Probate · By County
Probate in Palm Beach
County, Florida.
Probate for a Palm Beach County resident is handled by the probate division of the 15th Judicial Circuit in West Palm Beach. The Kogan Firm represents families from Boca Raton to Jupiter in administering an estate.
Palm Beach County sees a high share of estates with out-of-state heirs, snowbird residency questions, and homestead issues on second homes, all of which can complicate an otherwise routine administration. We sort out the residency and homestead questions early so the timeline does not stall, and we keep out-of-state personal representatives fully briefed by phone and email.
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.
Palm Beach probate at a glance
- Court
- 15th Judicial Circuit
- Courthouse
- Palm Beach County Main Judicial Complex
- Filing fee
- about $401
- Formal administration
- 8–12 months
- Summary administration
- 4–8 weeks
- Filing method
- Florida e-portal
Probate division, West Palm Beach
205 N Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Petition for administration (summary is lower)
realistic range for a clean file
estates ≤ $75K or > 2 yrs deceased
statewide electronic filing
Where Palm Beach probate is filed
Florida probate is opened in the county where the decedent lived. For Palm Beach County, that means the probate division of the 15th Judicial Circuit in West Palm Beach. Petitions are filed electronically through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal with the Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller; the Palm Beach County Main Judicial Complex is located at 205 N Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, FL 33401.
Court locations, division assignments, and filing fees change. Always confirm the current details with the Clerk before filing.
Serving families across Palm Beach County
West Palm Beach · Boca Raton · Boynton Beach · Delray Beach · Jupiter · Wellington · Palm Beach Gardens · Lake Worth Beach · Royal Palm Beach · Greenacres
Palm Beach probate, common questions
Where do I file probate for someone who lived in Palm Beach County?
Probate is filed in the county where the decedent was a resident. For Palm Beach County, that is the probate division of the 15th Judicial Circuit in West Palm Beach, through the Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. Florida uses a statewide e-filing portal, so the petition is filed electronically rather than in person.
How long does Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach?
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
Palm Beach County Probate
Talk it through, free.
We open and administer estates throughout Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach County, Florida, and does not constitute legal advice. Every estate is different.