Handling an estate in Miami-Dade?
Bucelo Diaz Law guides Miami families through probate in English and Spanish. Schedule a free 30-minute initial consultation by phone, Zoom, or in person.
Probate for Miami residents runs through the probate division of Florida’s Eleventh Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade County. Bucelo Diaz Law represents families across the county, from Coral Gables and Kendall to Aventura, Westchester, and Hialeah, in Florida probate matters, with something most Miami firms advertise but few deliver at the attorney level: genuinely bilingual representation. Founding attorney Alexis Bucelo Diaz is fluent in English and Spanish, and clients get the same depth of counsel in either language.
Miami estates are rarely simple. The decedent may have family in Cuba, Venezuela, or Colombia; heirs may need documents translated or apostilled; the estate may include a condo owned by a decedent who lived abroad. These are the cases we work every week, and they are the reason a Miami probate needs counsel comfortable working across borders and languages.
Where Miami Probate Cases Are Filed
Probate for Miami and Miami-Dade residents is filed with the Miami-Dade Clerk of the Courts and administered by the probate division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. Attorneys file through Florida’s statewide e-filing portal. Local filing details and first steps after a death are covered in our Miami-Dade County probate guide. Para información en español, visite nuestra página de abogados de herencias y sucesiones en Florida.
Summary vs. Formal Administration for Miami 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 Miami-Dade County probate guide for county-level filing details and our Florida probate cost guide for a full cost breakdown.
Heirs Abroad and Foreign-Owned Miami Property
Two situations come up constantly in Miami-Dade probate. First, heirs who live outside the United States: Florida law permits foreign beneficiaries, but distributions, notarizations, and identity documentation take extra care, and Spanish-language communication with the family usually makes the difference between a smooth case and a stalled one. Second, decedents who lived abroad but owned Miami real estate: that property generally requires ancillary probate in Florida regardless of what happens in the home country. We handle both, in both languages.
Why Miami 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 handle probate cases in Spanish?
Yes. Founding attorney Alexis Bucelo Diaz is fluent in English and Spanish, and the firm serves Spanish-speaking families at the attorney level, not through a translator. Consultations, documents, and family communication can all be handled en español. Visite nuestra página de abogados de herencias en Florida para más información.
Where is probate filed for a Miami resident?
With the Miami-Dade Clerk of the Courts, in the probate division of Florida’s Eleventh Judicial Circuit. Attorneys file electronically through the statewide portal, and most uncontested cases require no courthouse visits by the family.
What if the person who died lived in another country but owned property in Miami?
Florida real estate owned by a foreign decedent generally must pass through ancillary probate in Florida, a proceeding that runs alongside any estate process in the home country. The Florida property cannot be sold or transferred to heirs until the Florida proceeding is complete. This is one of the most common probate situations in Miami-Dade, and the firm handles it regularly.
How much does probate cost in Miami?
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 Miami-Dade 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 Miami 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.