker
Probate Department Phone: (386) 362-0500
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

[!IMPORTANT]
2026 Will Deposit Rule: The original Last Will and Testament must be deposited with Barry Baker’s office in Live Oak within 10 days of receiving notice of death. In Suwannee County, judicial assistants will typically not set a hearing or present an order to the judge until the physical Will is verified on the docket.

⚖️ 3rd Judicial Circuit (Suwannee) Probate Procedures

The 3rd Circuit is known for its “hands-on” judicial approach, where judges often review files directly.

Judicial Oversight: For 2026, probate and guardianship matters in Suwannee County are primarily handled by Judge Jennifer K. Griffin and Judge Kathryn R. Land. Judge Griffin is particularly known for her background as a General Magistrate, bringing a deep understanding of procedural detail to the probate bench.
The “Internal” Advantage: Because R. Nadine David worked as a staff attorney inside the Florida court system, we understand the specific “gatekeeping” criteria that 3rd Circuit judges use. We ensure that every petition—including the mandatory Affidavit of Heirs—is formatted to pass judicial review on the first attempt.
Proposed Orders: In 2026, all proposed orders must be submitted through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal in Microsoft Word format. Per local tradition in Suwannee, orders should clearly identify the “heirs at law” to ensure there is no ambiguity for future land title searches.
Virtual Hearings: While the Live Oak courthouse is a central hub for the community, Judge Griffin and Judge Land utilize Zoom for most uncontested probate calendars. This allows our firm to represent families from Branford or even out-of-state without requiring travel to the courthouse.

💰 2026 Suwannee County Probate Filing Fees

Statutory filing fees for the 3rd Judicial Circuit:

Action Type	Court Filing Fee
Formal Administration (Full Probate)	$400.00
Summary Administration (Estates > $1,000)	$345.00
Summary Administration (Estates < $1,000)	$235.00
Notice of Trust / Caveat	$41.00

[!NOTE]
Fees are subject to change per the 2026 Legislative Session (SB 532). Our firm monitors these changes daily to ensure your filing is accurate.

❓ Suwannee County Probate FAQ

How does your “Staff Attorney” background help in Live Oak?

In smaller counties like Suwannee, the relationship between the judge’s office and the attorney is vital. R. Nadine David’s time as a court staff attorney taught her exactly how to present complex issues—like clearing title to “heir property”—in a way that provides judges the legal confidence they need to sign an order quickly.

What is “Summary Administration” for family land?

Many Suwannee County families own land that has been in the family for generations. If the decedent has been deceased for more than two years, we can often use Summary Administration to clear the title, regardless of the land’s value. This is a fast, efficient way to protect your family’s heritage.

What is your “Flat-Fee” model for Suwannee?

We don’t believe in the uncertainty of hourly billing. Because we have handled thousands of cases statewide and understand the internal logic of the court, we work with high efficiency. We offer all-inclusive flat-fee pricing for all uncontested probate matters in Suwannee County.

📍 Why Hire Florida Probate Law Group?

The 3rd Judicial Circuit requires an attorney who balances statewide power with local procedural knowledge.

Judicial Insider Insight: Founded by a former Probate Court Staff Attorney who knows exactly how judges audit probate files.
Massive Experience: Thousands of cases successfully handled across all Florida circuits.
Financial Certainty: Our flat-fee pricing protects the estate’s value for the heirs.

Client Reviews

I was very happy with her response to my questions and concerns about Florida probate. I am in Ohio and was not familiar with the process but they cleared everything up for me and made me feel comfortable going through the probate process with my loved ones will.

Roger

Honest and straight forward assessment of complex case. My case span both federal and state issues, as well as civil case of fraud which maybe criminal fraud. He told me what he could do, what his limits of scope were and what my best/safest position should be and gave me an outline of how to get...

S. Todd

The world of probate can be fairly daunting for one who has little to no experience. Between trying to figure out what to file and when to file, there is also the where. I was quite relieved to have Nadine and Cary to guide me through the court process.

Michael O.

I highly recommend using this law group for your Florida probate needs, and in particular, Charles David. He explained clearly what my 91 year old aunt would need to do in order to sell property that was in hers and her late husband's name.

Patti T.

Florida probate law group,was very helpful in answering the many questions that I had concerning my situation their input was very appreciated thank you.

Shirley M.

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