Broward County Probate Guide
17th Judicial Circuit · Updated January 2026
Filing & Fees
Complete Fee Schedule
Source ↗Probate Filing Fees
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
Formal Administration Standard probate for larger estates | $401 |
Summary Administration (under $1,000) Simplified probate for smaller estates | $236 |
Disposition Without Administration For very small estates | $232 |
Ancillary Administration For out-of-state decedents with property in this state | $401 |
Caveat File notice to prevent probate without notification | $42 |
Notice of Trust Required filing when settlor dies | $42 |
Accepted Payment: Cash, Cashier's Check, Money Order, Attorney Trust Account Check, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Note: No personal checks accepted. Attorney trust account checks must be imprinted with 'Trust Account' or 'IOLTA'.
Guardianship Fees
Document Fees
Ongoing Estate Fees
Annual Accounting (by estate value)
Inventory Audit Fee
Court Registry Fee
Fee for holding funds in court registry
Formula: 3% of first $500 + 1.5% of each subsequent $100
No personal checks accepted. Attorney trust account checks must be imprinted with 'Trust Account' or 'IOLTA'.
Required Documents
- Petition for Administration
- Death Certificate (certified)
- Original Will (if testate)
- Oath of Personal Representative
- Designation of Resident Agent (if non-FL resident)
- Bond (if required by will or court)
- Letters of Administration/Testamentary
- Notice to Creditors
- Inventory
- Accounting
E-Filing & Filing Methods
Source ↗Timelines & Proceedings
Deadlines & Creditor Claims
Key Deadlines
- Will Deposit
- 10 days
- Creditor Claims
- 3 months
- Known Creditor Notice
- 30 days
Creditor Claims
- Period Starts
- first publication of Notice to Creditors
- Publication
- Daily Business Review or Sun-Sentinel
- Statute
- F.S. 733.702
Publication Requirements
Notice to Creditors
- Newspaper
- Daily Business Review
- Duration
- Once a week for 2 consecutive weeks
- Deadline
- Within 60 days of appointment as personal representative
- Est. Cost
- $150-$300 depending on newspaper and length
Alternatives: Sun-Sentinel, South Florida Business Journal
Notice of Petition/Administration
Must be sent within 3 days to:
- All known creditors
- All beneficiaries named in the will
- Surviving spouse
- All heirs at law
Hearing Scheduling
Source ↗Typical wait: 2-4 weeks for routine matters
Hearing Types
Related Proceedings
Property Recording
Source ↗Recording Fees
- First Page
- $10.00
- Additional Pages
- $8.50
Documentary Stamps
- Deed Rate
- $0.70 per $100 of consideration
- Mortgage Rate
- $0.35 per $100 of debt
Guardianship
Guardianship is a court-supervised process where a guardian is appointed to make decisions for someone who cannot make their own decisions (an 'incapacitated person' or 'ward'). In Florida, guardianship is governed by Chapter 744 of the Florida Statutes.
Filing Fees
- Person Only
- $236
- Property/Estate
- $401
Requirements
- ✓ Background check
- ✓ Credit check
- ✓ Guardian training
- ✓ Examining committee
plenary guardian
Full guardianship - exercises all delegable legal rights and powers of the ward
limited guardian
Partial guardianship - exercises only specific rights designated by court order
guardian of person
Makes personal and healthcare decisions for the ward, including living arrangements, medical treatment, and daily care.
When needed: When a person cannot make decisions about their own health, safety, or personal care
guardian of property
Manages the ward's financial affairs and assets.
When needed: When a person cannot manage their own finances or is vulnerable to financial exploitation
guardian of person and property
Combines both roles - makes both personal/healthcare decisions and manages finances.
guardian of minor
Guardian appointed for a child under 18 when parents are deceased, incapacitated, or have had parental rights terminated.
When needed: When a minor has no living parent able to care for them, or when a minor receives an inheritance or settlement
emergency temporary guardian
Appointed when there is imminent danger that the physical or mental health of the alleged incapacitated person will be seriously impaired without immediate action.
Guardian Training
Report Deadlines
- Initial Plan
- 60 days
- Annual Plan
- 90 days
- Inventory
- 60 days
Preneed Guardian Declaration
Allows a person to designate their preferred guardian before incapacity occurs.
⚠ Attorney required for guardianship proceedings
Court Rules & Orders
Local Rules
- E-filing is mandatory for all attorneys in Broward County
- Pro se (self-represented) parties may file in person at the Probate division
- No personal checks accepted for filing fees
- 17th Judicial Circuit uses Online Scheduling system for hearings
- All proposed orders must include case number and judge assignment
- Original wills must be mailed to clerk after e-filing
Administrative Orders
Sources (6)
- https://www.browardclerk.org/Divisions/ProbateAndGuardianship
- https://www.browardclerk.org/GeneralInformation/FeesAndCosts
- https://www.17th.flcourts.org/
- https://www.17th.flcourts.org/probate-and-guardianship-smart-forms-home-page
- Florida Statutes Title XLII (Estates and Trusts)
- Florida Statutes 28.2401 - Service charges and filing fees in probate matters