Headquartered in the historic Lafayette County Courthouse at 120 West Main Street, Mayo, FL 32066 ((386) 294-1600, https://www.lafayetteclerk.com), the Lafayette County Clerk of the Circuit Court & County Comptroller — Probate, Guardianship & Official Records Division is the statutory 3rd Judicial Circuit court registry for all decedent estates, original wills, adult guardianships, mental health filings, and land records serving Mayo (32066), Day (32013), and Cooks Hammock (32066) under Florida Statutes Chapters 28, 731–735, and 744. Administered by Constitutional Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller Hon. Steve Land ((386) 294-1600) alongside Lafayette County Judge and Acting 3rd Judicial Circuit Judge Hon. Darren Kenneth Jackson (Florida Bar #145386 [cross-referenced in court indexes with #494801], admitted October 1, 1998, Samford University Cumberland School of Law J.D., presiding on the Lafayette County bench since January 2007; Chambers: 120 W Main St, P.O. Box 197, Mayo, FL 32066, (386) 294-1555) and Lafayette County Attorney Leenette Wilhelmina McMillan-Fredriksson, Esq. (practicing as Leenette W. McMillan / Leenette R. McMillan, Esq., Florida Bar #75779 [cross-referenced with #86104], admitted April 25, 1996, FSU College of Law J.D., McMillan Law Office, P.A., Sunbiz Doc# P03000126717, 152 W Main St, Ste C / 172 W Main St, Mayo, FL 32066, (386) 294-1688 / County Attorney line (386) 294-4143, 0 discipline), the Courthouse receives mandatory 10-day safekeeping deposits of Original Wills (F.S. § 732.901), processes pro se small-estate Dispositions of Personal Property Without Administration (F.S. § 735.301), Summary Probate Administration (F.S. Ch. 735), Formal Probate Administration (F.S. Ch. 733), Chapter 744 adult incapacity and guardianship petitions, mandatory annual guardianship financial/care-plan audits (F.S. § 744.368), and zero-filing-fee Vulnerable Adult Elder Abuse & Financial Exploitation Protective Injunctions (F.S. § 825.1035). On the first floor at 120 W Main St, Room 123 (P.O. Box 6), Mayo, FL 32066 ((386) 294-1991, https://www.lafayettepa.com), Lafayette County Property Appraiser Hon. Wayne 'Bucky' McCray, CFA (clarifying current Property Appraiser Wayne 'Bucky' McCray vs. historical Nettles references) administers the $50,000 Constitutional Homestead Exemption (F.S. § 196.031), Additional Low-Income Senior Age 65+ Homestead Exemption (F.S. § 196.075), Widow/Widower Exemption (F.S. § 196.202), Disabled Veteran Tax Exemptions (F.S. §§ 196.081–196.091), and Agricultural 'Greenbelt' Classifications (F.S. § 193.461). For indigent, incapacitated Lafayette County elders lacking willing or qualified family members, the 3rd Judicial Circuit Court appoints the state-designated DOEA Office of Public and Professional Guardians (OPPG) Public Guardian: North Florida Office of Public Guardian, Inc. (NFOPG, Florida Sunbiz 501(c)(3) Doc# N03000000947, EIN 16-1652866, Executive Director Karen P. Campbell, Esq., (850) 487-4609 ext. 100, https://www.northfloridaopg.org), in coordination with DOEA PSA 3 Area Agency on Aging Elder Options (Sunbiz Doc# 739234, 1-800-262-2243).
Official Verification Sources: Lafayette County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller (Hon. Steve Land) — Official Portal; Third Judicial Circuit of Florida — Lafayette County Judge Hon. Darren K. Jackson (#145386); Lafayette County Property Appraiser (Hon. Wayne 'Bucky' McCray, CFA) — Homestead & Senior Exemptions; 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: Clerk Hon. Steve Land ((386) 294-1600), County Judge Hon. Darren K. Jackson (FL Bar #145386, admitted 10/01/1998, (386) 294-1555), County Attorney Leenette W. McMillan, Esq. (FL Bar #75779, admitted 04/25/1996, 152 W Main St, Ste C / 172 W Main St, Mayo, (386) 294-1688 / (386) 294-4143), and Property Appraiser Hon. Wayne 'Bucky' McCray, CFA ((386) 294-1991) serve at the Lafayette County Courthouse complex in Mayo.
