Probate Attorney in West Palm Beach, FL
Compassionate, efficient probate help for West Palm Beach families — Palm Beach County estate administration handled by phone, video, and e-filing, so you rarely set foot in the West Palm Beach courthouse.
When a West Palm Beach family loses a loved one, the estate often has to pass through probate — the court-supervised process of validating the will, paying creditors, and transferring assets. Cornerstone Wealth & Legacy Law guides West Palm Beach personal representatives and families through Palm Beach County probate from start to finish, almost entirely by phone, video, and electronic filing.
Probate in West Palm Beach & the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit
West Palm Beach probate is administered through the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Palm Beach County, part of Florida's Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, with the main courthouse in West Palm Beach. Because Florida courts use electronic filing, we can open and complete most West Palm Beach estates without you traveling to the courthouse — but the process still follows strict statutory deadlines under Florida Statutes Chapter 733, including the notice to creditors and the claim period under §733.702.
How We Help West Palm Beach Personal Representatives
- Determining whether the estate needs formal administration (Chapter 733) or qualifies for summary administration (Chapter 735)
- Preparing and e-filing the petition, oath, and order appointing the personal representative
- Publishing and serving the notice to creditors and resolving claims
- Filing the inventory, handling homestead, and making final distribution to beneficiaries
- Clearing title to West Palm Beach-area real estate, including homestead property
Avoiding Probate Next Time
Many West Palm Beach families come to us after a hard probate and decide to spare their own heirs the same process. A properly funded revocable living trust, paired with beneficiary designations and the right deeds, keeps assets out of the Palm Beach County probate court entirely. Take our free Estate Plan Score quiz to see where you stand.
West Palm Beach Probate FAQs
Where is probate filed for West Palm Beach residents?
Probate for West Palm Beach residents is filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Palm Beach County, part of Florida's Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, with the main courthouse in West Palm Beach. Florida probate is handled largely through electronic filing, so a personal representative usually does not need to appear in person.
How long does probate take in West Palm Beach?
Most formal administrations for West Palm Beach estates take about six months to a year, driven by the creditor claim period: after the personal representative publishes a notice to creditors, creditors generally have until the later of three months from first publication or 30 days from service to file claims (Fla. Stat. §733.702), subject to a two-year absolute bar (§733.710). Summary administration, when available, can finish in a few weeks to a couple of months.
What is summary administration, and does my West Palm Beach estate qualify?
Summary administration is Florida's streamlined probate, available when the probate estate — excluding exempt and homestead property — is worth $75,000 or less, or when the decedent has been deceased for more than two years (Fla. Stat. Chapter 735). Many West Palm Beach estates qualify, especially when most assets passed by trust, beneficiary designation, or joint title. Larger estates proceed as formal administration under Chapter 733.
Do I need a probate lawyer in West Palm Beach?
In Florida, formal administration generally requires a licensed attorney because the personal representative must be represented by counsel (with narrow exceptions). Cornerstone handles West Palm Beach probate remotely — preparing and e-filing the petition, notice to creditors, inventory, and final distribution with the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit — so you rarely need to visit the West Palm Beach courthouse.
Does Florida have an estate or inheritance tax?
No. Florida has no state estate tax and no state inheritance tax, so most West Palm Beach estates owe no death tax at the state level. Only very large estates may owe federal estate tax above the federal exemption amount.
Facing probate in West Palm Beach?
Start with a free 20-minute call. We'll explain exactly what the estate needs and how we can handle it remotely.
Schedule Your Free ConsultationCornerstone Wealth & Legacy Law, PLLC is licensed in the State of Florida and serves clients throughout the state. This page is attorney advertising and general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Estate planning, probate, and elder law outcomes depend on your individual facts and the proper execution of documents under Florida law.