Broward County, Florida Probate Court Records

The Broward County Circuit Court, Probate Division, is responsible for hearing probate matters, including identifying and gathering the deceased's assets, distributing their assets, and paying their debts. The probate court is also responsible for overseeing the relationship between guardians and wards who are deemed incapable of managing their own affairs. Probate court records are records documenting these cases and are generated and maintained by the Probate Division of the county circuit court.

Documents considered part of probate records include wills, codicils, guardianship or conservatorship forms, various petitions, letters of administration, estate inventories or valuations, creditor claims, court orders, judgments, final accounting, and discharge documents.

Public Access to Probate Court Records in Broward County

Under Florida Sunshine Laws, probate court records are typically open to public inspection. The public records policy governs access to court records, and records are open to the public unless specifically exempted from disclosure by statutes. This means most Broward County probate court records, including dockets and filings, may be viewed in person or requested through authorized county systems.

Although the rules favour openness, public record laws also recognize exemptions for certain records to protect privacy, sensitive information, and vulnerable persons. Common probate information that may be exempted from public disclosure includes the following.

• Confidential information such as social security details, private financial information, and personal details such as driver’s license and passport numbers
• Records concerning minors and incapacitated persons
• Records that are confidential or sealed by court orders
• Confidential financial documents
• Protected personal information of vulnerable persons, such as medical records or psychological evaluations

Exempted records may still be accessed with the confidential parts removed or with authorization from a court order from the appropriate jurisdiction.

Methods for Searching Broward County Probate Court Records

Members of the public seeking Broward County probate court records have access to several methods for searching and requesting such records. Although the exact request process may vary by county and jurisdiction, the general methods remain similar in Florida.

The court system and the Broward County Clerk of the Courts provide standard options for obtaining court records for the county. Record requests from the Broward County Clerk of the Courts can be made in person, by mail, email, fax, or online. During requests, record seekers will be required to provide the information needed for staff to search for and locate the records. This search criterion includes the names of the parties involved, case numbers, date of birth, and filing dates.

How to Find Broward County Probate Cases Online for Free

Broward County court records can be viewed online using the Public Case Search Portal maintained by the Clerk of the Court Office. Case searches can be made on the search portal using search criteria, such as party name, court type, case number, business name, and filing dates. Most documents that have been updated or filed electronically may be viewed and purchased online.

Although viewing the record online may not require registering an account on the portal, purchasing any records requires an account. Payment for online purchases is $8 per certified electronic document payable by credit card (American Express, Visa, or MasterCard). Requests are processed, and requesters receive access to the records immediately after payment is processed.

Accessing Broward County Probate Court Records in Person

Broward County probate court records can be obtained in person from the Archives Division of the Clerk of the Courts for closed cases or older records. On the other hand, open case documents are available for viewing or purchase from the division where the case was filed, namely, the probate division. Probate court records in Broward County can be requested from the following divisions during opening hours (8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.).

Visitors are required to provide information to locate the record, including the names of the parties involved, their date of birth, a case number, and the filing date. If they cannot provide this, and the staff needs to perform a search, the requester will be charged a search fee. Viewing the record may be free; any physical copies will incur a per-page copy fee. Processing time may vary depending on the availability of the record and its storage location.

Requesting Broward County Probate Court Records by Mail

To request Broward County probate records by mail, record seekers should download the Court Records Request Form, complete it accurately, and submit it via mail, email, or fax using the following contact details.

The requester is expected to fill in search criteria on the form, including the file type, party’s name, and date of birth. After the request is processed, the clerk’s office will notify the requester of the cost and payment procedure. Payment for mailed requests includes checks and money orders for the exact amount. Requests are typically processed 2 weeks after they are received.

Broward County Probate Court Record Access Methods

Applicable Fees for Broward County Probate Court Record Requests

Applicable fees associated with obtaining Broward County Probate Court Records include the following.

• $8 per record for certified electronic documents ordered online
• $1 per page copy fees for paper copies
• Certification costs $2 per document
• If a search has to be made, the requester pays a search fee of $2 per year searched.

Payment is accepted in Cashier’s check, Personal check, Money Order, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa Credit Cards. Cash is also accepted during in-person requests.