Probate Attorney in Plantation, FL

Probate is the court-supervised legal process for settling a deceased person’s estate, such as paying debts, resolving creditor claims, and transferring assets to the rightful beneficiaries. In Broward County, probate is handled by the Broward County Circuit Court in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, located in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

Probate is required when a person dies owning assets solely in their name with no designated beneficiary or joint owner. Common examples include real estate titled only in the decedent’s name, bank accounts without a payable-on-death designation, and personal property.

Not all assets go through probate. Assets with named beneficiaries, like life insurance and retirement accounts, pass directly to beneficiaries outside of probate. Assets held in a revocable trust also avoid probate entirely. Learn more about which assets are exempt from probate in Florida.

Summary Administration

Summary administration is Florida’s faster, simplified probate process, which is available when the non-exempt probate assets are $150,000 or less (for deaths on or after July 1, 2026), or when the decedent has been deceased for more than two years. It typically takes 2–4 months and does not require a court-appointed personal representative. Learn more about summary administration in Florida.

Formal Administration

Formal administration is required for most estates exceeding the summary administration threshold or when a personal representative must be appointed. It is a full court-supervised process typically taking 6–12 months. Florida law requires attorney representation for formal administration. Learn more about formal administration in Florida.

Large Estate Probate

For complex or high-value estates, our team provides comprehensive large estate probate administration — including estates with significant business interests, real estate portfolios, tax complications, and multi-state assets. Learn more about our large estate probate services.

Ancillary Probate

Plantation is home to many longtime residents whose adult children or heirs live out of state, and the reverse is also common, where a non-Florida resident owns property here. If a non-Florida resident dies owning Plantation property titled in their name, a Florida ancillary proceeding is required. Learn more about ancillary probate in Florida.

Disposition Without Administration

For very small estates, where the only assets are minor and don’t exceed the decedent’s funeral or final medical expenses, Florida offers an even simpler alternative to summary administration. Learn more about disposition without administration in Florida.

Plantation homeowners with no trust in place

Many Plantation residents own a home in their name alone. Without a trust in place, that home will need to go through probate before it can be transferred or sold. We help families navigate this efficiently, including Florida’s homestead rules, which carry constitutional protections and devise restrictions unique to our state.

Estates of longtime Plantation residents

Plantation has a large population of retirees and longtime community members whose estates may include a mix of real property, financial accounts, vehicles, and personal property. We regularly administer estates of all sizes for Plantation families, from simple summary administrations to complex formal proceedings.

Out-of-state heirs and personal representatives

Many Plantation residents have adult children or heirs living in other states. We work regularly with out-of-state personal representatives and beneficiaries, offering virtual consultations and handling all local court filings. You don’t need to travel to Broward County to work with us.

Estates without a will

When someone dies without a valid will in Florida, the estate is distributed according to Florida’s intestacy laws, which is a statutory formula based on family relationships that may not reflect the decedent’s actual wishes. We guide Plantation families through intestate probate and ensure the process follows Florida law.

Disputes among heirs or beneficiaries

Family disagreements during probate, about asset values, personal representative decisions, or the validity of a will, are more common than most people expect. We provide clear guidance and, where necessary, legal representation to protect our clients’ interests.

• We’re local. Our office is at 300 S Pine Island Road, Suite 109, Plantation, FL 33324, right in the community we serve. This is our home market. We file regularly in the Broward County Circuit Court and know the process inside and out.
• Exclusively focused on probate and estate law. We don’t split our attention across dozens of practice areas. Probate, estate planning, and trust administration are all we do.
• Voted GOLD for Estate Law. SJF Law Group was voted GOLD for Estate Law by South Florida Families in the Sun Sentinel 2026 Best of South Florida survey.
• 300+ five-star Google reviews. Our clients consistently describe us as responsive, knowledgeable, and compassionate during one of the most difficult times of their lives.
• Advanced tax credentials. Samantha’s LL.M. in Taxation and CPA license mean estates with tax filing needs are handled with expertise most local probate firms can’t match.
• Free consultations. We’ll review your situation at no charge and give you an honest, clear assessment of what probate will involve for your family.