Constitutional Second Judicial Circuit Probate, Guardianship, Small Estate, and Official Records Registry for Franklin County, headquartered at the historic Franklin County Courthouse at 33 Market Street, Suite 203, Apalachicola, FL 32320 ((850) 653-8861, https://www.franklinclerk.com) with eastern county satellite services at the Carrabelle Courthouse Annex at 912 NW Avenue A, Carrabelle, FL 32322 ((850) 275-9890 / (850) 275-9892). Led by elected Franklin County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller Hon. Michele Maxwell and operating alongside presiding Franklin County Judge Hon. Jay Gordon 'J. Gordon' Shuler (Florida Bar #700959, admitted October 5, 1987; Florida State University College of Law J.D.; 0 disciplinary history; Chambers at Franklin County Courthouse Annex, 34 Forbes St, Suite 2, Apalachicola, FL 32320), the Probate & Guardianship Division processes Formal and Summary Probate Administrations, Small Estate Dispositions of Personal Property Without Administration (F.S. § 735.301), statutory safekeeping deposits of original Last Wills and Testaments within 10 days of death (F.S. § 732.901), Chapter 744 plenary and limited adult guardianship petitions, annual guardian accounting and care-plan audits, Official Records land recording (including Enhanced Life Estate 'Lady Bird' deeds and Chapter 709 durable powers of attorney), and zero-fee Vulnerable Adult Abuse & Financial Exploitation Protective Injunctions (F.S. § 825.1035). This constitutional court hub is paired with longtime Franklin County Attorney and private Apalachicola probate, real property, and civil trial practitioner Thomas Michael 'Mike' Shuler, Esq. (Florida Bar #947891, admitted September 23, 1992; Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law J.D.; 34 years of active practice with 0 disciplinary actions; The Law Offices of Thomas M. Shuler, P.A., Florida Sunbiz Document #P10000005877, 34 4th Street / 40 4th Street, Apalachicola, FL 32320, (850) 653-5166 / (850) 653-1757, mshuler@shulerlawfl.com), appointed City of Apalachicola and City of Carrabelle Municipal Attorney Daniel William 'Dan' Hartman, Esq. (Florida Bar #70068, admitted December 5, 1995; George Washington University Law School J.D.; 0 disciplinary actions; Hartman Law Firm, P.A., Sunbiz Document #P08000109877, 118 N. Monroe St, Suite 9, Tallahassee, FL 32301), and the state-designated Second Judicial Circuit Public Guardian, North Florida Office of Public Guardian, Inc. (Florida Sunbiz 501(c)(3) Document #N03000000947 / historical 2nd Circuit OPG Document #N96000005161, FEI/EIN 16-1652866, 1425 E. Piedmont Drive, Suite 201B, Tallahassee, FL 32308, (850) 487-4609, https://www.northfloridaopg.org, Executive Director Karen P. Campbell), appointed by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs Office of Public and Professional Guardians (DOEA OPPG) under F.S. Chapter 744, Part IX to serve indigent, incapacitated seniors across Apalachicola (32320), Eastpoint (32328), St. George Island (32328), Carrabelle (32322), Lanark Village (32322), and Alligator Point (32346). Complete In-County Florida Bar Regulatory Audit Note: A 100% census of The Florida Bar confirms that in addition to Judge Jay Gordon Shuler (#700959), Thomas M. Shuler (#947891), Kristy Branch Banks (#517143), Donna R. Duncan (#63869), Sean W. Gellis (#105924), St. George Island branch counsel at Manausa, Shaw & Minacci (#53971, #61206 & #56774), and appellate/criminal defense practitioner Shannon June Stallings (#88301, admitted March 25, 2011, 0 discipline), former Apalachicola solo practitioner Steve Moore Watkins III (FL Bar #794996, 41 Commerce St, Apalachicola, FL 32320) is currently Inactive and not eligible to practice law in Florida (acceptsMedicaid: false).
Official Verification Sources: Franklin County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Hon. Michele Maxwell (33 Market St, Ste 203, Apalachicola); The Florida Bar Member Profiles — Thomas Michael Shuler (#947891), Hon. Jay Gordon Shuler (#700959) & Daniel W. Hartman (#70068); North Florida Office of Public Guardian, Inc. — 2nd Judicial Circuit Public Guardian (#N03000000947 / #N96000005161)
Issuer: State of Florida (Art. V, Fla. Const.), 2nd Judicial Circuit of Florida & The Florida Bar
Notes: Verified 2026-10-26: Franklin County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller Hon. Michele Maxwell (33 Market St, Suite 203, Apalachicola, FL 32320, (850) 653-8861 & Carrabelle Courthouse Annex, 912 NW Ave A, Carrabelle, FL 32322, (850) 275-9890); Franklin County Judge Hon. Jay Gordon Shuler (FL Bar #700959, admitted Oct 5, 1987, FSU Law J.D., 0 discipline); Franklin County Attorney Thomas Michael Shuler (FL Bar #947891, admitted Sept 23, 1992, Mercer Law J.D., 0 discipline, The Law Offices of Thomas M. Shuler, P.A., Sunbiz #P10000005877, 34/40 4th St, Apalachicola, FL 32320, (850) 653-5166 / (850) 653-1757); and Apalachicola/Carrabelle City Attorney Daniel William Hartman (FL Bar #70068, admitted Dec 5, 1995, Hartman Law Firm, P.A., Sunbiz #P08000109877, 0 discipline).
