Tamarac Probate Court Records Search

Tamarac residents file probate cases through Broward County, which is served by the 17th Judicial Circuit. All probate filings for Broward County are handled at the main courthouse in Fort Lauderdale. This page explains how to find records, who to contact at the clerk's office, what fees to expect, and how the probate process works for estates opened in Tamarac.

Which County Handles Probate for Tamarac

Tamarac is a city in Broward County. The 17th Judicial Circuit covers Broward County exclusively. When a Tamarac resident dies and their estate must go through court, the petition is filed with the Broward County Clerk of Courts. Florida law is clear: probate must be opened in the county where the deceased person was domiciled at the time of death. For Tamarac residents, that is almost always Broward County.

There is no probate branch office in Tamarac. All filings, court hearings, and case records are located at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, roughly 12 miles from Tamarac. The clerk provides online record search and some document request options, which cuts down on in-person trips for many people. Still, for filing new cases and certain in-person requests, you will need to go to the Fort Lauderdale courthouse.

For a full overview of Broward County probate procedures, courthouse details, and local resources, see the Broward County probate records page.

How to Search Tamarac Probate Records

The Broward County Clerk of Courts provides a free online case search at browardclerk.org. You can search probate cases by the decedent's name, case number, or date of filing. Most probate case records in Florida are public, but certain documents such as inventories and accountings are confidential under state law and will not appear in public record searches.

Run a name search using the decedent's last name. Results will show the case number, parties, filing date, and current case status. Click into a specific case to see what documents have been filed. Some documents are available online at no charge. Others require a formal request to the clerk's office either in person at the courthouse or by mail.

Certified copies cost more than plain copies. The clerk charges a per-page fee plus a certification fee per document. If you need certified letters of administration or other court orders, plan to request them from the clerk directly and pay the applicable fees. You can check the current fee schedule on the clerk's website before requesting anything.

The 17th Circuit's court website lists judge assignments and hearing schedules for active Broward County probate cases, which includes those filed for Tamarac residents.

The 17th Circuit serves Broward County only and manages a high volume of probate matters each year, including cases from Tamarac and other northwestern Broward cities.

If you need documents from a case that was closed many years ago, some files may be in off-site archives. Contact the clerk's office to ask about the retrieval process. Turnaround on archived materials is slower than for active or recently closed cases.

Types of Probate Cases Filed in Broward County

Florida law provides three main ways to handle a deceased person's estate. The correct path depends on how much the estate is worth and when the person died. For Tamarac residents, all of these case types are filed through the Broward County Clerk and the 17th Circuit.

Formal Administration is required when the estate's non-exempt assets exceed $75,000. It is the full probate process. The court appoints a personal representative, who must notify creditors, publish a notice in a local newspaper for two consecutive weeks, file an inventory of assets with the court, pay valid debts and taxes, and distribute what remains. The inventory is confidential. Creditors have three months from the first publication to file claims. Formal administration takes at least six months and often longer for complex estates.

Summary Administration is the faster option for smaller or older estates. It is available when non-exempt assets total $75,000 or less, or when the decedent has been dead for more than two years. No personal representative is appointed. The petitioner files a petition and a proposed distribution plan. If the court approves, assets can transfer to heirs in weeks. This is a very common choice in Broward County, particularly for the county's large retiree population.

Disposition Without Administration is the most limited path. It only works when there is no real property, the only debts are funeral and medical costs, and total assets are under $6,000. It does not open a formal court case. It is handled at the clerk's counter and is fast and inexpensive. Most estates do not qualify for this option.

Florida Statute 732.901 requires anyone holding a will to file it with the county clerk within 10 days of the testator's death. This is true whether or not probate is being opened. The clerk stores the will as a permanent public record. Failure to file a will on time can create legal complications.

Tamarac has a notably high percentage of older residents and retirees. This makes it one of the cities in Broward County where probate cases come up often. The 17th Circuit is experienced with estates of all sizes from this part of the county.

Probate Filing Fees in Broward County

Probate filing fees in Broward County are based on the state fee schedule, with local surcharges applied by the county. Fees vary by case type and can change over time. Always confirm current costs with the clerk's office before you file to avoid surprises.

