What Do I Need To Know About The Broward Probate Court?

In Broward County, the majority of probate cases go through The Probate Division of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, commonly known as the Broward Probate Court. Read on to learn more about this court as well as why you should hire Jurado & Farshchian, P.L. to help you with your probate case in Broward County.

The Broward Probate Court – What You Need to Know

Location

Broward County makes up the Miami metropolitan area along with two other counties: Miami-Dade County and Palm Beach County. The county consists of 24 cities and its population is currently at just under two million. Some of the most populated cities in Broward County include Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, and Pembroke Pines. If a deceased individual was a resident of one of these cities or any of the 24 cities that make up Broward County at the time of death, the Broward Probate Court will handle the administration of their estate.

Cases

As mentioned above, the Probate Division of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida is the court that is responsible for most matters related to probate in Broward County. However, in circumstances where a probate hearing is not required – which is not common – the Broward County Clerk of Courts may handle the case.

In addition to the administration of estates of deceased Broward County residents, the Broward Probate Court handles issues related to guardianship, incapacity, mental health, and more. Since guardianship cases tend to be complicated, an attorney must be present at all probate hearings. This is a legal requirement. If you have a guardianship case, it is highly advisable that you consult with a skilled and experienced Broward County probate lawyer who not only understands Florida’s probate laws but also knows the local court system. At Jurado & Farshchian, P.L., you will find the right probate lawyer for your case.

Judges

The judges of the Probate Division of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida are Kenneth Gillespie, Charles M. Greene, and Mily Rodriguez-Powell.

The Honorable Judge Kenneth Gillespie joined the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida in 2009. He is a Juvenile Court Judge; however, he also hears probate cases involving residents of Broward County or property located in Broward County.

The Honorable Judge Charles M. Greene joined the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida in 2008 and works as a civil division and probate administration judge.

Governor Jeb Bush appointed The Honorable Judge Mily Rodriguez-Powell in 2005. She works as a civil division judge; however, she also hears probate cases.

The Probate Process in Broward County

The court-supervised process of identifying, gathering, appraising, and distributing a decedent’s assets through the Broward Probate Court can be overwhelmingly complex, not to mention time-consuming and expensive, so it is crucial to avoid making mistakes, as they can significantly delay the process.

Even if no major issues arise and everything is done properly, probate still takes a long time. Most probate cases take over a year to complete. Once you open a probate case in Broward County by filing a petition along with the required documentation, you need to wait 90 days for creditors to file claims. After that, you need to wait over a year for the Broward Probate Court to review the documents you filed along with your petition. There are, however, ways to speed up this process or even avoid it altogether. To learn how you can avoid Florida probate, get in touch with Jurado & Farshchian, P.L. today by calling (305) 921-0440 or contact us via email at [email protected] to schedule a consultation.

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