Probate in Broward County: Where It’s Filed
Fort Lauderdale is in Broward County, which sits in Florida’s 17th Judicial Circuit. Probate is filed with the Broward County Clerk of Courts, in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. Cases are handled at the Central Courthouse at 201 S.E. 6th Street in downtown Fort Lauderdale, where Probate and Guardianship sits on the 3rd floor of the West Building (Room 03150). Attorneys e-file every document through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, which is why an out-of-state family can have a Broward County estate handled without anyone traveling to the courthouse.
The Broward probate counter keeps shorter hours than most county offices, Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., one more reason most families let their attorney file everything electronically instead of visiting in person. We serve Fort Lauderdale and Broward County residents, including Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, Oakland Park, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Dania Beach, Lauderhill, Tamarac.
Which Kind of Probate You’ll Need
Most Broward County estates pass through one of three doors. The cheapest one may be open.
- Disposition without administration. Tiny estates with only exempt property and final-expense reimbursement; days to weeks.
- Summary administration. Estates of $150,000 or less (raised from $75,000 on July 1, 2026) after exempt property, or when the decedent died more than two years ago; often weeks.
- Formal administration. Everything else; a personal representative is appointed and the case runs about 6 to 12 months.
We confirm which applies at your consult and quote a flat fee. Estimate the cost and timeline first →
How Long, and What It Costs
Formal administration is paced by the 3-month creditor-claim window; clean distribution waits for it to pass. Florida law sets a presumed-reasonable attorney fee scaled to the estate, but it’s a ceiling, not a mandate. Our flat fees start at $1,500 (disposition), $2,500 (summary), and $3,500 (formal). Government costs, the Broward County filing fee (about $400), newspaper publication, and certified copies, are additional and passed through at cost. See the full Florida probate guide →
Out-of-State Personal Representatives
Under Florida law, you can serve as personal representative of a Broward County estate from another state if you’re related to the decedent by blood, adoption, or marriage; an out-of-state child qualifies. We represent personal representatives across Fort Lauderdale and Broward County remotely, by phone, video, and e-signature.
Suddenly responsible for a house or other real property here? Our Broward County property owner's guide maps every office that now matters to you, including the property appraiser, tax deadlines, code enforcement, and how to watch what the county is planning near the property.
Local Rules, Judges, and the Clerk’s Probate Office
Every circuit publishes administrative orders and local procedures that control how probate actually runs in Broward County, including which division gets the case, which checklists are required, and how proposed orders reach the judge. Broward requires an Affidavit of Heirs in every intestate case and an Affidavit Regarding Criminal History in every formal and summary administration, testate or intestate. The circuit keeps a dedicated list of probate administrative orders, including a mandatory checklist order for certain petitions, and publishes its own local procedures handbook for the probate division.
- Administrative orders of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit
- Seventeenth Judicial Circuit judges directory
- The clerk’s probate office for Broward County
- Local probate forms and checklists
You do not have to learn any of this yourself. Part of what a flat fee covers is an attorney who already files under these rules, so nothing bounces back for a missing checklist.
Rather handle the filing yourself? Our Broward Probate Court filing guide is the procedural version of this page, with the courthouse address, where the original will goes, which forms the county wants, the posted filing fee, and an eleven-step checklist for opening the estate.
Handling a Fort Lauderdale estate?
A free 30-minute consult tells you which kind of probate applies and what it will cost.
Book your free consultFrequently Asked Questions
How do I choose a probate lawyer in Fort Lauderdale?
Ask the same four questions everywhere in Florida. Is the fee flat or the statutory percentage, in writing? Does the lawyer litigate if a will contest or objection erupts mid-case? Can the whole case be handled remotely, since Florida probate e-files statewide? And does the estate, not you personally, pay the fee? We answer flat, yes, yes, and yes for Fort Lauderdale and Broward County families.
Where is probate filed in Broward County?
Probate is filed with the Broward County Clerk of Courts, in the 17th Judicial Circuit, where the decedent was domiciled. Attorneys e-file through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, so you don't have to appear in person. We handle Broward County estates remotely.
How long will it take?
Formal administration in any Florida county usually runs 6 to 12 months because the 3-month creditor-claim window (§733.702) must pass. Summary administration is faster, often a few weeks to about two months.
Do I need a local attorney if I live out of state?
You need a Florida attorney for most formal administrations (Fla. Prob. R. 5.030), but you don't need to be local. We represent personal representatives across Fort Lauderdale and Broward County by phone, video, and e-signature.
Sources
- Fla. Stat. ch. 733 to 735 (administration); §733.304 (nonresident PR); §733.702 (creditor claims); Fla. Prob. R. 5.030 (attorney required). Filing via the Broward County Clerk of Courts (17th Judicial Circuit) and the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. (retrieved 2026-06-07)
Updated August 12, 2026. Reviewed by Kevin D. Klagge, Esq., Fla. Bar No. 99502. Attorney Kevin Klagge represents families, businesses, and international clients in estate and tax planning, business structuring, and international law, with a focus on Florida legal tools. He litigates estate and business issues in court. General information about Florida law, not legal advice. We serve Fort Lauderdale and Broward County residents remotely; this is not a Fort Lauderdale office.