Palm Beach County Probate Court Records

Probate court records in Palm Beach County are filed with the Clerk and Comptroller of the 15th Judicial Circuit and cover all estate matters, will filings, guardianships, and trust proceedings for decedents who owned property in the county. Palm Beach County is one of Florida's largest counties by both population and estate volume, which means the probate division handles a substantial caseload of formal and summary administrations each year. Whether you need to search an existing case, file documents with the court, or request copies of records, the Clerk's office is the starting point for all probate activity in this county.

Palm Beach County Probate Court

The Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller, Joseph Abruzzo, oversees the Circuit Civil division that handles all probate and guardianship cases. The main courthouse is in West Palm Beach, which serves as the county seat and the primary location for probate filings. The Clerk's office assigns probate case numbers, accepts filed documents, collects fees, and maintains official records on each open and closed estate.

The 15th Judicial Circuit covers Palm Beach County only, unlike many Florida circuits that span multiple counties. This single-county structure means all resources and staff are focused on Palm Beach County estates, which can help with processing times. Judges assigned to the probate division rotate, so cases are assigned based on filing order and division rules.

The Florida Courts directory lists contact information for all county clerks. The Florida Courts clerk finder page shows the current clerk for Palm Beach County along with links to the local court portal.

The Florida Courts clerk finder lists contact details for all 67 county clerks, including Palm Beach.

This statewide directory is a good backup if you need to confirm current clerk information or locate branch offices for other counties involved in an estate.

How to Search Probate Records in Palm Beach County

Palm Beach County offers online case search through the myeclerk.com portal. You can look up probate cases by name, case number, or filing date. The portal shows case status, parties, and document filings, though some documents are restricted under Florida law.

Florida law under section 28.2221, Florida Statutes, prohibits clerks from posting certain probate documents on publicly accessible internet sites. This means that even if a case appears in the online search, the actual petition, inventory, or accounting may not be available for download. You can view these records in person at the courthouse without restriction.

To search in person, visit the clerk's office at 205 N Dixie Hwy during business hours. Staff can pull up case files and allow you to review them. Bring the decedent's full name and approximate date of death if you have it. That information helps narrow the search quickly, especially given the volume of cases filed in a county of this size.

Mail requests are also accepted for certified copies. Send a written request identifying the case by name or number along with a check or money order for the applicable fees. The clerk's office processes mail requests but turnaround time varies depending on workload. Call (561) 355-2994 to confirm current processing times before mailing.

Types of Probate Cases Filed

Florida recognizes four main types of probate proceedings, and Palm Beach County sees all of them regularly given the size and wealth diversity of its population.

Formal Administration applies to estates valued over $75,000 or any estate that requires the appointment of a personal representative to manage assets or pay debts. This is the most involved process, typically requiring an attorney unless the personal representative is also the sole beneficiary. The court supervises the entire process including notice to creditors, inventory filing, and final accounting.

Summary Administration is available when the estate's gross value does not exceed $75,000, or when the decedent has been dead for more than two years. This is a faster and less expensive process that does not require appointing a personal representative. Instead, the court issues an order of summary administration directing distribution of assets directly to beneficiaries.

Disposition Without Administration covers the most limited situations: funeral expenses and final medical bills are the only debts, there is no real property in the estate, and the total personal property subject to administration is $6,000 or less. This is handled by petition and does not open a formal estate case.

Ancillary Administration applies when a person who was domiciled outside of Florida dies owning property in Palm Beach County. The out-of-state estate is the primary proceeding, and the Florida ancillary case deals only with the in-state assets. This is common in Palm Beach County given the number of seasonal residents with property here.

Filing Fees and Costs

Probate filing fees in Palm Beach County follow the Florida statutory schedule set out in section 28.241, Florida Statutes. Fees are based on the estimated value of the estate at the time of filing.

For formal administration, the filing fee starts at $400 for estates valued up to $1,000 and increases on a tiered scale up to $1,500 for estates valued at $10 million or more. Summary administration has a flat filing fee of $235. Disposition without administration costs $235 as well. These fees are paid to the clerk at the time of filing and are non-refundable.

Certified copies of probate documents cost approximately $2.00 per page plus a $1.00 certification fee. If you need multiple certified copies of letters of administration or a will, plan accordingly. Each set of letters is a separate certified copy. Service of process fees and publication costs for creditor notice are additional and vary by vendor.

Attorney fees in formal administration are governed by Florida Probate Code section 733.6171, which sets a presumptively reasonable fee schedule based on estate value. Fees are not capped but courts can review and adjust them if challenged by beneficiaries.

The Probate Process in Palm Beach County

Probate in Palm Beach County begins with filing a petition with the Circuit Court Clerk. If you have the original will, Florida law requires it to be deposited with the clerk within 10 days of learning of the decedent's death under section 732.901, Florida Statutes. Failure to deposit a known will can expose the holder to liability.

After filing, the court schedules a hearing to admit the will and appoint the personal representative. In uncontested cases, this hearing may be waived if all interested parties consent. Once the personal representative is appointed, they receive Letters of Administration, which authorize them to act on behalf of the estate.

The personal representative then publishes a notice to creditors in a local newspaper for two consecutive weeks. Creditors have 90 days from the date of first publication (or 30 days from when they are served notice, whichever is later) to file claims against the estate. After the creditor period closes, the personal representative files an inventory and, in most cases, an accounting. The estate is then closed by filing a petition for discharge.

Typical timelines for uncomplicated formal administrations in Palm Beach County range from 6 to 12 months. Contested cases, estates with unclear title, or cases involving creditor disputes can take much longer. Summary administration cases can close in a matter of weeks if all documents are in order.

Legal Resources and Self-Help

The Florida Courts self-help center provides forms and instructions for several types of probate proceedings. Forms for summary administration, disposition without administration, and ancillary administration are available online. Formal administration forms are more complex, and the court strongly recommends using an attorney for those cases.

The Florida Courts self-help page links to approved forms and county-specific instructions. Palm Beach County's court also has a self-help center located in the courthouse that can assist with procedural questions, though staff cannot give legal advice.

Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County provides free civil legal help to income-eligible residents. Their number is (561) 655-8944. They handle some probate matters for qualifying individuals, particularly those dealing with small estates or disputes over a decedent's personal property.

The Florida Bar's Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 342-8011 connects people with attorneys who handle probate matters. Many probate attorneys in Palm Beach County offer a free initial consultation.

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