St. Johns County Probate and Estate Planning Attorney | Yergey & Yergey, P.A.
Local Practice
St. Johns County's profile is unusual in Florida: it combines historic St. Augustine with the substantial-net-worth communities of Ponte Vedra Beach and Sawgrass, the fast-growing Nocatee master-planned community, and longstanding rural areas like Hastings. The estate matters here span the full range, with a noticeable concentration of higher-net-worth Ponte Vedra estates that benefit from focused tax-planning counsel.
Yergey & Yergey, P.A. represents St. Johns County clients in probate administration, estate planning, guardianship proceedings, trust administration, and probate and trust litigation. The firm has appeared in the Seventh Judicial Circuit.
St. Johns shares the Seventh Judicial Circuit with Flagler, Putnam, and Volusia counties. The firm's existing Volusia and Flagler practice translates directly to Seventh Circuit familiarity for St. Johns matters.
Probate Court Information
St. Johns County probate matters are filed in the St. Johns County Circuit Court — Probate Division at the courthouse in St. Augustine.
St. Johns County is in the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Florida. The Seventh Circuit's administrative orders apply across the four counties (St. Johns, Flagler, Putnam, Volusia), but the St. Johns Probate Division in St. Augustine operates with its own scheduling and division-assignment conventions.
- Summary Administration (Fla. Stat. § 735.201)
- Formal Administration (Fla. Stat. Ch. 733)
- Ancillary Administration (Fla. Stat. § 734.102) — common for out-of-state owners of Ponte Vedra / Sawgrass property
- Trust proceedings under Fla. Stat. Ch. 736
- Guardianship under Fla. Stat. Ch. 744
Approximately 110 miles from our Orlando office at 910 N. Fern Creek Avenue — typically 2 hours via I-95. Routine matters can proceed without travel; the firm appears in St. Augustine for hearings.
St. Johns-specific note on Ponte Vedra estates: the Ponte Vedra Beach and Sawgrass corridor concentrates substantial professional and executive wealth — many residents work in Jacksonville's corporate sector or are retirees from out-of-state. Estate matters here frequently involve deferred compensation arrangements, stock-based compensation, and multi-state property holdings. LL.M.-level tax analysis is applicable where the estate approaches federal estate tax thresholds.
How We Serve St. Johns County Clients
Probate in the Seventh Circuit
St. Johns County Summary and Formal Administration filed at the St. Augustine courthouse. Contested probate, including will contests and removal of personal representatives, where matters require active appearance.
Estate Planning for St. Johns Families
Wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, special needs trusts, durable powers of attorney, living wills, and healthcare surrogate designations. For Ponte Vedra and Sawgrass clients with substantial estates, David A. Yergey III's LL.M. in Taxation supports planning around federal estate tax exposure and equity-compensation considerations.
Guardianship
Emergency Temporary Guardianship petitions, plenary and limited guardianship, guardian advocacy, and annual accountings.
Trust Administration
Successor-trustee guidance for St. Johns County trusts and beneficiary representation in trustee breach matters under Fla. Stat. § 736.0802.
Mediation
Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Mediation for St. Johns County probate, trust, and guardianship disputes.
What to Bring to Your First Consultation
For a probate matter (St. Johns County)
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Original will and any trust documents
- Decedent's St. Johns residence address at death
- Preliminary asset inventory, including St. Johns County real property and any deferred-compensation or stock-based compensation balances
- Names and contact information for all beneficiaries, including state of residence
For an estate planning consultation
- Existing estate planning documents
- Information on any deferred compensation, stock options, or restricted stock units from current or former employers
- Property inventory, including any out-of-state holdings
- Names of intended fiduciaries
Ready to speak with a St. Johns 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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