Miami-Dade County probate help.

Clerk and filing

E-filing and records search

• The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal is the statewide filing site. The clerk's eFiling page states that 20-day summons for probate can be filed on the portal. miamidadeclerk.gov
• Attorneys e-file all documents through the portal except originals the Probate Clerk takes in person: original wills and codicils, commissions, subpoenas, defaults, bonds, authenticated and exemplified copies from other jurisdictions, and original death and birth certificates. jud11.flcourts.org
• Original death certificates and original birth certificates are filed in person within two working days after the case is e-filed and a case number is received. jud11.flcourts.org
• Filings use PDF/A, the format the Florida Supreme Court adopted for electronic filing and storage. miamidadeclerk.gov
• Estate and guardianship case files are viewed through Odyssey Public Access. Attorneys of record register for it on the clerk's records page. jud11.flcourts.org
• Physical files are needed only for hearings that involve documents filed before April 28, 2014; those are not viewable through Odyssey Public Access. jud11.flcourts.org
• Copies of probate documents are ordered online, by mail or in person. The clerk charges $1 per page and $2 per document for certification, plus $2 per year searched when the case year is not known. Personal checks are not accepted. miamidadeclerk.gov
• The clerk's contact page lists 786-767-7FAM(326) for the Probate Court Office and 305-275-1155 for general information. miamidadeclerk.gov

Probate filing fees posted by the clerk

Source: Clerk of the Court and Comptroller of Miami-Dade County, Probate Court Office fee schedule, checked October 16, 2026. Each posted fee that has a § 28.2401 amount is $2 above that amount (plus the $4 petition charge where § 28.2401(3) applies), except the caveat, which matches § 28.2401(1)(b).

Judges and divisions

11th Judicial Circuit. Serves Miami-Dade County only.

Courthouses that hear probate

• Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center (Probate Division), 20 NW 1st Avenue, Miami, FL 33128; Court hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. jud11.flcourts.org probate assignment

• The Probate Division has six circuit judges and two general magistrates. The judges and support staff sit at the Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center. jud11.flcourts.org
• The Judicial Directory lists the sections: PMH 05 Colodny (Administrative Judge), PMH 04 Santovenia (Associate Administrative Judge), PMH 01 Cueto, PMH 06 Fernandez, PMH 07 Sayfie, PMH 03 Soto, and general magistrates Feuer (PMHGMA) and Adebayo (PMHGMB). jud11.flcourts.org
• AO 18-22 (March 21, 2018) assigns Judge Cueto to the Circuit Probate Division, section CP 01. The circuit's judge page for Judge Cueto lists his section as PMH 01. jud11.flcourts.org
• The orders that assigned Judges Sayfie, Santovenia, Fernandez and Soto describe the Probate Division as located at the Dade County Courthouse; the circuit's current pages place the judges and their rooms at the Soto Justice Center. api.jud11.flcourts.org
• A court calendar for the Probate Division is searchable by case number (ends with CP-02, GD-02 or MH-02). It shows the judge, hearing time and courtroom. jud11.flcourts.org

Administrative orders

Orders of the 11th Judicial Circuit that apply to probate and guardianship cases in Miami-Dade County. Circuit order index.

