Palm Beach County, Florida Probate
Cost Calculator

Palm Beach County, Florida — home to approximately 1,496,770 residents and ranked as one of Florida's three largest jurisdictions by population — administers probate through the Palm Beach County Circuit Court, Probate Division located in West Palm Beach. The jurisdiction's size and demographics shape both the complexity of estates that come before the court and the pace at which cases proceed through the system.

Ranked 3rd among Florida's 67 jurisdictions by population, Palm Beach County handles one of the state's heavier probate caseloads. The Palm Beach County Circuit Court, Probate Division in West Palm Beach serves 1,496,770 residents, and the high volume has produced well-established local procedures that help cases move efficiently.

The court's familiarity with complex estate structures — including business interests, real property portfolios, and multi-jurisdictional assets — makes it one of the more sophisticated probate venues in the state.

Florida's probate system in Palm Beach County — ranked 3rd of the state's 67 counties — operates through the Palm Beach County Circuit Court, Probate Division in West Palm Beach. 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, Palm Beach County's Circuit Court maintains a dedicated probate division with specialized judges and structured procedures.

Stretching from the exclusive island of Palm Beach to agricultural communities around Lake Okeechobee, Palm Beach County is one of the wealthiest and most geographically expansive counties in Florida. These local economic and cultural factors directly influence probate in Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach area.

Palm Beach County is home to notable landmarks and institutions including Worth Avenue, Flagler Museum, Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, Norton Museum of Art. 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 Palm Beach County Circuit Court, Probate Division in West Palm Beach handles these complex matters alongside routine estate administration.

As a major metropolitan center, Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach County, ranked 3rd 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 Palm Beach County Circuit Court, Probate Division in West Palm Beach must approve any fee requests that exceed the statutory amounts.

• Court filing fees in Palm Beach 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, Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach County — ranked 3rd of Florida's 67 counties — begins with filing a Petition for Administration at the Palm Beach County Circuit Court, Probate Division in West Palm Beach.
• 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 Palm Beach County.

• Under formal administration, the personal representative must publish a Notice to Creditors in a West Palm Beach-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).
• Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach County, ranked 3rd 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 Palm Beach County Circuit Court, Probate Division in West Palm Beach.

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 Palm Beach 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.

Palm Beach County, ranked 3rd of Florida's 67 jurisdictions by population, is a large metropolitan area where probate courts process high volumes of cases — having your cost estimate ready before consulting with an attorney helps you make the most of that initial meeting.

• 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 Palm Beach County in just a few minutes.

Beyond probate costs, Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach County with other jurisdictions: Miami-Dade County, Broward 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 Palm Beach County with other jurisdictions: Miami-Dade County, Broward 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.