Broward Probate Division Overview
Probate in Broward County is handled in the Probate Division of the Circuit Court and supported by the Clerk's Probate and Guardianship Division. The Clerk lists Probate and Guardianship at the Central Courthouse, Judicial Complex West Building, 201 SE 6th Street, 3rd Floor, Room 03150, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. The Probate phone is 954-831-7154. Public counters run Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., excluding holidays.
The Probate and Guardianship Division page is the entry point for case filing guidance and the local probate workflow.
The Clerk's page states that the decedent must have resided or owned property in the county of filing for a personal representative to be appointed. Probate covers wills, estates, personal representatives, creditors, inventories, accountings, guardianships for incapacitated adults, minor guardianships, and mental-health-related court supervision.
How to Search Broward Probate Cases
The Broward Clerk Case Search covers probate cases. Search by party name or case number. The probate prefix is PRC. An example probate case number is PRC110069874. The Clerk warns that probate electronic court records require an Attorney of Record or Registered User account. Public Access Terminals at courthouse locations can be used for name searches when online access is not enough.
| Field | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Number | Text | Yes for case search | PRC prefix plus year and sequence; no dashes or spaces. |
| Last Name | Text | Yes for party search | Decedent, petitioner, guardian, personal representative, or interested party. |
| First Name | Text | Yes for party search | Use full first name when known. |
| Court Type | Dropdown | No | Select Probate when available. |
| Date From / Date To | Date | Both for date range | MM/DD/YYYY; both required for a filing date range. |
Broward Probate Case Types
Probate covers a small set of related case types. Each carries its own filing rule and access rule. The list below covers the most common.
- Estate administration - formal probate for larger or more complex estates.
- Summary administration - simplified probate for smaller or older estates that meet statutory criteria.
- Disposition without administration - limited probate for very small estates.
- Guardianship - court-supervised management of an incapacitated adult or a minor's interests.
- Determination of homestead - common Florida probate filing for protected homestead property.
- Mental health - court-supervised proceedings related to capacity and treatment.
Broward Probate Terms
Probate uses its own vocabulary. The definition box below covers the roles a reader will encounter on a Broward probate docket.
- Decedent
- The person who died and whose estate is open.
- Petitioner
- The person asking the court to open administration or appoint a representative.
- Personal Representative
- The person the court appoints to administer the estate. Also called an executor when named in the will.
- Testator
- The person who wrote the will.
- Intestate
- A death without a valid will, where the state's intestacy rules control.
- Beneficiary or Devisee
- A person with a potential right to receive property from the estate.
- Creditor
- A person or business claiming the estate owes money.
- Guardian
- The person the court appoints to manage decisions for a ward.
- Ward
- An incapacitated adult or a minor subject to guardianship.
- Interested Person
- A person with a legally recognized interest in the estate or guardianship.
Broward Probate Fees
Probate filing fees and copy fees are set by the Clerk. The fee schedule for filings is separate from the fee schedule for records copies. The table below holds the items used most often by probate filers and copy requesters.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Plain copy of a court document | $1.00 per page |
| Certification | $2.00 per document |
| Records search | $2.00 per year searched |
| Electronic certified court document | $8.00 per document |
Probate filing fees vary by case type. Consult the Clerk's fees and costs page for the current filing fee schedule for each probate case type.
How Broward Probate Works
The probate workflow runs through a fixed series of steps once the case is opened. Each step has a filing or notice deadline.
- Confirm the decedent was a Broward resident or owned Broward property.
- Identify whether formal administration, summary administration, disposition without administration, or guardianship is the correct path.
- File the petition and required documents in Circuit Court Probate.
- Pay filing fees or submit a civil indigent application if applicable.
- Serve interested persons and publish creditor notices where required.
- Obtain court appointment and letters if a personal representative is needed.
- Gather assets, give notices, resolve creditor claims, and file the inventory and accounting.
- Petition for distribution and discharge when the administration is complete.
What a Broward Probate File Contains
A typical Broward probate file holds the documents below. Some items may be sealed or restricted, especially in guardianship and mental health cases.
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Petition for Administration | Opens the estate. |
| Death Certificate | Proof of death; may be restricted or redacted. |
| Will and Codicils | Filed when present. |
| Oath / Designation of Resident Agent | Required for personal representatives. |
| Letters of Administration or Guardianship | Court-issued authority document. |
| Notice to Creditors | Published per Florida probate rules. |
| Inventory | Estate or guardianship asset list. |
| Accounting | Financial reporting for the case. |
| Final Discharge | Closes the case after distribution. |
Probate Access Restrictions
The Broward Clerk states that Probate electronic court records require an Attorney of Record or Registered User account. Guardianship and mental health files are more restricted than routine estate dockets because they can hold incapacity, medical, minor, and protected financial details. A docket entry can show on the public search while the document image stays off-limits.
Mental health proceedings may be tied to Baker Act or related confidential court matters. Public access to those documents is limited. Sealed and redacted information is controlled by Florida Rule 2.420 and by case-specific court orders.
How to Request Broward Probate Copies
Probate copy requests run through the Clerk's Records Division, the Archives Division for older cases, or the Probate Division when documents are restricted to that division. Older probate cases back to 1915 may route through Archives based on the Clerk Archives page. The list below covers the guidance the Clerk publishes for probate copy requests.
- Use the case number when available.
- Include decedent or ward name and an approximate filing year when the case number is unknown.
- Specify the document needed: will, letters of administration, order, inventory, final discharge, or guardianship order.
- Ask whether certification is required before paying, since certification adds $2.00 per document.
- Expect older probate cases to route through Archives.
Probate Office Contact
The probate counter is in the West Building. The address card below holds the official contact for Broward probate filings.
Probate and Guardianship Division
Broward Clerk of Courts
201 SE 6th Street, West Building, 3rd Floor, Room 03150
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
954-831-7154
Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.