• AO 25-03, Creation of Section PMH 07 in the Probate Division. Date: June 24, 2025; effective July 1, 2025. Creates section PMH 07, moves 188 pending estate cases and 16.7% of pending guardianship cases from the other probate sections to it, and adds it to the blind filing system from July 1, 2025.
• AO 25-34, Reassignment of Judge Nushin G. Sayfie to PMH 07. Date: July 1, 2025. Assigns Judge Sayfie to probate section PMH 07 effective July 1, 2025.
• AO 25-18, Appointment of Judge Maria de Jesus Santovenia as Associate Administrative Judge of the Probate Division. Date: July 1, 2025. Makes Judge Santovenia Associate Administrative Judge of the Probate Division until further order.
• AO 24-3, Reassignment of Judge Maria de Jesus Santovenia. Date: January 3, 2024. Moves Judge Santovenia from circuit civil to probate section PMH 04, in addition to her appellate assignment.
• AO 24-07, Eldercaring coordination within the Probate Division. Date: August 26, 2024. Creates the circuit roster of qualified eldercaring coordinators under § 44.407, run by the Probate Division director.
• AO 21-15 A1, Referral of guardian advocacy proceedings to the probate general magistrate. Date: April 19, 2024. Sends petitions to appoint a guardian advocate under § 393.12 to the probate general magistrate automatically, subject to a party's objection.
• AO 22-13, Reassignment of Judge Jose Fernandez to the Probate Division. Date: July 1, 2022; effective July 5, 2022. Assigns Judge Fernandez to probate section PMH 06.
• AO 22-06, Assignment of cases involving custody or guardianship of minors. Date: April 29, 2022. Sends guardianship of the person of a minor after a parent's death, or with parental consent and no abuse allegation, to the Probate Division; a case filed in the wrong division is transferred.
• AO 22-02, Docket index numbers or motion identifiers on proposed orders and notices of hearing. Date: March 7, 2022. Every proposed order and notice of hearing carries the docket index number (or e-filing number, motion name and filing date), one motion per notice or order; judges may reject non-compliant orders.
• AO 21-22, Reassignment of Judge Bertila Soto to the Probate Division. Date: July 2021; effective August 2, 2021. Assigns Judge Soto to probate section PMH 03.
• AO 21-20, Probate sections PMHGMA and PMHGMB. Date: November 1, 2021. Creates general magistrate section PMHGMB and renames section D007 as PMHGMA.
• AO 14-09 A2, Notice of related cases in probate. Date: August 11, 2021. Requires a Probate Notice of Related Cases with the first pleading and again whenever a related case is filed in any division, circuit, state or federal court.
• AO 14-07 A1, Probate-related and non-probate-related trust cases. Date: July 9, 2014. Sets which trust and estate suits start in the Probate Division: equitable claims against an estate are filed with the probate clerk as a civil action; creditor claims are independent actions.
• AO 18-01, Creation of Section PMH 06 in the Probate Division. Date: February 12, 2018; effective January 18, 2018. Creates probate section PMH 06 and moves 20 percent of closed mental health, closed estate and pending cases to it.
• AO 18-52, Appointment of Judge Yvonne Colodny as Administrative Judge of the Probate Division. Date: September 4, 2018. Makes Judge Colodny Administrative Judge of the Probate Division until further order.
• AO 18-22, Reassignment of Judge Jorge E. Cueto to the Probate Division. Date: March 21, 2018; effective April 9, 2018. Assigns Judge Cueto to probate section CP 01.
• AO 15-04, Professional Guardianship Registry for probate proceedings. Date: March 23, 2015. Creates the registry of professional guardians the probate judges appoint from, for people who are not indigent.
• Local Rule R-1-9, Probate Division. Date: No date printed. Defines Probate Division jurisdiction: decedents' estates, guardianships of minors and adult incompetents, and related matters.
• Administrative Memorandum (restatement), Restatement of mandatory use of Probate Smart Forms and Certification Checklists in estate and guardianship administrations. Date: Effective September 1, 2020 (file name: July 2020). Requires the most recent Smart Form orders and petitions when one is available, with the elections made, required sections filled in and any modification explained in a supporting document, and a Certification Checklist submitted as a supporting document; a submission that does not comply may be rejected. Supersedes the July 11, 2016 memorandum.

Local requirements and forms

Filing and venue

• Probate of wills and granting of letters must be in the state and county where the decedent lived. miamidadeclerk.gov
• The Probate Division hears decedents' estates, guardianships of minors and adults, and related matters; the circuit's Local Rule R-1-9 sets that jurisdiction. api.jud11.flcourts.org
• The clerk takes original wills, codicils, commissions, subpoenas, defaults, bonds and authenticated or exemplified copies from other jurisdictions in person at Suite 6.223, Soto Justice Center. jud11.flcourts.org

Wills

• The custodian of a will deposits it with the clerk within 10 days after learning of the death; the clerk keeps the original for at least 20 years. flsenate.gov
• The Miami-Dade clerk's probate page states the same 10-day rule for the county and state where the decedent lived. miamidadeclerk.gov

