Search Boynton Beach Probate Court Records

Boynton Beach residents file probate cases through Palm Beach County, which is served by the 15th Judicial Circuit. All probate filings for the county go to the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach. This page covers how to search records, who handles filings, what fees apply, and how the process works for estates opened in Boynton Beach.

Which County Handles Probate for Boynton Beach

Boynton Beach is located in Palm Beach County. The 15th Judicial Circuit covers Palm Beach County exclusively. When a Boynton Beach resident dies and an estate needs to go through court, the petition is filed with the Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court in West Palm Beach. Florida law requires probate to be filed in the county where the deceased person lived, so Palm Beach County is the correct jurisdiction for all Boynton Beach estates.

There is no probate branch courthouse in Boynton Beach. All filings, hearings, and records are handled at the main courthouse in West Palm Beach, which is about 15 miles north of Boynton Beach. The clerk's online tools let you search records and request some documents without making the trip in many cases.

For detailed information on Palm Beach County probate procedures, courthouse locations, and local resources, see the Palm Beach County probate records page.

How to Search Boynton Beach Probate Records

The Palm Beach County Clerk of Courts operates an online case search portal. You can look up probate cases by the decedent's name, case number, or date of filing. Access is free. Most probate records in Florida are public, though certain documents like inventories and accountings are confidential by law and will not appear in public searches.

Visit mypalmbeachclerk.com and navigate to the case search section. Start with the last name of the person who died. The results page shows the case number, the names of parties, the filing date, and the current status. From there, you can see a list of documents filed in the case. Some can be viewed online; others require an in-person request or a mail order.

For certified copies, contact the clerk's office directly. Fees for copies are per page, with an extra charge for each certified document. Requests can be submitted in person at the West Palm Beach courthouse, by mail, or through the online request system for certain document types.

Older probate files may be stored in the county's records archives. If you are looking for a case that was closed many years ago, ask the clerk's office about archive retrieval procedures. Turnaround time for archived records is longer than for active or recently closed cases.

The Boynton Beach city website provides general city services information. All probate matters, however, are handled entirely at the county level through the Palm Beach County Clerk's office in West Palm Beach.

The city of Boynton Beach does not handle estate or probate matters. All filings go to the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach.

Types of Probate Cases Filed in Palm Beach County

Florida law provides three main ways to handle an estate. The right choice depends on the value of the estate and when the person died. For Boynton Beach residents, all of these case types are filed through the Palm Beach County Clerk of Courts.

Formal Administration is required when the estate's non-exempt assets exceed $75,000. This is the standard probate process. The court appoints a personal representative, who then gathers assets, notifies creditors, pays debts, and distributes what remains under court oversight. The personal representative must file an inventory with the court, though it is confidential. Creditors get at least three months to file claims after the notice is published. Formal administration typically takes six months to a year or more.

Summary Administration is for smaller estates. It applies when non-exempt assets are $75,000 or less, or when the decedent has been dead for more than two years. It is much simpler. There is no personal representative. The petitioner files a petition and a proposed order for distribution. If the court approves, assets can be transferred within weeks. This is a common choice in Palm Beach County, which has a large retiree population with modest estates.

Disposition Without Administration is the most limited option. It only works when there is no real property, the only debts are funeral costs and medical expenses, and total assets are under $6,000. It is handled at the clerk's counter without a court hearing and is the fastest path of all. It does not open a formal case in the court system.

Under Florida Statute 732.901, anyone who has possession of a will must file it with the clerk within 10 days of the testator's death. This applies whether or not probate is opened. The clerk holds the will as a permanent public record.

Palm Beach County handles a large number of probate cases each year. The county's high percentage of older residents, many of whom retire to cities like Boynton Beach, means the probate court sees steady case volume.

Probate Filing Fees in Palm Beach County

Fees for probate filings in Palm Beach County follow Florida's state fee schedule, with some local additions. Costs vary by case type and estate size. Always confirm current fees with the clerk before filing, as amounts can change.

For formal administration, the initial filing fee is generally around $400 or more. Additional costs include the notice to creditors publication fee, which a local newspaper charges separately. This publication typically runs a few hundred dollars. Certified copies of letters of administration cost extra per page and per certification. If a bond is required for the personal representative, that cost depends on the estate value and the bonding company's rates.

Summary administration carries a lower filing fee, often in the range of $235 to $300. The total out-of-pocket cost for a summary administration is significantly less than formal administration. Many Boynton Beach families choose summary administration when they qualify because it is faster and cheaper.

Attorney fees in Florida probate are set by statute. The statutory rate is 3% of the first $1 million of the gross estate value. Personal representatives can also receive a statutory fee. Both sets of fees are paid from estate funds. Parties can agree to higher or lower fees with court approval.

The Palm Beach County Clerk's website lists current filing fees for probate cases. You can also call (561) 355-2994 to ask about current costs before you file anything.

Legal Resources for Boynton Beach Residents

If you need legal help with a probate case in Boynton Beach, several resources are close by. The Palm Beach County Bar Association offers a lawyer referral service. Call (561) 687-2800 or visit their website to get connected with a probate attorney who handles Palm Beach County estates.

Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County provides free civil legal services to income-eligible residents. They may be able to assist with some probate matters. Their office is in West Palm Beach and serves the entire county including Boynton Beach. Call (561) 655-8944 to ask about eligibility and services.

The Florida Bar's online directory at floridabar.org lets you search for probate attorneys by county. Filtering by Palm Beach County will show licensed attorneys who handle estate cases in the area.

The 15th Judicial Circuit maintains self-help resources at the courthouse for people who want to handle simple probate matters on their own. Summary administration petitions for small, straightforward estates are sometimes filed without an attorney. The clerk's staff can answer general procedural questions but cannot give legal advice.

Florida probate statutes are in Chapters 731 through 735 of the Florida Statutes, available at leg.state.fl.us. Reading these chapters can give you a good sense of the rules before you file. Chapter 735 covers summary administration, which applies to many Boynton Beach estates.

The Probate Process for Boynton Beach Estates

When a Boynton Beach resident dies with assets that need to go through probate, the process begins at the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach. The steps below describe how formal administration typically works in the 15th Circuit.

Start by filing the will with the clerk within 10 days of death, as required by Florida Statute 732.901. Then file the petition for administration. This document names the petitioner, the decedent, and the proposed personal representative. It is filed along with the death certificate and any original will. The court reviews whether the proposed personal representative qualifies under Florida law. Non-resident non-relatives generally cannot serve.

Once the court appoints the personal representative, they receive letters of administration. These letters allow them to manage estate assets legally. They must then send written notice to all known creditors and publish a notice to creditors in a local newspaper for two consecutive weeks. Creditors have three months from first publication to file claims against the estate.

During this period, the personal representative files an inventory of all estate assets with the court. The inventory is confidential. After the creditor period ends, valid debts and taxes are paid from estate assets. Then the personal representative prepares a final accounting and petitions for discharge. The court reviews and, if satisfied, closes the estate.

Summary administration skips most of these steps. The petitioner files a single petition and a proposed distribution order. No personal representative is needed. If the court approves the plan, the order issues and assets can be transferred right away.

Boynton Beach has a large population of retirees. Many families deal with probate here for the first time. For simple cases, the process is manageable. For larger estates or those with disputes, working with an experienced Palm Beach County probate attorney is worth the cost.

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