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Probate Attorney for West Palm Beach, Florida

Settling a West Palm Beach estate, often from out of state, takes a court appointment and a Florida attorney.

We handle West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County probate remotely, for a flat fee you can see up front.

  • Done remotely by phone, video, and e-signature
  • Flat fees from $1,500, no hourly surprises
  • Litigates Florida probate and trust disputes in court
Book a free 30-minute consult Flat fees from $1,500 · serving West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County residents

Quick Overview

A West Palm Beach estate is filed in the county where the person lived, and Florida lets attorneys e-file everything, so an out-of-state family never travels to court. We handle West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County probate for flat fees from $1,500. The three kinds of probate, the timeline, and serving from out of state are below.

Topics to Know HideShow

Below, we walk through the 4 issues that decide whether this is the right move for you. Jump to any one.

  1. Probate in Palm Beach County: Where It’s Filed It files in the county where the person lived, and attorneys e-file every document, so an out-of-state family never has to travel to the Palm Beach County courthouse.
  2. Which Kind of Probate You’ll Need Most estates pass through one of three doors, and the cheapest may be open. Summary administration clears estates of $150,000 or less (raised from $75,000 on July 1, 2026), or any estate more than two years old.
  3. How Long, and What It Costs Flat fees start at $1,500 for disposition, $2,500 summary, and $3,500 formal. A formal case is paced by the 3-month creditor window, so it runs about 6 to 12 months.
  4. Out-of-State Personal Representatives You can serve as personal representative from another state if you are related to the decedent. An out-of-state child qualifies, and we handle it remotely.

That’s the quick version. The details below are what decide your situation, and where the costly mistakes hide.

Probate in Palm Beach County: Where It’s Filed

West Palm Beach is in Palm Beach County, which sits in Florida’s 15th Judicial Circuit. Probate is filed with the Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. Cases are handled at the Main Courthouse at 205 North Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach, one of three Palm Beach County courthouses where probate divisions sit (the others are in Delray Beach and Palm Beach Gardens). Attorneys e-file every document through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, which is why an out-of-state family can have a Palm Beach County estate handled without anyone traveling to the courthouse.

Attorneys e-file everything else, but the original will itself cannot be e-filed in Palm Beach County; the Clerk’s Probate Division in West Palm Beach takes it by hand delivery or mail, and Florida law gives whoever holds the will 10 days to deposit it after learning of the death. We serve West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County residents, including West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Royal Palm Beach, Greenacres, Lake Worth Beach, Riviera Beach, Loxahatchee.

Which Kind of Probate You’ll Need

Most Palm Beach County estates pass through one of three doors. The cheapest one may be open.

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 Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County remotely, by phone, video, and e-signature.

Suddenly responsible for a house or other real property here? Our Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach County, including which division gets the case, which checklists are required, and how proposed orders reach the judge. Under Administrative Order 6.201-3/22, ten common petition types (including formal and summary administration) are rejected with leave to refile if the completed, signed checklist is not e-filed with the petition. Roughly nineteen types of uncontested petitions get an initial review by a case manager or staff attorney before a judge sees them, and proposed orders are uploaded through the circuit’s online scheduling system.

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 Palm Beach County 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 West Palm Beach estate?

A free 30-minute consult tells you which kind of probate applies and what it will cost.

Book your free consult

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I choose a probate lawyer in West Palm Beach?

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 West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County families.

Where is probate filed in Palm Beach County?

Probate is filed with the Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, in the 15th 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 Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County by phone, video, and e-signature.

Sources

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 West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County residents remotely; this is not a West Palm Beach office.

West Palm Beach probate, handled remotely

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