Palm Bay Probate Court Records

Probate court records for Palm Bay estates are filed with the Brevard County Clerk of Courts at the Moore Justice Center in Viera. Palm Bay is Florida's most populous city in the 18th Judicial Circuit, and all estate proceedings for Palm Bay residents are handled through Brevard County. This page covers where to file and search probate records, what types of cases Brevard County handles, what fees you will pay, and where to find legal help.

Where Palm Bay Probate Cases Are Filed

Palm Bay is the largest city in Brevard County, and all probate matters for Palm Bay residents go through the Brevard County Clerk of Courts. There is no probate division in Palm Bay itself. The main probate filing location is the Moore Justice Center in Viera, which serves as the county's primary civil courthouse. Clerk Rachel Sadoff oversees all probate filings for Brevard County.

The 18th Judicial Circuit covers two counties: Brevard and Seminole. Each has its own clerk's office. Because Palm Bay is in Brevard County, its estates are filed and heard in Brevard. Judges assigned to the Brevard probate division hear cases in Viera. For many Palm Bay residents, the drive to Viera is about 25 to 30 minutes north on I-95.

Palm Bay does not have a branch courthouse for probate matters. All filings, document requests, and in-person visits related to estate cases go to the Moore Justice Center address below. Attorneys can also file through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.

You can find more detail on the county level at the Brevard County probate records page, which includes all clerk locations and division contacts.

How to Search Palm Bay Probate Records Online

The Brevard County Clerk of Courts provides public access to case records through its website at brevardclerk.us. The online case search tool lets you search by decedent name, case number, or attorney name. Results include docket entries and, for many cases, links to documents that can be downloaded or viewed online. Older cases may not be fully digitized and may require an in-person visit to the Moore Justice Center.

The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com is another search option. This statewide system allows public docket searches across Florida's circuit courts. Basic searches do not require an account. Viewing document images from within the portal may require you to request certified copies from the clerk's office instead.

If you are not sure which county filed the estate, search by name in the county where the deceased lived. Florida probate must be opened in the county of the decedent's legal residence at the time of death. For Palm Bay residents, that is Brevard County. If you are searching for someone who owned property in Palm Bay but lived elsewhere, their estate would have been filed in their home county, not Brevard.

The 18th Judicial Circuit's website provides local administrative orders and court notices that can affect how Brevard County probate cases proceed. Check it for any recent orders before you file a new case or submit documents.

The image below shows the Brevard County Clerk of Courts website, which is the primary public-facing portal for searching Palm Bay probate records.

Visit brevardclerk.us to search Palm Bay estate case records, view docket entries, and access filing forms for Brevard County probate proceedings.

The clerk's site also has division-specific contact numbers and mailing addresses for submitting requests without making the drive to Viera.

Probate Case Types for Palm Bay Estates

Florida law offers several procedures for handling a decedent's estate. The right one depends on the estate's size and how long ago the person died. All of these are governed by the Florida Probate Code, Chapters 731 through 735 of the Florida Statutes.

Formal administration is required when the estate's gross value exceeds $75,000. This is the complete probate process. It involves petitioning the court to open the estate, appointing a personal representative, publishing notice to creditors, inventorying assets, paying debts, and distributing the remaining assets to heirs. Florida law generally requires an attorney for formal administration. The process takes a minimum of six months because creditors have that long to file claims. Complex or contested estates can take considerably longer.

Summary administration is faster and used when the estate is worth $75,000 or less, or when the decedent has been dead for two or more years regardless of estate size. The court skips the personal representative step and issues an order of summary administration directing how assets should be transferred. Many Palm Bay families use this path for modest estates. The timeline can be as short as a few weeks when no issues arise.

Disposition without administration is the simplest option and applies only in narrow circumstances. The estate must have no real property, no significant debts, and the total assets must be limited to covering funeral and final medical costs, with a value under $6,000. The clerk handles this at the counter level without a formal court hearing. It is not common but is fast when it applies.

Ancillary administration is needed when a non-Florida resident owned property in Brevard County at the time of death. The main probate proceeds in the decedent's home state. A secondary Florida proceeding handles the Florida property, including any Palm Bay real estate in the estate.

Filing Fees in Brevard County

The Brevard County Clerk charges probate filing fees based on Florida statutes and its local fee schedule. Amounts can change, so always confirm with the clerk before you file. The numbers below reflect general Florida ranges for the types of proceedings described.

Opening a formal administration costs roughly $400 or more. The exact figure depends on the reported value of the estate. Additional fees apply each time you file a new document or petition after the initial opening. Certified copies of probate documents typically run $1.00 to $2.00 per page plus a per-document certification charge. If a title company or out-of-state institution requires exemplified copies, those cost more.

Summary administration is less expensive to open, usually in the range of $235 to $400. Call (321) 637-5413 to confirm the current fee before submitting the petition. You will also likely need certified copies of the court's order of summary administration to transfer bank accounts, vehicles, and investment accounts to heirs.

Disposition without administration carries a smaller fee, often under $100. Confirm the current amount when you call or visit the Moore Justice Center.

Fee waivers are available for people who cannot afford court costs. File an affidavit of indigency along with your petition. The court will review it and, if approved, waive the filing fee. The clerk's office has the affidavit form at the counter and may also have it posted on the website.

Public Records Access and Confidentiality

Most probate records in Brevard County are public under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. This means anyone can inspect and copy petitions, wills admitted to probate, inventories, accountings, court orders, and final discharge documents. You do not need to be a family member, heir, or creditor to access them.

Wills held by the clerk during the testator's lifetime are confidential. Once the testator dies, the holder of the will must deposit it with the clerk within 10 days, as required under section 732.901 of the Florida Statutes. After the will is deposited and a probate case is opened, the will becomes a public record.

Some information within probate documents is routinely redacted. Financial account numbers, Social Security numbers, and certain personal identifiers are typically removed before public access. Guardianship records related to minors or incapacitated adults have additional protections and may not be fully available to the general public.

To get copies, visit the Moore Justice Center in person, call the clerk's office to ask about mail or fax requests, or check the website for any available online request system. When requesting by mail, include the case name, case number, the specific documents you want, your return address, and payment for the estimated copy fees. The clerk will send back copies with a final invoice or refund if the amount differs from your estimate.

Legal Resources for Palm Bay Residents

Bay Area Legal Services covers Brevard County and provides free or low-cost civil legal help to qualifying low-income residents. Probate matters are among the services available. Reach them at bals.org to check eligibility and apply for assistance.

The Brevard County Bar Association has a lawyer referral service that can connect you with a licensed probate attorney in the Palm Bay area. Find them at brevardcountybar.org. The Florida Bar's statewide referral service is also available at floridabar.org.

The Florida Probate Code is free to read at the Florida Legislature's website. The code runs from Chapter 731 through Chapter 735. Chapter 733 covers formal administration in detail. Chapter 735 covers summary administration and disposition without administration. Reading these chapters before consulting an attorney can help you understand the process and ask better questions.

For self-represented individuals, the clerk's office at the Moore Justice Center sometimes has a self-help center with forms and basic procedural guidance. Call ahead to confirm availability and hours before making the trip from Palm Bay to Viera.

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