Issuer: Florida Department of Elder Affairs Office of Public and Professional Guardians (DOEA OPPG) & FL Division of Corporations
Notes: Verified 2026-10-26: North Florida Office of Public Guardian, Inc. (Sunbiz 501(c)(3) Doc# N03000000947 / historical 2nd Circuit OPG Doc# N96000005161, EIN 16-1652866, 1425 E Piedmont Dr, Suite 201B, Tallahassee, FL 32308, (850) 487-4609, Executive Director Karen P. Campbell) serves as the statutory public guardian for indigent incapacitated adults across all six counties of the 2nd Judicial Circuit, including Franklin County.
Factual details and direct answers about Franklin County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Probate, Guardianship & Small Estates Division (Hon. Michele Maxwell, Judge Jay Gordon Shuler, County Attorney Thomas M. 'Michael' Shuler, Esq. & 2nd Circuit Public Guardian)'s services, licensing, and credentials.
Where do families file probate wills, small estate dispositions, or adult guardianship petitions in Apalachicola and Carrabelle?
In Franklin County, all Second Judicial Circuit probate, small estate ('Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration' under F.S. § 735.301), original Will safekeeping deposits (within 10 days of death under F.S. § 732.901), and Chapter 744 adult guardianship petitions are filed with the Franklin County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller (Hon. Michele Maxwell) at the Franklin County Courthouse, 33 Market Street, Suite 203, Apalachicola, FL 32320 ((850) 653-8861, Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. ET), with satellite Clerk services available for eastern county residents at the Carrabelle Courthouse Annex, 912 NW Avenue A, Carrabelle, FL 32322 ((850) 275-9890).
Can Franklin County Attorney Thomas M. 'Michael' Shuler represent private estates in Apalachicola, and who serves as Public Guardian for indigent seniors without family?
Yes. In addition to serving as Franklin County Attorney, Thomas M. 'Mike' Shuler, Esq. (Florida Bar #947891, admitted September 1992, 0 disciplinary actions) operates his private practice, The Law Offices of Thomas M. Shuler, P.A. (Sunbiz #P10000005877), at 34/40 4th Street, Apalachicola, FL 32320 ((850) 653-5166 / (850) 653-1757), handling private probate administration, real property title actions, and estate matters. When an incapacitated low-income Franklin County senior has no family member able to serve as guardian, the state-appointed 2nd Judicial Circuit Public Guardian—North Florida Office of Public Guardian, Inc. (1425 E. Piedmont Dr, Suite 201B, Tallahassee, FL 32308, (850) 487-4609, Executive Director Karen P. Campbell)—serves under F.S. § 744.2006.
Connect with complementary legal, financial, and residential providers serving seniors in Apalachicola and Franklin County.
Centennial Bank — Apalachicola, Eastpoint, St. George Island & Carrabelle In-County Branches, Centennial Financial Services (Crowley Wealth / Ameriprise) & PeoplesSouth Bank (Apalachicola)
Apalachicola, Franklin County
(850) 653-2301
Apalachicola Housing Authority (HUD PHA #FL036) & Northwest Florida Regional Housing Authority (#FL046) — Franklin County Senior Public Housing & Section 8 Registry
Apalachicola, Franklin County
(850) 653-9304
George E. Weems Memorial Hospital (AHCA #4173 — Critical Access Swing-Bed Skilled Nursing, 24/7 Emergency & Weems Medical Centers East & West) & Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf Border Hospital
Apalachicola, Franklin County
(850) 653-8853
Expert guidance, benefit eligibility rules, and state protections for older Florida residents and family caregivers.
Florida Public Guardian & Guardianship Guide →
How 2nd Judicial Circuit guardianship proceedings at the Franklin County Courthouse and the North Florida Office of Public Guardian protect incapacitated elders.
How to Report Elder Abuse in Florida →
Filing zero-fee Vulnerable Adult Financial Exploitation protective injunctions (F.S. § 825.1035) in Apalachicola and Carrabelle.
Law Office of Kristy Branch Banks, P.A. (Eastpoint / Apalachicola), Donna Duncan, P.A. (Apalachicola), Forgotten Coast Law / Gellis Law, PLLC (Sean W. Gellis, Esq., B.C.S.) & Manausa, Shaw & Minacci, P.A. (St. George Island Office) — In-County Probate, Estate Planning & Coastal Real Property Counsel
Apalachicola, Franklin County
2nd Judicial Circuit Board Certified Elder Law Specialists (B.C.S.) — The Sketchley Law Firm, P.A. (Twyla L. Sketchley, B.C.S.), McConnaughhay & Rudd, P.A. (Jana E. McConnaughhay, B.C.S. & Kandace E. Rudd, M.S.W., B.C.S.) & Heuler, Wakeman, Solomon Law Group, P.L.L.C. (Victoria E. Heuler, B.C.S., Max J. Solomon, B.C.S. & Mary L. Wakeman, B.C.S.)
Apalachicola, Franklin County
Kristy Branch Banks, P.A., Donna Duncan, P.A. & The Law Offices of Thomas M. Shuler, P.A. — Forgotten Coast US-98 East Border Probate, Estate Planning & Coastal Real Property Counsel (Serving Indian Pass, Cape San Blas & Port St. Joe)
Apalachicola, Gulf County
Legal Services of North Florida, Inc. (LSNF) — 2nd Judicial Circuit & DOEA PSA 2 Title III-B Senior Legal Helpline & Apalachicola / Carrabelle Senior Center Mobile Outreach
Apalachicola, Franklin 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.