Miami-Dade County, Florida Probate
Cost Calculator

The Miami-Dade County Circuit Court, Probate Division in Miami serves as the primary venue for probate matters in Miami-Dade County, Florida. As the most populous jurisdiction in Florida with 2,701,767 residents, the court's caseload and procedures reflect the jurisdiction's specific character, and understanding the local court's requirements is essential for anyone handling an estate in Miami-Dade County.

As Florida's largest county by population with 2,701,767 residents, Miami-Dade County operates what is effectively the state's busiest probate court system. The Miami-Dade County Circuit Court, Probate Division in Miami processes a substantial volume of estate filings annually, necessitating dedicated probate staff, structured calendar management, and standardized filing procedures.

Be prepared for longer initial hearing wait times and more rigorous document review, but the trade-off is a court system with deep institutional knowledge of complex estate matters.

Florida's probate system in Miami-Dade County — ranked 1st of the state's 67 counties — operates through the Miami-Dade County Circuit Court, Probate Division in Miami. Florida Statutes Chapter 733 governs the administration process, with separate statutory fee schedules for personal representatives (Fla.

Stat. § 733.617) and attorneys (Fla.

Stat. § 733.6171).

Florida distinguishes between formal administration and summary administration: summary administration is available for estates valued under $75,000 or when the decedent has been dead for more than two years. As one of Florida's largest jurisdictions, Miami-Dade County's Circuit Court maintains a dedicated probate division with specialized judges and structured procedures.

A major international gateway with deep Latin American and Caribbean cultural ties, Miami-Dade County is Florida's most populous county and a global center for finance, trade, and tourism. These local economic and cultural factors directly influence probate in Miami-Dade County — from the types and values of assets in local estates to the complexity of property division and the availability of specialized probate attorneys in the Miami area.

Miami-Dade County is home to notable landmarks and institutions including Art Deco Historic District, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Everglades National Park, Pérez Art Museum Miami. For estates that include interests in local businesses, commercial real estate near these anchors, or specialized assets tied to the area's economy, probate costs can increase due to the need for professional appraisals and valuations.

The Miami-Dade County Circuit Court, Probate Division in Miami handles these complex matters alongside routine estate administration.

As a major metropolitan center, Miami-Dade County's real estate values and cost of living tend to push estate values — and therefore probate fees — higher than in the state's rural jurisdictions. The trade-off is a deeper pool of experienced probate attorneys and more established court procedures.

• Florida establishes separate statutory fee schedules for personal representatives and attorneys in Miami-Dade County, ranked 1st of the state's 67 counties.
• Personal representative fees under Fla.
• Stat.
• § 733.617 follow a tiered schedule: 3% on the first $1 million, 2.5% on the next $4 million, 2% on the next $5 million, and 1.5% above $10 million.
• Attorney fees under Fla.
• Stat.
• § 733.6171 follow their own tiered schedule, and the Miami-Dade County Circuit Court, Probate Division in Miami must approve any fee requests that exceed the statutory amounts.

• Court filing fees in Miami-Dade County include the initial petition fee, fees for Letters of Administration, and charges for certified copies and other filings.
• As one of Florida's largest jurisdictions, Miami-Dade County's Circuit Court maintains a dedicated probate division with specialized judges and established procedures for both formal and summary administration.
• Florida's summary administration option — available for estates under $75,000 or when the decedent has been dead for more than two years — significantly reduces court costs compared to formal administration.

• Probate in Miami-Dade County — ranked 1st of Florida's 67 counties — begins with filing a Petition for Administration at the Miami-Dade County Circuit Court, Probate Division in Miami.
• Florida offers two primary pathways: formal administration for estates above $75,000, and summary administration for smaller estates or those where the decedent has been dead for more than two years.
• The choice of pathway significantly affects both the timeline and cost of administration in Miami-Dade County.

• Under formal administration, the personal representative must publish a Notice to Creditors in a Miami-area newspaper, file an inventory within 60 days of appointment, and manage the estate through the creditor claims period (which runs 90 days from the first publication or 30 days from service on known creditors).
• Miami-Dade County's Circuit Court maintains dedicated probate hearing days, and familiarize with the local administrative orders governing probate procedures.
• Florida's homestead protections — among the strongest in the nation — create additional complexity for estates that include the decedent's primary residence.

Florida's summary administration procedure — available for estates valued under $75,000 or when the decedent has been dead for more than two years — provides a streamlined alternative to formal probate in Miami-Dade County, ranked 1st of the state's 67 counties. Summary administration eliminates the need for a personal representative and allows the court to order direct distribution of assets to beneficiaries.

The petition is filed at the Miami-Dade County Circuit Court, Probate Division in Miami.

Florida also offers a Disposition Without Administration procedure for estates consisting solely of exempt property (including homestead) and non-exempt personal property that does not exceed the cost of preferred funeral expenses and reasonable medical expenses of the last 60 days. In a larger jurisdiction like Miami-Dade County, summary administration accounts for a significant volume of probate filings, and the court's staff are experienced with the streamlined procedures.

Florida's strong homestead protections mean that the primary residence often passes outside the probate estate entirely, reducing the value subject to formal administration.

• Getting an accurate probate cost estimate for an estate in Miami-Dade County requires accounting for both Florida's statutory percentage schedule and the local filing fees charged by the Miami-Dade County Circuit Court, Probate Division.
• In one of Florida's larger jurisdictions, costs can add up quickly between professional fees, court costs, and administrative expenses.
• Having a clear estimate before you begin helps you plan and avoids surprises during administration.
• This calculator applies Florida's specific rules automatically, giving you an estimate within minutes of entering the estate's approximate value.

• This free probate calculator covers Florida's statutory percentage schedule and generates instant estimates based on estate value — no account required.
• Whether you're an executor, a beneficiary, or a family member trying to understand what comes next, you can get a clear picture of expected costs for Miami-Dade County in just a few minutes.

Beyond probate costs, Miami-Dade County residents may need other legal tools. Our Divorce Cost Estimator for Florida covers filing fees, attorney costs, and mediation options across the state.

For statewide legal deadlines, see the Florida Statute of Limitations lookup.

Additional free tools: Florida Estate Tax Calculator for federal and state estate tax exposure, Florida Small Estate Checker to see if the estate qualifies for simplified procedures, and Florida Homestead Exemption Calculator to understand property protections that may affect the probate estate.

• Probate rules and costs vary across Florida's 67 counties.
• Compare Miami-Dade County with other jurisdictions: Broward County, Palm Beach County, Hillsborough County, Orange County.

Each county page covers local court procedures, filing fees, small estate thresholds, and an interactive probate cost calculator pre-set for that county's specific rules.

• Probate rules and costs vary across Florida's 67 counties.
• Compare Miami-Dade County with other jurisdictions: Broward County, Palm Beach County, Hillsborough County, Orange County.

Each county page covers local court procedures, filing fees, small estate thresholds, and an interactive probate cost calculator pre-set for that county's specific rules.