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Palm Beach County Probate Court Records, eCaseView, Estate Filing, Fees & Certified Copies
Use this guide to find the right official route for Palm Beach County probate records, estate filings, wills, guardianship, eCaseView searches, certified court documents, probate fees, forms, and Clerk resources without relying on thin private record pages.
Where Do Palm Beach County Probate Records and Estate Filings Start?
Start with the Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller probate resources and eCaseView. The Clerk’s Probate of Estates page is the best official starting point for probate estate procedures, original will instructions, publication responsibilities, foreign wills, notices of trust, forms, and filing guidance. eCaseView is the official court-record search tool for many Palm Beach County court cases and documents.
The 15th Judicial Circuit Probate Division handles matters relating to wills, guardians, trusts, incompetencies, Baker Act, Marchman Act, and involuntary commitments. For official records, certified copies, probate fees, filing requirements, and restricted records, use the Clerk’s official pages rather than private record websites.
Official Palm Beach County Clerk Probate Page Screenshot
This screenshot is included so users can visually recognize the official Clerk page before clicking away from this guide. Use the official page to verify probate-of-estates guidance, original will handling, forms, publication notes, and Clerk instructions.
Screenshot source: Palm Beach County Clerk — Probate of Estates
Open the same official page when you need to confirm current Palm Beach County probate steps, forms, filing guidance, original will instructions, or Clerk updates.
Choose the Palm Beach County Probate Step You Need
Probate searches fail when users start with a generic name search. Pick the closest task below and use the official path that matches your need.
Search a probate case or court record in eCaseView
Case number, party name, court type, case type, docket details and available document images.
Use Palm Beach County eCaseView. Guest users can search most case information without registration.
Probate, guardianship and some other images may require registered user or attorney-of-record access.
Palm Beach County Probate Court Path: Clerk, eCaseView and 15th Circuit
For search users, the court name can be confusing. Palm Beach County probate records and filings involve both the Clerk’s court-record and probate pages and the 15th Judicial Circuit Probate Division. Use the Clerk for record search, filing, fees, copies, forms, and certified documents. Use the 15th Circuit pages for division-level court context, judges, division instructions, and judicial procedures.
How to Search Palm Beach County Probate Records in eCaseView
eCaseView is the Clerk’s free court-record search system. It can show court dates, complaints, parties, docket details, and document images where available. Images of case documents from late 2008 forward may be viewable online, but probate and guardianship document images may require registered user or attorney-of-record access.
Start with official eCaseView
Open eCaseView from the Clerk’s website. Do not start with a private background-check or third-party record page if you need official Palm Beach County probate information.
Search with the strongest identifier
Use case number first if you have it. If not, try party name, decedent name, estate name, court type, case type, filing date clues, or attorney information.
Check whether documents are viewable
Some documents are viewable to guest users, but probate and guardianship images can be restricted to registered users or attorneys of record.
Use E-Certify only for eligible documents
If a redacted document is viewable in eCaseView and eligible, it may be added to an E-Certify cart for electronic certified purchase.
Contact the Clerk when the record is restricted or missing
A missing online result does not always mean no probate file exists. Older, restricted, sealed, unredacted, guardianship, or protected records may need a direct Clerk request.
Estate, Will, Publication and Foreign Will Details Users Miss
The Clerk’s Probate of Estates page includes several practical details that are easy to miss. The Clerk does not forward notices of action and notices to creditors for non-indigent parties to a newspaper for publication. After the Clerk issues your notice, you are responsible for arranging service with a newspaper of general circulation in Palm Beach County, and proof of publication must be filed for the case to proceed.
Original will must be filed with the Clerk
The death certificate can be e-filed, but the original will must be filed with the Clerk’s office. It may be hand delivered or mailed to the Probate Division at P.O. Box 4667, West Palm Beach, FL 33402.
Publication is the filer’s responsibility
For non-indigent parties, the Clerk does not forward notices to newspapers. Arrange publication with a qualifying newspaper and file proof of publication after it is completed.
Petition to Admit Foreign Will
This procedure may apply when the decedent’s estate is opened in another state of domicile and the decedent has property in Palm Beach County.
Trust proceedings and notices
The Clerk probate page references trust proceedings and notices of trust. Confirm whether the filing belongs in probate, trust, guardianship, or another court path before filing.
Filing caution: Probate forms, original documents, notice requirements, publication, e-filing and certified copies can be case-specific. Court staff can provide procedural information, but legal strategy and case advice should come from a Florida probate attorney.
Palm Beach County Probate Fees: Official Clerk Amounts to Check Before Filing
The Clerk’s official probate-fee page lists common service fees. Use these numbers as a planning checklist and confirm the current amount before filing, because your case may require additional documents, summons, copies, certification, payment processing, or service steps.
Best practice: Before paying, identify the exact filing type: formal administration, summary administration, ancillary administration, caveat, notice of trust, foreign will, safe deposit box petition, conservatorship, curatorship, or disposition without administration.
Electronic Certified Copies, E-Certify and Probate Record Limits
The Clerk’s electronic certified court documents page explains that redacted documents viewable in eCaseView may be ordered through E-Certify. Electronic certified copies are $8 per document, made up of a $2 statutory fee plus a $6 service fee. A 3.5% payment processing fee applies to transactions paid by credit card, debit card, Google Pay and Apple Pay.
Only certain viewable records qualify
Only redacted documents that are viewable in eCaseView can be ordered through E-Certify. Some records have statutory or court-ordered restrictions.
