If a loved one recently passed away in Broward, Florida, you may be wondering what steps come next and whether the estate has to go through probate at all. While Chapters 731 through 735 of the Florida Statutes apply uniformly across the state, the experience of administering an estate can change depending on the county’s caseload, local forms, and judicial assignments. Below you will find information about the Broward probate court, how probate works locally, and when legal counsel is typically recommended.
If you need guidance on opening, administering, or closing a Broward County estate, contact Bucelo Diaz Law or call (954) 399-1910 to schedule a free consultation.
Broward County Probate Court
- Court
- Broward County Courthouse
- Address
- 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
- Clerk website
- Broward County Clerk of Court
- Phone
- (954) 831-6565
- Directions
- View on Google Maps
Our Weston Office Serves Broward County
Our Weston office serves Broward County and the greater South Florida metro area. Learn more on our Weston estate planning & probate lawyer page, or visit the Areas We Serve directory to see every Florida community we cover.
Key Takeaways, Probate in Broward County
- Probate is filed in the county where the decedent was domiciled. For Broward County residents, that means filing in the local probate division of the circuit court listed above.
- Florida offers two administration tracks. Summary administration for smaller or older estates, and formal administration for everything else, including most estates involving real property.
- Counsel is typically required in formal administration. Personal representatives owe fiduciary duties that can create personal liability, so most estates benefit from a Broward County probate attorney.
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Opening a Broward County estate or unsure whether probate is required? Bucelo Diaz Law helps families and personal representatives across Florida navigate each stage of probate.
Contact NowLive in Fort Lauderdale? See our dedicated Fort Lauderdale probate attorney page for city-specific guidance.
First Steps After a Death in Broward, Florida
The hours and days after a loved one passes are stressful. While probate can wait, a few practical first steps will make the process easier when you are ready:
- Obtain certified copies of the death certificate. The funeral home typically orders these. Get at least 6 to 10; banks, insurance companies, and the court each need their own.
- Locate the original will. Florida law (F.S. §732.901) requires the original to be deposited with the clerk of court within 10 days of learning of the death.
- Secure property and important papers. Lock the home, redirect mail, locate insurance policies and account statements. Do not distribute or remove assets before consulting an attorney.
- Notify Social Security, the IRS, and pension or retirement plan administrators. SSA notification stops further benefit payments and may trigger survivor benefits.
- List assets and debts. Bank accounts, retirement accounts, real estate, vehicles, life insurance, and any known creditor balances. This list will speed your first consultation.
- Schedule a probate consultation. Most Broward estates do not require an immediate filing, but early legal review prevents missed deadlines and protects the estate.
How Probate Works in Broward County
The probate process in Broward tracks the procedural framework set out in the Florida Probate Code and the Florida Probate Rules. It starts with the filing of a death certificate, original will (if one exists), and a petition describing the estate and proposed personal representative.
Florida law provides for two core administration types, summary administration for estates that meet size or time thresholds, and formal administration for everything else. In addition, ancillary probate may be required in Broward when a non-resident decedent owned Florida real property or other assets located in the county.
Clerk procedures, submission portals, and local administrative orders can differ from county to county. A petition that is ready to file in one Florida jurisdiction may need a different cover sheet, notice form, or filing sequence elsewhere. For that reason, working with a probate attorney familiar with the Broward court can reduce delays and avoid rejected filings. Personal representatives in particular benefit from counsel because Florida law imposes duties, to creditors, to beneficiaries, and to the court, that can carry personal liability if handled incorrectly.
A Broward County probate attorney can help you file correctly the first time, avoid delays, and meet every statutory deadline. Let’s talk about your situation.
Schedule ConsultationLocal Broward County Probate Notes
Broward County is Bucelo Diaz Law’s home base. Our Weston office sits a short drive from the Broward County probate division in Fort Lauderdale, and we file in Broward probate court regularly.
The Court
Broward probate matters are heard in the 17th Judicial Circuit, one of the busier probate divisions in Florida. Local clerk preferences and judicial assignments can meaningfully affect how quickly a case moves; a lawyer who files in Broward regularly knows what the local court expects.
Communities We Serve
- Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines
- Weston, Davie, Plantation
- Coral Springs, Sunrise, Tamarac, Lauderhill
- Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, Hallandale Beach
Common Broward Estate Scenarios
- Condominium estates along the coast and Intracoastal, often involving HOA assessments and special title considerations
- Snowbird estates with primary residence in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, or Quebec
- Multilingual estates for Broward’s Spanish-speaking, Haitian, Portuguese, and bilingual communities (we handle Broward probate in Spanish and English)
- Multi-generation transfers where parents lived in Broward and adult children live elsewhere
Three Ways to Probate a Broward Estate
Florida law offers three procedural paths for handling a Broward estate. The right choice depends on the size of the estate, where the decedent lived, and whether anyone is contesting the case.
| Type | When it applies | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Summary administration | Estate is $75,000 or less in non-exempt assets (rising to $150,000 effective July 1, 2026), OR decedent has been deceased more than 2 years | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Formal administration | Estate exceeds the summary threshold, within 2 years of death, or includes complex assets | 6 to 12 months |
| Ancillary administration | Decedent lived in another state but owned Broward property (real estate, titled vehicles) | 4 weeks (short-form) to 6–12 months (formal) |
Not sure which applies? Schedule a free consultation and we will review the death certificate, the will, and the asset list before any filing.
