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Legal ServicesElder Law✓ Verified
Trenton, Gilchrist County
Last verified: Sunday, October 25, 2026
Gilchrist County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller (Hon. Todd Newton) — Probate & Guardianship Division (with 8th Circuit Office of Public Guardian / PGO8)
About This Organization

Located on US Highway 129 in downtown Trenton at the historic Gilchrist County Courthouse (112 South Main Street, Trenton, FL 32693, (352) 463-3170), the Gilchrist County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller (Hon. Todd Newton) serves as the official 8th Judicial Circuit Probate, Guardianship, Mental Health (Baker Act / Marchman Act), Official Records, and Vulnerable Adult Protective Injunction registry for Gilchrist County under Florida Statutes Chapters 731–735 and 744. The Probate & Guardianship Division processes small-estate Dispositions of Personal Property Without Administration, Summary and Formal Probate estate filings, statutory safekeeping deposits of original Last Wills upon death (F.S. § 732.901), Chapter 744 adult incapacity and guardianship accounting/plan audits, and zero-fee Elder Abuse / Financial Exploitation Protective Injunctions (F.S. § 825.1035). When an indigent incapacitated Gilchrist County senior at Ayers Health and Rehabilitation Center or Tri-County Nursing Home in Trenton has no willing or qualified family member to serve as guardian, the 8th Judicial Circuit Court appoints the Florida DOEA Office of Public & Professional Guardians (OPPG) designated Public Guardian: Public Guardianship Office for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, Inc. (PGO8, Florida Sunbiz Doc# P14000084446, led by Executive Director & Program Attorney Heather Hatch McInnis, Esq., FL Bar #39040, (386) 438-8236, pgo8.org).

Official Verification Sources: Gilchrist County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller (Hon. Todd Newton) — Probate & Guardianship; Public Guardianship Office for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, Inc. (PGO8); Florida Sunbiz Entity — Public Guardianship Office for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, Inc. (#P14000084446)

Verified State & Regulatory Credentials
Constitutional Court & Probate Registry (8th Judicial Circuit — Gilchrist County Courthouse): Gilchrist County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller (Hon. Todd Newton) | (352) 463-3170Status: Active Constitutional Office (Probate, Guardianship & Official Records Division)

Issuer: State of Florida / 8th Judicial Circuit Court

Notes: Verified Gilchrist County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller (Hon. Todd Newton) Probate & Guardianship Division at 112 S Main St, Trenton, FL 32693 ((352) 463-3170).

DOEA Office of Public & Professional Guardians (OPPG) — 8th Judicial Circuit Public Guardian: FL Bar #39040 (Heather Hatch McInnis, Esq.) | Sunbiz Doc# P14000084446 (PGO8) & #L17000234734Status: Active State-Contracted Public Guardian (Covering Gilchrist, Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Levy & Union)

Issuer: Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA OPPG) / The Florida Bar

Notes: Public Guardianship Office for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, Inc. (Sunbiz #P14000084446, Executive Director Heather H. McInnis, Esq., FL Bar #39040, 0 disciplinary history, (386) 438-8236) serves as the official 8th Judicial Circuit Public Guardian for Gilchrist County.

Services Offered
8th Judicial Circuit Probate Registry (Formal, Summary & Small Estate Dispositions Without Administration)
Chapter 744 Adult Incapacity Petitions, Plenary/Limited Guardianships & Annual Guardian Audits
Public Guardian Appointments via Public Guardianship Office for the 8th Circuit (PGO8 — Heather McInnis, Esq.)
Elder Abuse & Financial Exploitation Protective Injunctions (F.S. § 825.1035 — Zero Filing Fee)
Safekeeping Deposit of Original Wills upon Death (F.S. § 732.901) & Ex Parte Baker/Marchman Act Filings
Official Records Recording for Lady Bird Deeds, Homestead Exemptions & Durable Powers of Attorney
Frequently Asked Questions

Factual details and direct answers about Gilchrist County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller (Hon. Todd Newton) — Probate & Guardianship Division (with 8th Circuit Office of Public Guardian / PGO8)'s services, licensing, and credentials.

Can a Gilchrist County family settle a very small estate at the Trenton Courthouse without hiring a private probate attorney?

Under Florida Statutes § 735.301, if a deceased Gilchrist County resident left only exempt personal property and non-exempt personal property that does not exceed the sum of preferred funeral expenses ($6,000 statutory cap) and reasonable medical/hospital expenses from the last 60 days of the last illness, a family member may file a 'Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration' directly with Clerk Todd Newton's Probate & Guardianship Division at 112 S Main St, Trenton ((352) 463-3170).

Who serves as legal guardian when an incapacitated Gilchrist County senior at Ayers Health and Rehabilitation Center or Tri-County Nursing Home has no family and cannot afford a private guardian?

Under Florida Department of Elder Affairs Office of Public and Professional Guardians (DOEA OPPG) appointment for the 8th Judicial Circuit, the Public Guardianship Office for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, Inc. (PGO8 — pgo8.org, led by Attorney Heather Hatch McInnis, Esq., FL Bar #39040, (386) 438-8236) serves as public guardian of last resort for qualifying indigent incapacitated adults in Gilchrist County.

Contact Information
Address
112 S Main St, Trenton, FL 32693
Hours
Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:00pm (8th Circuit Public Guardian / PGO8: (386) 438-8236)
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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.