Lafayette County Probate and Estate Planning Attorney | Yergey & Yergey, P.A.
Local Practice
Lafayette County, anchored by Mayo, is one of Florida's smallest counties by population — fewer than 9,000 residents, much of the land in working farms, timber, and the Suwannee River basin. The probate, estate planning, and guardianship matters that come up here tend to involve multi-generation family-owned land, timber operations, and the kinds of intestate situations that arise when working families haven't gotten to estate planning before death.
Yergey & Yergey, P.A. represents Lafayette County families in probate, estate planning, guardianship, and litigation matters. The firm has appeared in the Third Judicial Circuit and we are willing to travel to Mayo for client meetings and hearings when matters warrant.
Few Orlando firms take Lafayette work because of the distance. Lafayette families more often retain counsel from Gainesville, Lake City, or Live Oak. We accept Lafayette matters where our depth on contested probate, agricultural-estate succession, or tax-driven planning genuinely improves the outcome relative to closer counsel.
Probate Court Information
Lafayette County probate matters are filed in the Lafayette County Circuit Court — Probate Division at the courthouse in Mayo.
Lafayette County is in the Third Judicial Circuit of Florida (alongside Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Madison, Suwannee, and Taylor counties). The Third Circuit's small-county practice differs substantially from urban-circuit practice in case volume, hearing scheduling, and the practical realities of getting matters before the bench.
- Summary Administration (Fla. Stat. § 735.201)
- Formal Administration (Fla. Stat. Ch. 733)
- Guardianship under Fla. Stat. Ch. 744
- Trust proceedings under Fla. Stat. Ch. 736
Approximately 190 miles from our Orlando office at 910 N. Fern Creek Avenue — typically 3 to 3.5 hours via I-75 and US-27. We schedule client meetings and court appearances together where practical.
Lafayette-specific note on land succession: many Lafayette estates involve family land that has been in the family for generations and may include heir property — interests held by multiple co-tenants where formal title work has not been kept current across the generations. Lafayette estates accordingly sometimes require parallel quiet-title or partition work alongside the probate itself. Plan around this in advance where possible; it is much easier to clean up heir property questions during the parents' lifetime than after death.
How We Serve Lafayette County Clients
Probate for Lafayette Families
Lafayette County Summary and Formal Administration, including contested probate when matters require active appearance in the Third Circuit. Land-succession questions involving heir property are a regular consideration.
Estate Planning for Multi-Generation Land
Wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, special needs trusts, durable powers of attorney, living wills, and healthcare surrogate designations — drafted with attention to the agricultural land and family-owned property typical of Lafayette estates.
Guardianship
Emergency Temporary Guardianship, plenary and limited guardianship, contested guardianship, guardian advocacy, and annual accountings filed in the Lafayette County Probate Division.
Trust Administration
Successor-trustee guidance and beneficiary representation under Fla. Stat. § 736.0802 and § 736.0813.
Mediation
Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Mediation for Lafayette County probate, trust, and guardianship disputes — frequently the right approach when family land and family relationships are both at stake.
What to Bring to Your First Consultation
For a probate matter (Lafayette County)
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Original will, if one exists
- Decedent's last residence address
- Preliminary asset inventory, including any Lafayette County real property and timber/agricultural operations
- Information on any family land held jointly with cousins, siblings, or other co-tenants
- Names and contact information for all beneficiaries and intestate heirs
For an estate planning consultation
- Existing estate planning documents
- General asset list, including any family land and agricultural operations
- Names of intended fiduciaries
- Family structure, including any siblings or cousins who hold interests in shared family property
Ready to speak with a Lafayette County probate attorney?
Call (407) 843-0430 or book a consultation online.
Or text PROBATE to (407) 906-9507 for a faster response.
Yergey & Yergey, P.A. | 910 N. Fern Creek Avenue, Orlando, FL 32803
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