Do You Need a Probate Lawyer in Broward County?
Our Florida probate attorneys represent personal representatives and beneficiaries in Broward County and every other Florida county, by phone, Zoom, and e-filing.
Florida does not require a lawyer for every probate scenario, but formal administration generally cannot be pursued without counsel, and summary administration is rarely handled successfully without legal guidance when real property or multiple beneficiaries are involved. Hiring a Broward probate attorney is not about adding cost, it is about controlling risk. Personal representatives owe fiduciary duties to creditors and beneficiaries, and missteps can result in personal liability.
Our firm works with families and personal representatives across Broward to open estates, respond to creditor claims, resolve title issues on real property, prepare inventories and accountings, and distribute assets in compliance with Florida law. If there is a will contest, a dispute over the personal representative, or a question about whether an estate even needs to be opened, we can evaluate the situation and recommend a path forward.
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What to Bring to Your Broward Probate Consultation
To make our initial conversation as productive as possible, gather what you can before our consultation:
- Death certificate (a certified copy if you have it)
- Original will, if one exists, plus any prior wills you can locate
- List of the decedent’s assets: real property, bank and brokerage accounts, vehicles, life insurance, retirement accounts
- Names and contact information for the surviving spouse and all beneficiaries
- Recent creditor letters or known debts
- Information about property the decedent owned outside Broward (other Florida counties or other states)
If you do not have all of this yet, that is fine. We can begin with what you have and gather the rest as we go.
Cost of Probate in Broward County
Probate cost in Broward County depends on the size of the estate, the type of administration (summary or formal), the Broward Clerk of Court filing fees, and any extraordinary services such as contested matters or out-of-state real property. Florida sets a presumed reasonable attorney’s fee schedule under F.S. 733.6171 and personal representative compensation under F.S. 733.617, but every Broward estate is different.
Want a complete breakdown?
See the Florida Probate Cost Guide for the full statutory fee schedule, court filing fees, and worked cost examples for estates from $50,000 to $5 million. We also provide a written cost estimate at the end of every initial consultation.
Out-of-State Family Handling Broward Probate?
Many Broward estates involve families who live outside Florida. The good news: under Florida Statute §733.304, a child, spouse, sibling, or other qualifying relative can serve as personal representative even if they live in another state or country.
You typically do not need to travel to Florida. We handle the entire Broward probate by Zoom, email, remote signature, and Florida Remote Online Notarization (RON). For a complete walkthrough of how Florida probate works for out-of-state and international families, see our pillar guide: Florida Probate From Out of State: Personal Representative Guide.
Related Probate Services
Frequently Asked Questions, Probate in Broward
Where do I file probate in Broward, Florida?
You file probate in the Florida county where the decedent lived, for Broward residents, that means the local clerk of court’s probate division. If the decedent lived elsewhere in Florida but owned real property in Broward, a separate ancillary proceeding may be opened here.
What courthouse handles probate in Broward?
Probate matters in Broward are handled at the local circuit court. Courthouse and clerk information is listed above, we recommend confirming current filing hours and submission procedures directly with the clerk’s office before filing.
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Broward?
In most formal administrations, Florida law requires the personal representative to be represented by counsel. Summary administration can sometimes be pursued without a lawyer, but legal guidance is strongly recommended, particularly when real property, creditors, or multiple beneficiaries are involved.
How long does probate take in Broward?
Summary administrations in Broward can often be completed in a matter of weeks once all documents are in order. Formal administrations typically take six months to a year, driven largely by the statutory creditor claim period and the complexity of the estate. Contested matters can take longer.
Do you handle Broward probate in Spanish?
Yes. Our team includes Spanish-speaking attorneys, and we handle Broward probate matters in Spanish for our bilingual and Spanish-speaking clients.
What if the decedent owned property in Broward and another county?
Florida probate is filed in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. If the decedent was a Broward resident with property elsewhere in Florida, the other counties typically do not need separate proceedings. If property is in another state, that state needs its own ancillary proceeding.
What if the decedent was not a Broward resident but owned property in Broward?
You will need a Florida ancillary administration filed in Broward. The main probate happens in the decedent’s home state; the Broward case transfers the local property only.
Nearby Florida Counties We Serve
Bucelo Diaz Law represents clients in probate matters across every Florida county. Explore nearby jurisdictions, or return to the Florida probate county directory for the full list.
Every Florida probate case turns on local procedure, statutory deadlines, and careful execution. If you’re dealing with an estate in Broward County, Bucelo Diaz Law is ready to help.
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