What to Do When Someone Dies in Palm Beach County, Florida

Probate in Palm Beach County runs through the Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.

When someone dies in Palm Beach County, settling their estate runs through the Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.

Probate Court Record

Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller

Palm Beach County · 15th Judicial Circuit

Address

205 North Dixie HighwayWest Palm Beach, FL 33401

Hours

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Visit court website →
Paper filing availableE-filing required for attorneysSelf-filing allowed

Departments

  • Main Courthouse (Probate)561-355-2986
  • South County
  • North County

Third most populous county in Florida. Mailing: P.O. Box 4667, West Palm Beach, FL 33402.

Verified July 3, 2026 · Source

How Probate Works in Palm Beach County

Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Palm Beach County, probate runs through the Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller at 205 North Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach. The court sits in the 15th Judicial Circuit.

The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Florida intestacy law when there is no will.

Most Florida estates take 9 months to 12 months to move through this process. The 3 monthsFla. Stat. § 733.702Verified Sep 8, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.

What Probate Costs in Palm Beach County

What probate costs in Palm Beach County, Florida comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller at 205 North Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach. The court is part of the 15th Judicial Circuit.

Probate matters are handled through Main Courthouse (Probate), South County, and North County. Filing and payment go through these offices, not the main clerk window.

Florida charges $399Fla. Stat. § 28.2401(1)(g), (3)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.

E-filing is mandatory for attorneys filing at the Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller (https://www.myflcourtaccess.com/). Self-represented filers can request a paper-filing exemption.

Estimate the costs for this estate:

Attorney fees in Florida are based on reasonable compensation — usually hourly billing or a flat fee for the engagement.

Executor compensation is based on reasonable pay for time and effort. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.

Florida requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.

A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Fla. Stat. § 733.402Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.

Probate in Florida typically runs 9 months to 12 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.

How to File Probate at the Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller

If you're handling probate yourself in Palm Beach County, Florida, you can file at the Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller in person or by mail. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys but families filing without one are exempt and can use paper forms. The court sits in the 15th Judicial Circuit.

Filings here are routed through Main Courthouse (Probate), South County, and North County. Confirm with the office which intake handles the petition type you're filing.

How to File Your Documents

Paper Filing Available

You can file your probate documents in person or by mail. While attorneys are required to e-file in Palm Beach County, families handling probate themselves are exempt and can file on paper.

E-Filing Also Available

If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.

View E-Filing Information

Can You File Without an Attorney?

Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller is realistic.

For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Palm Beach County Self-Filing Assessment.

Palm Beach County Filing Requirements

These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.

Before You File

Original death certificate and Will cannot be e-filed

Original death certificate and original will must be mailed or hand-delivered; they cannot be e-filed. Mailing address: P.O. Box 4667, West Palm Beach, FL 33402.

Source

Attorney required for Formal Administration

Attorney required for Formal Administration; not required for Disposition of Personal Property or Summary Administration.

Source

Document Requirements

Pre-marking guidelines for probate evidence

Specific local rules exist for pre-marking guidelines for probate evidence.

Source

What to Bring

To file at the Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.

Transferring Property in Palm Beach County

Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

Deeds and other real property documents for Palm Beach County are recorded with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 205 North Dixie Highway, Room 4.2500, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Phone: 561-355-2991. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 4177, West Palm Beach, FL 33402-4177.

The Clerk of the Circuit Court charges $10 for the first page plus $9 for each additional page.

Palm Beach County accepts electronic recording through CSC, eRecording Partners Network (ePN), Hopdox, Simplifile.

Recording Office Record

Clerk of the Circuit Court

Palm Beach County

Address

205 North Dixie Highway, Room 4.2500West Palm Beach, FL 33401Mailing: P.O. Box 4177, West Palm Beach, FL 33402-4177

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

E-recording

Available via CSC, eRecording Partners Network (ePN), Hopdox, Simplifile
Visit recorder website →

Recording fees

Base fee (first page)$10
Each additional page$8.5

Fla. Stat. 28.24(13), (13)(c), (13)(d), (13)(e); Fla. Stat. 201.02(1)(a)

Verified September 4, 2026 · Source

Probate Attorneys Serving Palm Beach County

Florida uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Palm Beach County — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.