Save your document
Certified documents may be available to download for 30 days after purchase. Save the PDF to your computer rather than relying only on an email link.
Letters may expire
The Clerk notes that certified copies generally do not expire, but probate and guardianship exceptions can apply. Certified copies of letters of administration may expire 60 days from certification or when superseded by a judge’s order.
Acceptance check: Before buying an electronic certified copy, verify that the bank, title company, agency, court, or other recipient accepts eCertified documents.
Self-Represented Probate Filing, Forms and Portal Requirements
The Clerk’s self-represented filer guidance says filers need a valid email address, regular access to email, a computer with internet access and browser, and documents in accepted formats such as Microsoft Word, WordPerfect or Adobe PDF. For an existing case, the case number is also needed.
Florida Courts e-Filing Portal
Self-represented users are directed to the statewide e-filing portal and should select the correct self-represented litigant role during registration.
Use official forms first
Use the Clerk’s forms library and official court resources before relying on private templates. Filing the wrong form can delay probate, guardianship, or estate action.
Phone-only filing may not work
The Clerk guidance notes that although you may receive email through a phone or tablet, you may not be able to e-file using those devices.
Have the case number ready
If you are filing into an existing case, prepare the case number before beginning the portal process.
What the 15th Judicial Circuit Probate Division Handles
The 15th Circuit Probate Division handles matters relating to validity and execution of wills, appointment of guardians, trusts, incompetencies, Baker Act, Marchman Act, and certain involuntary commitments. The court explains probate as collecting a decedent’s assets, liquidating liabilities, paying necessary taxes and distributing property to heirs.
Why a Palm Beach County Probate Case May Not Show Online
No online result is not proof that no probate matter exists. Probate and guardianship records can be restricted, delayed, older, sealed, indexed differently, or limited to registered users or attorneys of record.
Search data mismatch
Try full legal name, estate name, case number, alternate spelling, filing year, personal representative name, or attorney name.
Restricted document images
Probate and guardianship document images may require registered-user or attorney-of-record access.
Older records
Some older case documents may not be viewable online and may need direct Clerk assistance.
Unredacted copy needed
Unredacted certified copies may require party/attorney status or in-person, phone, or formal Clerk request.
Wrong record system
Do not confuse court records, official records, tax deeds, property records, or private record sites.
Publication or filing delay
Probate steps like proof of publication, original will filing, or missing forms can delay case progress.
Palm Beach Probate Money-Recovery Scam Warning
The Clerk’s fraud warning says no one who works for the Clerk’s office will call and ask you to wire money to them. Be cautious if someone claims you are owed money from a probate case and demands payment up front to help you recover it.
If you have concerns, use the official Clerk contact page or call the Clerk’s office through official phone numbers listed on the Clerk website.
Palm Beach County Probate Court Location and Map
The 15th Judicial Circuit lists the Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley Courthouse at 205 North Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Before visiting, confirm whether your task belongs at the courthouse, a Clerk branch, eCaseView, E-Certify, the e-filing portal, or a mail-in Probate Division address.
Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley Courthouse
Address: 205 North Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Palm Beach County Probate Court FAQs
Where do I search Palm Beach County probate records?
Start with the Palm Beach County Clerk’s eCaseView court-record search and the Clerk’s Probate of Estates page. Use case number, party name, estate name, court type, case type, or filing clues when searching.
Is eCaseView free to use?
Yes. The Clerk says there is no charge to use eCaseView, and users may view and print uncertified documents from their own computer for free when those documents are available.
Do I need to register for eCaseView?
A registered account is not required to search most case information. However, probate, guardianship, mental health, family and some other document images may be limited to registered users or attorneys of record.
How much are electronic certified court documents?
The Clerk lists electronic certified court documents at $8 per document, plus a 3.5% payment processing fee for applicable card and digital-wallet payments.
Can I order every probate document through E-Certify?
No. Only redacted documents that are viewable in eCaseView can be ordered through E-Certify. Some records may be restricted, not viewable online, or limited to parties, registered users, or attorneys of record.
What is the Palm Beach County formal administration fee?
The Clerk’s probate-fee page lists formal administration and ancillary administration at $401.00. Always confirm the current fee and any additional costs before filing.
Can the death certificate and original will be e-filed?
The Clerk’s probate page says the death certificate can be e-filed, but the original will must be filed with the Clerk’s office. It may be hand delivered or mailed to the Probate Division address listed by the Clerk.
Who handles wills, guardianship and trusts in Palm Beach County?
The 15th Judicial Circuit Probate Division handles matters relating to wills, guardians, trusts, incompetencies, Baker Act, Marchman Act and certain involuntary commitment matters.
Why is my probate document image not visible online?
Probate and guardianship images may be limited to registered users or attorneys of record, and some documents may be restricted by statute or court order. Contact the Clerk if you need official access or certified copies.
Can Clerk staff tell me which probate petition to file?
Clerk staff can generally provide procedural information, forms, record routes, copy options and fee guidance. They cannot provide legal advice or choose a legal filing strategy for you.
Best Next Step for Palm Beach County Probate Help
For Palm Beach County probate records, use this order: start with the Clerk’s Probate of Estates page, search eCaseView with the strongest case details, check whether the document is viewable, use E-Certify only for eligible certified copies, verify fees before filing, and contact the Clerk when the record is restricted, older, missing, or requires unredacted access.
This page is an independent informational guide published for ProbateCourtUSA.org. It is not the Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller, the 15th Judicial Circuit, a court office, or a law firm. Always verify urgent or official probate matters directly with the appropriate court office or a qualified Florida attorney.