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Florida Probate Guide · Eleventh Judicial Circuit

Miami-Dade County Probate Court Guide2026 EDITION

Miami-Dade probate is filed with the Clerk at the Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center in downtown Miami. Six circuit judges and two general magistrates sit in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Probate Division. The case number shows which section has the file.

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Court details last reviewed October 29, 2026

Decorative color graphic for the Miami-Dade County probate guide
Decorative graphic. This is not a photograph of the courthouse.Original graphic created for this guide. It does not depict the courthouse.

Court information

Where is probate filed in Miami-Dade County?

Probate filings go through the county Clerk of Court and are assigned within the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. Check the Clerk’s current instructions before mailing documents or visiting in person.

Check the official court source

Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center

Address
20 NW 1st Avenue, Miami, FL 33128Probate Court, Suite 6.223
Public counter hours
Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; closed Saturday and Sunday.
Probate contact
305-349-7492

Current assignments

Who handles probate matters in Miami-Dade County?

Judicial assignments and staff contacts can change. These names were checked against official court sources on October 29, 2026.

Clerk of Court

Juan Fernandez-Barquin, Esq.

Clerk of the Court and Comptroller. A second probate line is 305-349-7502.

Official source

Associate Administrative Judge, Probate — PMH 04

Hon. Maria de Jesus Santovenia

Official source

Local procedure

What local probate rules apply?

The Probate Division sits at the Soto Justice Center. Administrative Order 22-02 requires a docket index number or motion identifier on proposed orders and notices of hearing. The circuit also has a memorandum requiring probate smart forms. Follow the procedures for the assigned section. The daily probate calendar uses the case number, which ends in CP, GD, or MH.

Eleventh Judicial Circuit — Probate DivisionFlorida Statutes § 28.2401 — Service charges and filing fees in probate matters

Proposed-order checklist

  1. 1E-file the petition and supporting documents through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
  2. 2Use the probate smart forms required by the Eleventh Circuit’s probate memorandum.
  3. 3Put the docket index number or motion identifier on the proposed order and the notice of hearing, as Administrative Order 22-02 requires.
  4. 4Follow the procedures published for the assigned section. The directory currently lists six judge sections, PMH 01 and PMH 03 through PMH 07.
  5. 5Check the division calendar with the case number for the judge, time, and courtroom.

Are probate hearings remote?

Hearing format is set by the assigned section and the notice. The circuit publishes a same-day probate calendar for the Soto Justice Center. Some matters are confidential, so the calendar search asks for the case number. Do not assume every hearing is remote.

Can Lauren handle the case remotely?

Uncontested Miami-Dade estates are filed through the e-portal. Whether a hearing is in person at the Soto Justice Center or remote depends on the assigned section and the notice. Out-of-state family members should not assume they can stay off the calendar.

Process overview

How does a Miami-Dade County probate move forward?

The exact path depends on the estate and the court’s orders. This overview shows the common sequence for a matter filed in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit; it is not a filing checklist or a promise of timing.

  1. 01

    Open the estate

    File the petition, original will when applicable, death certificate, and required supporting documents.

  2. 02

    Court review

    The Clerk processes the filing and the assigned division reviews petitions, checklists, and proposed orders.

  3. 03

    Administer assets

    Address notices, creditors, inventory, taxes, property, and distributions required for the selected process.

  4. 04

    Distribute and close

    After court requirements are met, distribute the remaining assets and complete the steps needed to close.

2026Threshold

Florida Summary Administration may be available when the estate subject to administration, less exempt property, does not exceed $150,000 or the decedent has been dead for more than two years, subject to the other requirements of Florida Statute § 735.201.

Court costs

What does probate cost in Miami-Dade County?

Court filing fees are separate from attorney fees. Lauren reviews the estate before confirming the legal scope and whether flat-fee representation is available.

These amounts are the probate filing fees posted by the Miami-Dade Clerk. Confirm the total before filing. The Clerk also posts separate charges for inventories, accountings, and reopenings.

Clerk servicePosted fee
Formal or ancillary administration, curatorship, or conservatorship$401
Summary administration — estate under $1,000$236
Summary administration — estate $1,000 or more$346
Caveat or notice of trust$40
Disposition of personal property without administration$232

Straight answers

Miami-Dade County probate FAQ

Where do I file probate in Miami-Dade County?

File with the Miami-Dade Clerk at the Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center, 20 NW 1st Avenue, Miami, Probate Court Suite 6.223. The counter is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The probate phones are 305-349-7492 and 305-349-7502.

Which judges handle Miami-Dade probate?

The Eleventh Circuit directory lists Judges Yvonne Colodny, Maria de Jesus Santovenia, Jorge E. Cueto, Bertila Soto, Jose L. Fernandez, and Nushin G. Sayfie in the Probate Division, plus General Magistrates Aaron Feuer and Olanike Adebayo. The case section controls the assignment.

How are proposed orders submitted in Miami-Dade probate cases?

E-file the underlying papers, use the circuit’s probate smart forms, and include the docket index number or motion identifier required by Administrative Order 22-02. The assigned section’s procedures control the rest.

Can a Miami-Dade probate be handled remotely?

Filings are electronic. The hearing notice and the assigned section decide whether an appearance is remote or at the Soto Justice Center.

What estates qualify for Florida Summary Administration in Miami-Dade County?

Under Florida Statute § 735.201, Summary Administration may be available when the Florida estate subject to administration, less exempt property, does not exceed $150,000 or when the decedent has been dead for more than two years, subject to the statute’s other requirements. The monetary test is statewide.

Clear next steps after a difficult loss.

Call for a free 15-minute consultation about a Miami-Dade County probate. Lauren Richardson Law serves families throughout Florida, including people managing an estate from another state.

352-204-2224Send a Message

Verification record

Official sources

Last checked October 29, 2026

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This guide provides general information, not legal advice. Court assignments, procedures, fees, and hearing formats can change. Confirm current requirements with the Clerk and assigned division before acting.

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