Clerk of Court
Mike Caruso
Name is from the Clerk’s website as archived January 1, 2026. The live site could not be re-read on October 29, 2026.
Official sourceStaff review draft · Not indexed
Florida Probate Guide · Fifteenth Judicial Circuit
Palm Beach County Probate Court Guide2026 EDITION
Palm Beach County probate is handled at the Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley Courthouse in West Palm Beach. The Fifteenth Circuit’s division list currently shows two probate sections: Division IA and Division IZ. Filings go through the Clerk of Court.
Court details last reviewed October 29, 2026
Court information
Where is probate filed in Palm Beach County?
Probate filings go through the county Clerk of Court and are assigned within the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. Check the Clerk’s current instructions before mailing documents or visiting in person.
Check the official court sourceJudge Daniel T. K. Hurley Courthouse
- Address
- 205 N. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
- Public counter hours
- Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., excluding designated holidays.
- Probate contact
- 561-355-2996
Current assignments
Who handles probate matters in Palm Beach County?
Judicial assignments and staff contacts can change. These names were checked against official court sources on October 29, 2026.
Administrative Judge, Probate — Division IZ
Hon. Charles E. Burton
Division phone 561-330-1723. Judicial assistant: Mary Beardsley.
Official sourceProbate Judge — Division IA
Hon. Samantha Schosberg Feuer
Division phone 561-355-3518. Judicial assistant: Marsha McClendon.
Official sourceLocal procedure
What local probate rules apply?
The circuit’s published division directory lists probate sections IA and IZ only. Each judge publishes contact information for that section. Proposed-order steps were not collected from a division procedure sheet for this draft, so follow the assigned judge’s current instructions and e-file through the Florida Courts portal.
Proposed-order checklist
- 1E-file the petition and supporting documents through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
- 2Confirm whether the case is in Division IA or Division IZ.
- 3Follow that division’s current instructions for proposed orders, notice, and courtesy copies.
- 4Use the division phone or judicial-assistant email published on the circuit’s division list.
Are probate hearings remote?
The Fifteenth Circuit did not publish one probate-wide remote-hearing rule on the pages reviewed. The assigned division and the hearing notice control whether an appearance is remote or at the Hurley Courthouse.
Can Lauren handle the case remotely?
Palm Beach filings can be submitted electronically. A remote appearance is not automatic. Out-of-state family members should read the notice for the assigned division before planning travel to West Palm Beach.
Process overview
How does a Palm Beach 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 Fifteenth Judicial Circuit; it is not a filing checklist or a promise of timing.
- 01
Open the estate
File the petition, original will when applicable, death certificate, and required supporting documents.
- 02
Court review
The Clerk processes the filing and the assigned division reviews petitions, checklists, and proposed orders.
- 03
Administer assets
Address notices, creditors, inventory, taxes, property, and distributions required for the selected process.
- 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 Palm Beach 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 figures combine the filing fees in Florida Statutes § 28.2401 with the additional $4 service charge that subsection (3) adds to formal, ancillary, and summary administration. A caveat is $40, and disposition without administration is $230. This clerk’s own schedule was not available when the page was checked, and a posted schedule can differ by a small amount. Confirm the total before filing.
Clerk servicePosted fee
Formal or ancillary administration$399
Summary administration — estate under $1,000$234
Summary administration — estate $1,000 or more$344
Caveat$40
Disposition without administration$230
Straight answers
Palm Beach County probate FAQ
Where do I file probate in Palm Beach County?
The main courthouse is the Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley Courthouse at 205 N. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach. The Clerk lists that location as open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and publishes the phone 561-355-2996.
Which judges handle Palm Beach County probate?
The Fifteenth Circuit’s division directory lists Judge Samantha Schosberg Feuer in Division IA and Judge Charles E. Burton, the administrative probate judge, in Division IZ. Check the docket if a case is already open.
Can a Palm Beach County probate be handled remotely?
Electronic filing is available. The hearing notice decides whether a particular court event is remote or in person at the Hurley Courthouse.
What estates qualify for Florida Summary Administration in Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach County probate. Lauren Richardson Law serves families throughout Florida, including people managing an estate from another state.
Verification record
Official sources
Last checked October 29, 2026
- Palm Beach Clerk — Main Courthouse, archived January 1, 2026
- Palm Beach Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, archived January 1, 2026
- Fifteenth Judicial Circuit — Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley Courthouse
- Fifteenth Judicial Circuit — divisions, including probate
- Florida Statutes § 735.201 — Summary administration
- Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
- Florida Statutes § 28.2401 — Service charges and filing fees in probate matters
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.