Probate in Miami-Dade County: Where It’s Filed
Miami-Dade County sits in Florida’s 11th Judicial Circuit. Probate is filed with the Miami-Dade Clerk of the Circuit Court, in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. Cases are handled at the Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center at 20 NW 1st Avenue in Miami. The Probate Division has six circuit judges and two general magistrates. Attorneys e-file every document through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, which is why an out-of-state family can have a Miami-Dade County estate handled without anyone traveling to the courthouse.
Miami-Dade probate case numbers end in “CP-02,” and the Probate Division publishes checklists and a “Probate Attorneys’ Corner.” Miami-Dade requires the court’s Probate Smart Forms for many filings. We serve Miami-Dade County residents, including Miami, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Hialeah, Doral, Aventura, Homestead, Kendall.
Which Kind of Probate You’ll Need
Most Miami-Dade 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 Miami-Dade 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 Miami-Dade 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 Miami-Dade County by phone, video, and e-signature.
Suddenly responsible for a house or other real property here? Our Miami-Dade 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 Miami-Dade County, including which division gets the case, which checklists are required, and how proposed orders reach the judge. Miami-Dade probate now operates at the Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center, 20 NW 1st Avenue, not the old courthouse at 73 W. Flagler Street. Original wills, codicils, and bonds are filed physically there, and the Clerk’s probate office answers at 305-275-1155. The division requires its Probate Smart Forms and e-filed certification checklists in estate and guardianship administrations, and judges may decline to sign orders that skip them.
- Administrative orders of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit
- Eleventh Judicial Circuit judges directory
- The clerk’s probate office for Miami-Dade 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 Miami-Dade 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 Miami-Dade County 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 Miami-Dade County?
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 without you coming to Florida, since Florida probate e-files statewide? And does the estate, not you personally, pay the fee? We answer flat, yes, yes, and yes for Miami-Dade County families.
Where is probate filed in Miami-Dade County?
Probate is filed with the Miami-Dade Clerk of the Circuit Court, in the 11th 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 Miami-Dade County estates wherever you are.
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 Miami-Dade 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 Miami-Dade Clerk of the Circuit Court (11th 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 Miami-Dade County residents from Miami; this is not a Miami-Dade County office.