Probate · By County
Probate in Broward
County, Florida.
Probate for a loved one who lived in Broward County is handled by the probate division of the 17th Judicial Circuit in Fort Lauderdale. The Kogan Firm files here every week, and this is our home county.
Our office is in downtown Fort Lauderdale, minutes from the courthouse, so Broward matters move quickly for us. Broward judges expect clean petitions and prompt creditor handling, and the clerk uses the statewide e-filing portal. Whether you need formal administration, summary administration, or just an honest answer on whether probate is required at all, we can usually scope it on a short call.
Not sure whether probate is even required? Our free probate calculator gives you a read in two minutes, and the Florida probate timeline walks through every step from petition to discharge.
Broward probate at a glance
- Court
- 17th Judicial Circuit
- Courthouse
- Broward County Courthouse
- Filing fee
- about $401
- Formal administration
- 8–12 months
- Summary administration
- 4–8 weeks
- Filing method
- Florida e-portal
Probate division, Fort Lauderdale
201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Petition for administration (summary is lower)
realistic range for a clean file
estates ≤ $75K or > 2 yrs deceased
statewide electronic filing
Where Broward probate is filed
Florida probate is opened in the county where the decedent lived. For Broward County, that means the probate division of the 17th Judicial Circuit in Fort Lauderdale. Petitions are filed electronically through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal with the Broward County Clerk of the Circuit Court; the Broward County Courthouse is located at 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301.
Court locations, division assignments, and filing fees change. Always confirm the current details with the Clerk before filing.
Serving families across Broward County
Fort Lauderdale · Hollywood · Pompano Beach · Coral Springs · Plantation · Davie · Sunrise · Pembroke Pines · Deerfield Beach · Weston · Miramar · Coconut Creek
Broward probate, common questions
Where do I file probate for someone who lived in Broward County?
Probate is filed in the county where the decedent was a resident. For Broward County, that is the probate division of the 17th Judicial Circuit in Fort Lauderdale, through the Broward County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Florida uses a statewide e-filing portal, so the petition is filed electronically rather than in person.
How long does Broward probate take?
A clean formal administration generally runs 8 to 12 months, driven mostly by the 3-month creditor period. Summary administration, available for estates of 75,000 dollars or less or when the person died more than two years ago, can finish in 4 to 8 weeks. Disputes, will contests, or out-of-state real property extend the timeline.
How much does probate cost in Broward?
The court filing fee for a petition for administration is about $401, with summary administration lower. Attorney's fees are separate. We give an honest fee estimate up front on a free 15-minute call, and many estate matters can be handled on a flat fee.
Can I avoid probate entirely?
Often, yes, with planning. A properly funded revocable living trust, joint titling, and beneficiary designations can pass assets without court involvement. If you are planning ahead rather than administering an estate, that is usually the better path, and we can walk you through it.
Keep reading
Paul Kogan
Fort Lauderdale Litigation Attorney, The Kogan Firm, P.A.
- 17+ years
- Florida Bar
- Martindale Peer Rated
Broward County Probate
Talk it through, free.
We open and administer estates throughout Broward County, formal and summary. Tell us what happened in a free 15-minute call and we'll map out the path and the cost.
This page is general information about probate in Broward County, Florida, and does not constitute legal advice. Every estate is different.