Florida uses a presumed-reasonable fee schedule for probate attorneys — the percentages are a starting point that can be negotiated, especially for simple estates. Palm Beach County firms typically follow the schedule for routine work and negotiate on complex matters.

A probate attorney files the petition with the Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.

FirmDelray Beach, FL

Bankier, Snelling, Zakin & Arlen, PLLC

Since 1991 · Serves 1 county

Delray Beach estate planning firm serving Palm Beach County since 1991. Handles wills, trusts, probate administration and probate litigation, guardianships, and asset protection. Founder M. Adam Bankier is board certified in Wills, Trusts and Estates by The Florida Bar and a CPA; all three partners hold advanced tax degrees.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbate LitigationGuardianshipAsset ProtectionProbate Administration

Office
101 SE 6th Avenue, Suite CDelray Beach, FL 33483

Solo PracticeWest Palm Beach, FL

Blue Line Law Firm PLLC

Since 2019 · Serves 3 counties

West Palm Beach firm with an appointment-only LaBelle office covering Hendry and Glades counties, where almost no private estate practice is based. Handles formal, summary, intestate and contested probate through the Hendry County Clerk and the 20th Judicial Circuit, ancillary administration for out-of-state families, and partition actions when co-heirs inherit rural property together.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbate LitigationTrust LitigationProbate Administration

Office
1645 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd, Suite 1200West Palm Beach, FL 33401

FirmPalm Beach Gardens, FL

Boyes, Farina & Matwiczyk, P.A.

Since 1994 · Serves 2 counties

Palm Beach Gardens firm serving Palm Beach and Martin counties from Jupiter and Tequesta to Hobe Sound and Wellington. Handles estate and trust administration, probate and trust litigation, fiduciary disputes, guardianships, and estate and gift tax planning. All three named partners are board certified by The Florida Bar in Wills, Trusts and Estates.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 4 more

Office
3300 PGA Blvd, Suite 600Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

FirmPalm Beach Gardens, FL

Comiter, Singer, Baseman & Braun, LLP

Serves 2 counties

Palm Beach Gardens tax and estate firm with additional offices in Boca Raton, Palm Beach, and Stuart. Handles probate and estate administration, estate, trust and guardianship litigation, asset protection, charitable and special needs planning, and estate tax planning. The roster includes board certified tax lawyers and several CPAs.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationTax Planningand 4 more

Office
3825 PGA Boulevard, Suite 701Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
Free consultation

FirmPalm Beach Gardens, FL

Doane & Doane, P.A.

Since 2003 · Serves 3 counties

Palm Beach Gardens firm handling probate and trust administration, guardianship, elder law and Medicaid, and estate tax planning for Palm Beach County families. Founded by Rebecca G. Doane in 2003; Randell C. Doane is board certified by The Florida Bar in wills, trusts and estates, and the firm is AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationElder LawTax Planningand 2 more

Office
2979 PGA Boulevard, Suite 201Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
Free consultation

FirmNorth Palm Beach, FL

Kitroser Lewis & Mighdoll

Serves 2 counties

North Palm Beach firm handling estate and probate litigation, probate and trust administration, guardianships, and elder financial exploitation cases in Palm Beach County. Preston Mighdoll led the Economic Crime and Crimes Against the Elderly Unit at the Fifteenth Circuit State Attorney's office from 1993 to 2012; Kathryn Lewis prosecuted elder exploitation in the same office.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 3 more

Office
631 US Highway 1, Suite 406North Palm Beach, FL 33408
Free consultation
See all 39 firms serving Palm Beach County→

Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.

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Legal Sources

Data sourced from Florida statutes and official state code. How we research.