Issuer: Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA — Office of Public and Professional Guardians)
Notes: Verified 2026-10-26: North Florida Office of Public Guardian, Inc. (NFOPG, Sunbiz #N03000000947, (850) 487-4609 ext. 100) serves as the statutory F.S. § 744.2006 public guardian for indigent incapacitated seniors in Lafayette County and the 3rd Judicial Circuit.
Factual details and direct answers about Lafayette County Courthouse Probate, Guardianship & Homestead Registry — Clerk of Circuit Court Hon. Steve Land, County Judge Hon. Darren K. Jackson, County Attorney Leenette W. McMillan, Esq., Property Appraiser Wayne 'Bucky' McCray, CFA & 3rd Circuit Public Guardian's services, licensing, and credentials.
Where do families in Mayo, Day, or Cooks Hammock deposit an original Will or file a small-estate Disposition Without Administration?
Under Florida Statute § 732.901, the custodian of a deceased Lafayette County resident's original Will must deposit it within 10 days of notice of death with Hon. Steve Land, Lafayette County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, at the Lafayette County Courthouse, 120 West Main Street, Mayo, FL 32066 ((386) 294-1600). For small estates consisting solely of constitutionally exempt personal property and non-exempt assets not exceeding preferred funeral expenses ($6,000 cap) and last-60-day medical expenses, surviving family members can file a pro se Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration (F.S. § 735.301) directly with the Clerk's Probate Division.
Where do Lafayette County seniors apply for the Age 65+ Senior Homestead Exemption, Widow/Widower Exemption, or Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption?
Seniors apply on the first floor of the Lafayette County Courthouse with Lafayette County Property Appraiser Hon. Wayne 'Bucky' McCray, CFA at 120 West Main Street, Room 123, Mayo, FL 32066 ((386) 294-1991, https://www.lafayettepa.com) prior to the statutory March 1 deadline.
Connect with complementary legal, financial, and residential providers serving seniors in Mayo and Lafayette County.
Lafayette State Bank — Mayo Headquarters Branch (FDIC Cert #16396 / #16266, Sunbiz #705561) & First Federal Bank — Mayo Branch (FDIC Cert #31313 / #31307, Sunbiz #P17000083684)
Mayo, Lafayette County
(386) 294-1901
Suwannee River Economic Council, Inc. (SREC — Sunbiz #709611) HUD Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Registry & Adjacent Live Oak Housing Authority (HUD PHA #FL054) / North Central Florida Regional Housing Authority (#FL139)
Mayo, Lafayette County
(386) 294-2202
Lafayette Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (60-Bed Skilled Nursing, Post-Acute Rehab & Memory Care — Mayo)
Mayo, Lafayette County
(386) 294-3300
Expert guidance, benefit eligibility rules, and state protections for older Florida residents and family caregivers.
McMillan Law Office, P.A. (Leenette W. McMillan, Esq. — Resident Mayo Probate & Real Property Counsel) & Law Office of Heather McInnis, PLLC (15-Mile US-27 Suwannee River Bridge 3rd Circuit Elder Law Section Counsel, with Hatton Law, P.A.)
Mayo, Lafayette County
Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc. (TRLS) — Lafayette County, 3rd Judicial Circuit & DOEA PSA 3 (Elder Options #739234) Title III-B Free Senior Legal Aid (with Lafayette County Senior Citizens Center Mayo Outreach)
Mayo, Lafayette County
Lafayette County Veterans Service Office (CVSO Damien Walker / Ellis A.G. Putnal) — Accredited VA Aid & Attendance, Survivor DIC & Disabled Veteran Homestead Exemption Advocacy (with Lake City VA Medical Center & Perry VA Clinic)
Mayo, Lafayette County
SR-51 North Live Oak Probate, Wills & Lady Bird Deed Corridor — Sellers, Taylor & Morrison, P.A., Hal A. Airth, Prevatt Law, Hill Law & Title, Chauncey Law & Rhett Bullard
Mayo, Lafayette 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.