For formal administration, the initial filing fee is typically around $400 or more. On top of that, you will pay a local newspaper to publish the notice to creditors for two consecutive weeks, which generally costs a few hundred dollars. Certified copies of court orders and letters carry per-page and per-document fees. If the court requires the personal representative to post a bond, that is an added cost based on the estate's size.

Summary administration petitions carry a lower filing fee, usually in the range of $235 to $300. Because there is no personal representative and no creditor publication required, the total cost of a summary administration is far less than formal administration. This is a big reason why so many Tamarac families choose it when they qualify.

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 earn the same statutory percentage as a fee for their service. Both are paid from estate assets. The parties can agree to a different fee structure with the court's approval.

Call the clerk at (954) 831-6565 or visit browardclerk.org to get current fee information. The clerk's fee schedule is posted online and is updated when changes take effect.

The Broward County Clerk's website provides the fee schedule, probate forms, filing instructions, and online case access for all Broward County probate matters including Tamarac estates.

The clerk's site is the primary resource for anyone starting, managing, or researching a probate case in Broward County.

Legal Resources for Tamarac Residents

Tamarac residents have access to several organizations that can help with probate. The Broward County Bar Association offers a lawyer referral service at (954) 764-8040. They can connect you with a licensed probate attorney who handles Broward County cases. The service is a good first step if you are not sure where to start.

Legal Aid Service of Broward County provides free civil legal help to income-eligible residents. They handle some probate matters for qualifying families. Their main office is in Fort Lauderdale and they serve all of Broward County including Tamarac. Call (954) 765-8950 for intake and eligibility information.

The Florida Bar's online attorney directory at floridabar.org lets you search for probate lawyers by county. Filter by Broward County to see licensed Florida attorneys who handle estate matters in this area. Many Broward attorneys have experience with both formal and summary administration cases.

The 17th Judicial Circuit maintains self-help resources at the courthouse. These are aimed at people who want to handle simple probate cases without an attorney. Summary administration for straightforward small estates is sometimes manageable without legal help. The clerk's staff can answer procedural questions but cannot give legal advice on how to handle your specific case.

Florida's probate laws are in Chapters 731 through 735 of the Florida Statutes, free at leg.state.fl.us. Chapter 735 covers summary administration. Chapter 733 covers formal administration. Reading through the relevant sections gives you a solid foundation before you talk to an attorney or start filing paperwork.

The Probate Process for Tamarac Estates

When a Tamarac resident dies with assets that require court action, the probate process starts at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale. Below is a general outline of how formal administration works in the 17th Circuit, which is the most common path for larger estates.

The first step is filing the will with the clerk. Florida Statute 732.901 requires this within 10 days of death, regardless of whether probate is being opened. Then the petitioner files a petition for administration. This document lists the decedent, the proposed personal representative, and basic information about the estate. It is filed along with the original will and a certified copy of the death certificate. The court reviews whether the proposed personal representative qualifies under Florida law. Certain non-residents and non-relatives are disqualified from serving.

After the court appoints the personal representative, it issues letters of administration. These letters give legal authority to access accounts, manage assets, and deal with creditors on behalf of the estate. The representative must then send written notice to all known creditors and publish a notice to creditors in a Broward County newspaper for two consecutive weeks. Creditors have three months from first publication to file claims.

During the creditor period, the representative files an inventory of estate assets with the court. This inventory is confidential. Once the creditor window closes, valid claims are paid. Taxes owed by the estate must also be settled. After that, the representative prepares a final accounting and files a petition for discharge. The court reviews both documents and, if satisfied, closes the estate and discharges the representative.

Summary administration is much less involved. One petition is filed listing the estate's assets and proposed distribution. No personal representative is needed. No creditor notice is published. The court reviews the petition and, if it meets the legal requirements, issues an approval order. Assets then transfer to the named heirs. The whole thing can be done in weeks for a clean, simple estate.

Tamarac families with larger or more complex estates, or those involving disputes among heirs, are almost always better served by hiring an experienced Broward County probate attorney. For small, straightforward estates that qualify for summary administration, self-represented filings are a realistic option that many residents successfully complete.

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