Constitutional statutory venue and court registry for all decedent probate estates, wills on deposit, small-estate dispositions without administration, incapacity adjudications, guardian advocate appointments, and annual guardianship accounting and care plan audits in Dixie County (3rd Judicial Circuit of Florida), located in the Dixie County Courthouse at 214 NE Highway 351 (P.O. Box 1206), Cross City, FL 32628 ((352) 498-1200, https://dixieclerk.com). Administered by Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Hon. Barbie Higginbotham alongside Dixie County Judge and Acting 3rd Circuit Probate/Guardianship Judge Hon. Jennifer J. Johnson (Florida Bar #69492, Chambers: 214 NE Hwy 351, Room 202, Cross City, FL 32628, (352) 498-1238), the Clerk's Probate & Official Records Division processes Summary Administration (estates under $75,000 or decedents dead more than 2 years under F.S. Ch. 735), Formal Probate Administration (F.S. Ch. 733), Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration (F.S. § 735.301), Baker Act/Marchman Act ex parte filings, adult abuse/exploitation injunctions (F.S. § 825.1035), and mandatory Clerk guardianship financial audits (F.S. § 744.368). For indigent, incapacitated Dixie County seniors aged 60+ who lack willing or qualified family members to serve as guardian, the 3rd Judicial Circuit coordinates with the DOEA Office of Public and Professional Guardians (OPPG) designated public guardian, North Florida Office of Public Guardian, Inc. (NFOPG, Florida Sunbiz Document #N03000000947, 1425 Village Square Blvd, Ste 2, Tallahassee, FL 32312, (850) 487-4609 ext. 100, https://www.northfloridaopg.org).
Official Verification Sources: Dixie County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Probate & Court Services; Third Judicial Circuit of Florida — Dixie County Judicial Directory; North Florida Office of Public Guardian, Inc. (NFOPG — 3rd Circuit Public Guardian)
Issuer: State of Florida & Third Judicial Circuit of Florida
Notes: Verified 2026-10-26: Dixie County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller (Hon. Barbie Higginbotham, 214 NE Hwy 351, Cross City, FL 32628, (352) 498-1200) and Acting Circuit Probate Judge Hon. Jennifer J. Johnson (FL Bar #69492, Room 202, (352) 498-1238).
Issuer: Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA — OPPG)
Notes: Verified 2026-10-26: North Florida Office of Public Guardian, Inc. (Sunbiz Doc# N03000000947, 1425 Village Square Blvd, Ste 2, Tallahassee, FL 32312, (850) 487-4609 ext. 100) serves indigent incapacitated adults in Dixie County and the 3rd Judicial Circuit.
Factual details and direct answers about Dixie County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Probate & Guardianship Division (Hon. Barbie Higginbotham & North Florida Office of Public Guardian)'s services, licensing, and credentials.
Where do Dixie County families file a deceased loved one's will or open a small estate without an attorney?
Original wills must be deposited with the Dixie County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller (Hon. Barbie Higginbotham) at the Dixie County Courthouse, 214 NE Highway 351, Cross City, FL 32628 ((352) 498-1200, https://dixieclerk.com). For very small estates consisting only of exempt personal property and funds up to the amount of preferred funeral and recent medical expenses, the Clerk's Probate Division provides statutory forms for Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration under F.S. § 735.301.
Who serves as legal guardian for an incapacitated Dixie County senior who has no family and cannot afford a private guardian?
When the 3rd Judicial Circuit Probate & Guardianship Court in Cross City adjudicates a low-income senior incapacitated under F.S. Chapter 744 and no family member or friend is available, the Court refers the ward to the state-designated public guardian for the 3rd Judicial Circuit: the North Florida Office of Public Guardian, Inc. (NFOPG, Sunbiz #N03000000947, (850) 487-4609 ext. 100, https://www.northfloridaopg.org).
Connect with complementary legal, financial, and residential providers serving seniors in Cross City and Dixie County.
Seacoast National Bank (FDIC #109), Ameris Bank (FDIC #16480) & Capital City Bank (FDIC #9622) — In-County FDIC Senior, IRA & Estate Banking (Cross City)
Cross City, Dixie County
(352) 498-7733
The Timbers Apartments (Cross City USDA Section 515 Senior & Family Housing — Royal American Management, With Fanning Springs Border Villas)
Cross City, Dixie County
(352) 498-3175
Cross City Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (60-Bed Skilled Nursing, Post-Acute Rehab & Memory Care — Cross City)
Cross City, Dixie County
(352) 498-2005
Expert guidance, benefit eligibility rules, and state protections for older Florida residents and family caregivers.
Florida Medicaid Long-Term Care Guide →
How Florida homestead protection, probate estate recovery rules, and guardianship authority affect Medicaid eligibility.
Family Caregiver Support in Florida →
Understanding durable powers of attorney, health care surrogates, and court-supervised guardianship in Dixie County.
Chana M. Watson, Attorney at Law, P.A. — Chana Marie Watson, Esq. (With Kyle S. Felty, Esq., B.C.S., Real Estate)
Cross City, Dixie County
Miller Elder Law Firm, P.A. (Shannon M. Miller, Esq., B.C.S. — Elder Law) & White & Crouch, P.A. (Richard M. White, Jr., Esq., LL.M., B.C.S. — Wills, Trusts & Estates) — Closest DOEA PSA 3 Board Certified Specialists
Cross City, Dixie County
Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc. (TRLS) — Dixie County, 3rd Judicial Circuit & DOEA PSA 3 Title III-B Senior Legal Aid (With SREC Cross City Outreach)
Cross City, Dixie County
Dixie County Veterans Service Office — Accredited VA Aid & Attendance, Survivor DIC & Long-Term Care Benefits Advocacy
Cross City, Dixie County
Disclaimer: This directory listing is for informational purposes only. Florida Senior Support does not endorse or guarantee the quality of services. Please verify information and services directly with the organization.