Constitutional 14th Judicial Circuit Probate, Guardianship, Small Estate, and Official Records Registry for Gulf County, headquartered at the Robert M. Moore Administration Building / Gulf County Courthouse at 1000 Cecil G. Costin Sr. Boulevard, Room 148 (and Room 149), Port St. Joe, FL 32456 ((850) 229-6112, https://www.gulfclerk.com), with northern county satellite services at the Wewahitchka Courthouse Annex at 153 N. 3rd Street, Wewahitchka, FL 32465 ((850) 639-2175, open Fridays 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CT; near historic 205 E. River Rd). Led by Gulf County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller Hon. James M. 'Matt' Terry (appointed and sworn in February 18, 2026 following the December 2025 retirement of 20-year elected Clerk Hon. Rebecca 'Becky' L. Norris after her 42-year career in the office) and operating alongside Gulf County Judge Hon. Timothy J. McFarland (Florida Bar #984868, admitted September 23, 1993; appointed to the Gulf County bench in October 2010, 0 disciplinary history), the Probate & Guardianship Division processes Formal and Summary Probate Administrations, Small Estate Dispositions of Personal Property Without Administration (F.S. § 735.301), statutory deposits of original Last Wills and Testaments within 10 days of death (F.S. § 732.901), Chapter 744 adult incapacity and plenary/limited 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) plus Baker Act and Marchman Act filings. Paired with the state-appointed 14th Judicial Circuit statutory Public Guardian, North Florida Office of Public Guardian, Inc. (Florida Sunbiz Document #N03000000947, FEI/EIN 16-1652866, 801 Jenks Avenue, Suite B, Panama City, FL 32401, (850) 487-4609 ext. 104, https://www.northfloridaopg.org, Executive Director Karen P. Campbell), designated by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs Office of Public and Professional Guardians (DOEA OPPG) under F.S. § 744.2006 to serve indigent, incapacitated seniors in Port St. Joe (32456) and Wewahitchka (32465) who lack willing or qualified family members to serve as guardian (acceptsMedicaid: true).
Official Verification Sources: Gulf County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Probate & Guardianship Division; The Florida Bar Judicial Profile — Gulf County Judge Hon. Timothy J. McFarland (#984868); North Florida Office of Public Guardian, Inc. — 14th Judicial Circuit Public Guardian (#N03000000947)
Issuer: State of Florida (Art. V, Fla. Const.), 14th Judicial Circuit of Florida & The Florida Bar
Notes: Verified 2026-10-26: Gulf County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller at 1000 Cecil G. Costin Sr. Blvd, Room 148/149, Port St. Joe, FL 32456 ((850) 229-6112) and Wewahitchka Annex at 153 N 3rd St, Wewahitchka, FL 32465 ((850) 639-2175, Fridays 8:00am-3:30pm CT). Hon. James M. 'Matt' Terry was sworn in Feb 18, 2026 succeeding retired 20-year Clerk Hon. Rebecca 'Becky' L. Norris. Gulf County Judge Hon. Timothy J. McFarland (FL Bar #984868, admitted Sept 23, 1993, 0 discipline) presides at the Gulf County Courthouse.
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 Doc# N03000000947, EIN 16-1652866, 801 Jenks Ave, Ste B, Panama City, FL 32401, (850) 487-4609 ext. 104 / Tallahassee HQ (850) 487-4609, Executive Director Karen P. Campbell) serves as the statutory public guardian for indigent incapacitated adults across the 14th Judicial Circuit, including Gulf County.
Factual details and direct answers about Gulf County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — Probate, Guardianship & Small Estate Division (Hon. James M. 'Matt' Terry / Former Clerk Hon. Rebecca 'Becky' L. Norris, Judge Timothy J. McFarland & North Florida OPG)'s services, licensing, and credentials.
Where do families file probate wills, small estate dispositions, or adult guardianship petitions in Port St. Joe and Wewahitchka?
In Gulf County, all 14th Judicial Circuit probate, small estate ('Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration' under F.S. § 735.301), and adult guardianship petitions are filed with the Gulf County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller (Hon. James M. 'Matt' Terry, who succeeded retired 20-year Clerk Hon. Rebecca 'Becky' L. Norris in early 2026) at the Robert M. Moore Administration Building / Gulf County Courthouse, 1000 Cecil G. Costin Sr. Boulevard, Room 148, Port St. Joe, FL 32456 ((850) 229-6112, Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. ET). Northern Gulf County residents can also access Clerk services on Fridays (8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. CT) at the Wewahitchka Courthouse Annex, 153 N. 3rd Street, Wewahitchka, FL 32465 ((850) 639-2175).
Who serves as court-appointed Public Guardian when an incapacitated low-income senior in Port St. Joe or Wewahitchka has no family able to serve?
Under Florida Statutes § 744.2006 and appointment by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs Office of Public and Professional Guardians (DOEA OPPG), the North Florida Office of Public Guardian, Inc. (Sunbiz Doc# N03000000947, EIN 16-1652866, 801 Jenks Avenue, Suite B, Panama City, FL 32401, (850) 487-4609 ext. 104, Executive Director Karen P. Campbell) serves as the statutory 14th Judicial Circuit Public Guardian for indigent, incapacitated Gulf County seniors.
Connect with complementary legal, financial, and residential providers serving seniors in Port St. Joe and Gulf County.
Centennial Bank — Port St. Joe & Wewahitchka In-County Branches & Centennial Financial Services (Crowley Wealth / Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC)
Port St. Joe, Gulf County
(850) 227-2601
Port St. Joe USDA Section 515 & FHFC LIHTC Apartments — Pine Ridge Apartments, Liberty Manor Apartments, Gateway of St. Joe & Bridgeport (32456)
Port St. Joe, Gulf County
(850) 227-7451
Shores Nursing and Rehab Center (Formerly The Bridge at Bay St. Joe — #SNF1038096) & Our Home at Beacon Hill ALF (#AL10713) — Port St. Joe In-County Long-Term Care
Port St. Joe, Gulf County
(850) 229-8244
Expert guidance, benefit eligibility rules, and state protections for older Florida residents and family caregivers.
Florida Public Guardian & Guardianship Guide →
How 14th Judicial Circuit guardianship proceedings at the Gulf 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 Port St. Joe.
Novak Law Group, PLLC (Jeremy T.M. Novak, Esq. — Gulf County Attorney) & Rish & Gibson, P.A. (Thomas S. Gibson, Esq.) — Port St. Joe Probate, Estate Planning, Trust & Real Property Counsel
Port St. Joe, Gulf County
Legal Services of North Florida, Inc. (LSNF) — Panama City 14th Circuit Regional Office & Gulf County Title III-B Senior Legal Helpline (with Port St. Joe & Wewahitchka Senior Center Outreach)
Port St. Joe, Gulf County
Gulf County Veterans Service Office (VSO) — CVSO Director Joe Paul & CVSO Lynn Lanier (Port St. Joe & Wewahitchka Statutory VA Aid & Attendance Pension & Survivor Benefits Advocacy)
Port St. Joe, Gulf County
Costin & Costin (Charles A. Costin, Esq. & Lauren M. Costin, Esq.), Law Offices J. Patrick Floyd Chartered & Clinton T. McCahill, P.A. — Port St. Joe & Wewahitchka Probate, Real Property & Municipal Counsel (with Wewahitchka City Attorney Michelle Blankenship Jordan, Esq.)
Port St. Joe, Gulf 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.