Broward County, Florida Court Filing
Fee Lookup

Broward County, Florida — home to approximately 1,944,375 residents and one of Florida's three largest jurisdictions by population — handles court filings through the Broward County Circuit Court, Probate Division in Fort Lauderdale. Florida's court structure (Circuit Court (civil/probate/family law) / County Court (small claims up to $8,000)) determines which courthouse accepts which case types and what fees apply.

For residents of Broward County, the filing fee amounts depend on both the state's statutory schedule and any local surcharges added by the county.

Home to Fort Lauderdale and its famous boating canals, Broward County is a densely populated coastal community known as the 'Venice of America' with a major cruise port. These local economic characteristics shape the types of legal proceedings filed in Broward County — from probate of estates that include commercial property or business interests near Fort Lauderdale to civil disputes arising from the county's primary industries.

The Broward County Circuit Court, Probate Division handles the full range of case types for this community, with filing fees applying uniformly based on case type regardless of the underlying subject matter.

Broward County is known for landmarks including Fort Lauderdale Beach, Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, NSU Art Museum. For residents and businesses in the areas surrounding these community anchors, knowing the applicable filing fees and court procedures in advance helps legal matters proceed efficiently at the Broward County Circuit Court, Probate Division in Fort Lauderdale.

• Filing fees in Broward County are based on Florida's statutory schedule, which applies statewide, plus any local surcharges assessed by the county. For reference, the statewide base fees by case type are: probate and estate filings — $235–$400 (Circuit Court — Probate Division)
• civil complaints and appearances — $395–$405 (Circuit Court) / $185–$300 (County Court)
• family law matters (divorce, custody, support) — $395–$405 (Circuit Court — Family Law Division)
• small claims filings — $55–$185 (County Court small claims). These figures represent the state-level base
• the total amount due at the Broward County Circuit Court, Probate Division in Fort Lauderdale may include additional local charges.

As one of Florida's larger jurisdictions, Broward County may assess higher local surcharges than the state's rural counties, reflecting the greater administrative cost of operating a high-volume court in Fort Lauderdale.

• Beyond the initial filing fee, Broward County litigants and estate administrators should budget for recurring court costs throughout the proceeding: fees for filing subsequent motions and responses, charges for certified copies of letters testamentary or court orders (typically $5 to $25 per document in Florida), jury demand deposits in civil cases, and in probate matters, fees associated with filing the inventory, accountings, and petition for discharge.
• For a complete picture of expected court costs in Broward County, request the full fee schedule from the Broward County Circuit Court, Probate Division clerk in Fort Lauderdale before initiating the proceeding.

Florida has been expanding electronic filing (e-filing) capabilities across its court system. Broward County is among the jurisdictions where e-filing is more established.

For this major county, the Broward County Circuit Court, Probate Division in Fort Lauderdale likely participates in the state's e-filing system, and represented parties in civil and family matters may be required to file electronically. Contact the Broward County Circuit Court, Probate Division clerk directly to confirm the current e-filing requirements for your specific case type.

When e-filing is available in Broward County, the system charges a convenience fee per transaction — typically $2 to $8 — in addition to the applicable statutory court fees. This convenience fee is charged by the e-filing service provider rather than the court itself and is generally non-waivable even for litigants who have received a court fee waiver.

Self-represented litigants (pro se filers) are often exempt from mandatory e-filing requirements and may file in paper at the Broward County Circuit Court, Probate Division clerk's window in Fort Lauderdale during regular business hours.

For probate and estate matters in Broward County, e-filing availability may differ from civil cases. Some Florida probate courts have been slower to adopt e-filing given the document-intensive nature of estate proceedings — original wills, certified death certificates, and original deeds often require in-person or mail submission regardless of whether other case types accept electronic filing.

Verify with the Broward County Circuit Court, Probate Division in Fort Lauderdale which documents can be e-filed and which require physical originals before planning your filing strategy.

• Broward County residents who cannot afford court filing fees may apply for a fee waiver under Fla.
• Stat.
• § 57.082.
• To apply, file a declaration of financial condition with the Broward County Circuit Court, Probate Division clerk's office in Fort Lauderdale at the time of your initial filing.
• The declaration lists all household income sources, monthly expenses, assets, and liabilities.
• A judge or court commissioner reviews the application and issues an order granting or denying the waiver, typically within a few days of submission.

• Eligibility for a fee waiver in Broward County generally requires that household income fall at or below 125% to 200% of the federal poverty level, or that the applicant is receiving qualifying public benefits — commonly Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, or public housing assistance.
• The specific income thresholds and qualifying programs are defined in Fla.
• Stat.
• § 57.082 and may have been updated by recent legislation.
• Ask the Broward County Circuit Court, Probate Division clerk in Fort Lauderdale for the current income guidelines before completing your declaration.

• A granted fee waiver covers filing fees charged by the Broward County Circuit Court, Probate Division — including initial filing fees and subsequent filings in the same case — but does not cover costs owed to third parties.
• In Broward County probate proceedings, a fee waiver does not eliminate the cost of publishing a notice to creditors in a newspaper of general circulation (a statutory requirement in most states), service of process fees paid to process servers or the sheriff's office, or costs for court-ordered appraisals.
• Budget for these additional costs separately even when a fee waiver is in effect.