Handling an estate in Fort Lauderdale?
Broward County is our home circuit. Bucelo Diaz Law guides Fort Lauderdale families through probate from our Weston office, in English and Spanish. Schedule a free 30-minute initial consultation.
Probate for Fort Lauderdale residents runs through the probate division of Florida’s Seventeenth Judicial Circuit in Broward County, and Broward is our home county: Bucelo Diaz Law’s primary office is in Weston, about half an hour from downtown Fort Lauderdale. We represent families across the city, from Coral Ridge and Victoria Park to Rio Vista, Harbor Beach, and the neighborhoods along Las Olas, in Florida probate matters of every size, in English and Spanish.
Because the Seventeenth Circuit is where we practice most, Fort Lauderdale families get the practical benefits of local counsel: familiarity with how the Broward probate division processes cases, in-person meetings when you want them, and an attorney who regularly appears in the same court that will handle your family’s estate.
Where Fort Lauderdale Probate Cases Are Filed
Probate for Fort Lauderdale residents is filed with the Broward County Clerk of Courts and administered by the probate division of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit. Attorneys file through Florida’s statewide e-filing portal, and uncontested cases rarely require the family to appear. Local filing details and first steps after a death are covered in our Broward County probate guide.
Summary vs. Formal Administration for Fort Lauderdale Estates
Florida probate runs on two main tracks, and which one applies drives both the timeline and the cost:
- Summary administration: the shortened process for estates with $150,000 or less in nonexempt assets (the limit doubled from $75,000 on July 1, 2026 under CS/HB 1337), or where the decedent died more than two years ago. Homestead property does not count toward the limit. Typically finished in about one to three months. We handle summary administration for a flat fee of $4,500 plus court costs.
- Formal administration: the full process with a court-appointed personal representative, required for most larger estates. Typically six to twelve months, driven by the mandatory three month creditor window. Our fees for formal administration start at $8,500.
Not sure which track applies? That is usually the first question we answer in a consultation, and the answer changed for many families this month when the new $150,000 limit took effect. See our Broward County probate guide for county-level filing details and our Florida probate cost guide for a full cost breakdown.
Waterfront Property, Condos, and Blended Families
Fort Lauderdale estates bring recurring wrinkles: waterfront and condo property with association requirements that must be managed during administration, homestead questions when the home passes to a surviving spouse or children, and blended families where a will’s terms interact with Florida’s spousal rights. These issues are manageable when they are identified at the start of the case rather than discovered midway. We flag them in the first consultation and build the administration plan around them.
Why Fort Lauderdale Families Work With Bucelo Diaz Law
Bucelo Diaz Law is a Florida estate planning and probate firm with offices in Weston, Ocala, and Naples, serving families statewide in English and Spanish. Probate is one of our core practice areas, not a sideline: summary administration, formal administration, ancillary probate, and beneficiary representation. Consultations are free, thirty minutes, and available by phone, Zoom, or in person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you meet with Fort Lauderdale clients in person?
Yes. The firm’s primary office is in Weston, in Broward County, about thirty minutes from downtown Fort Lauderdale, and in-person consultations are available there alongside phone and Zoom. Broward is the firm’s home circuit, so this is where most in-person probate work happens.
Where is probate filed for a Fort Lauderdale resident?
With the Broward County Clerk of Courts, in the probate division of Florida’s Seventeenth Judicial Circuit. Attorneys file electronically through the statewide portal, and most uncontested cases require no court appearances by the family.
How long does probate take in Broward County?
Summary administration typically takes about one to three months. Formal administration typically takes six to twelve months, driven by Florida’s mandatory three month creditor claim window. Contested estates and estates with property to sell run longer.
How much does probate cost in Fort Lauderdale?
Bucelo Diaz Law handles summary administration, available for estates with $150,000 or less in nonexempt assets since July 1, 2026, for a flat fee of $4,500 plus court costs. Formal administration starts at $8,500. Court filing fees set by the Broward clerk are separate.
Informational purposes only. This page is for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Consult a qualified Florida attorney about your specific situation. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Talk to a Fort Lauderdale Probate Attorney
Call us at 954.399.1910 or schedule a free 30-minute phone consultation. We also offer Zoom consultations, in English and Spanish. Attorney advertising.
About the Author
Alexis Bucelo Diaz, Esq., LL.M. is the founding attorney of Bucelo Diaz Law, PLLC. She holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Estate Planning from the University of Miami School of Law and has more than 15 years of focused experience in Florida estate planning, probate, and real property law. Florida Bar #86918. Selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars in 2025.