Small estates

• Small estates (disposition without administration): the clerk's page lists assets of $6,000 or less that do not exceed the funeral bill, a Miami-Dade resident decedent, a certified death certificate, the itemized funeral contract and a paid-in-full receipt. The petition is filed in person or by mail. miamidadeclerk.gov
• Section 735.301(1) states the statutory test: exempt personal property plus nonexempt personal property not above preferred funeral expenses and reasonable medical and hospital expenses of the last 60 days of the last illness. The clerk page prints $6,000; the statute prints no dollar figure. flsenate.gov

Summary administration

• Summary administration: the circuit's CC-01 checklist states less than $75,000 for a decedent who died before July 1, 2026 and has been dead less than 2 years, and less than $150,000 for a decedent who died on or after July 1, 2026. jud11.flcourts.org
• Section 735.201(2) in the 2026 Florida Statutes reads $150,000, as amended by chapter 2026-57, which took effect July 1, 2026. flsenate.gov
• The CC-01 checklist also lists an Affidavit of Heirs (Form E-7) and a Notice of Related Cases under Administrative Order 14-09. jud11.flcourts.org

Checklists and Smart Forms

• Every proposed order is accompanied by the circuit's checklist certification, signed by the attorney, filed through the e-filing portal and uploaded as a supporting document in courtMAP. Checklists CC-01 to CC-12 cover summary and formal administration, homestead, sale of real property, distribution, attorney fees and discharge. jud11.flcourts.org
• Attorneys use the Smart Form petition or order when one exists; judges may refuse to sign orders that do not use the Smart Forms. jud11.flcourts.org
• Proposed orders use the most recent Smart Forms and Certification Checklists. A missing Smart Form election, a missing required section, an unexplained Smart Form modification or a missing Certification Checklist may result in rejection of the submission (Administrative Memorandum effective September 1, 2020, which supersedes the July 11, 2016 memorandum). jud11.flcourts.org
• An order or notice submitted without the docket index number (or e-filing number, motion name and filing date) is rejected under AO 22-02. jud11.flcourts.org

Hearings

• Hearings, special sets and proposed orders are scheduled and submitted in courtMAP, which combines eCourtesy with online scheduling for motion calendar, special set and trial events. jud11.flcourts.org
• Special set hearings: file the petition, motion and supporting documents, then submit them to courtMAP. Submit ten days ahead unless the section judge's page gives a different number. jud11.flcourts.org
• Emergency petitions and motions are filed and docketed first, then uploaded to the courtMAP Emergency Motion queue. The probate emergency duty judge responds within 24 to 48 hours. jud11.flcourts.org
• A motion to transfer a case to another division is e-filed, copied to the administrative judge's judicial assistant, and heard by the administrative judge. jud11.flcourts.org

Hearings by section

• Section PMH 05 (Judge Colodny) has no motion calendar; all hearings are special sets. Motions of 5 to 10 minutes are by Zoom; evidentiary hearings and bench trials are in person unless all parties and the judge agree to Zoom; jury trials are in person. jud11.flcourts.org
• Section PMH 04 (Judge Santovenia): all hearings are special sets scheduled in courtMAP, and responses are e-filed and submitted in courtMAP at least ten days before the hearing. jud11.flcourts.org
• Section PMH 06 (Judge Fernandez) has no motion calendar. Motions of up to 60 minutes are heard by Zoom on morning calendars, and at least 30 days' notice is required unless all counsel agree and the judicial assistant approves a sooner date. jud11.flcourts.org
• Section PMH 07 (Judge Sayfie) has no motion calendar; hearings are set as special sets. jud11.flcourts.org
• Section PMH 03 (Judge Soto): supporting documents are uploaded to courtMAP at least 5 days before the hearing; a hearing is subject to cancellation if they are not uploaded or hard copies are not received within 5 days. jud11.flcourts.org
• Section PMH 01 (Judge Cueto) requires the checklist certification form as a supporting document with every petition and proposed order submitted in courtMAP. jud11.flcourts.org

Related cases and trusts

• A Notice of Related Cases is filed with the first pleading and again whenever a related case is filed in any division of the circuit, any other Florida circuit, an appellate court, federal court or another state. api.jud11.flcourts.org
• Equitable claims against an estate are commenced by complaint with the Clerk of the Probate Division and the civil filing fee; creditor claims are independent actions in a court of competent jurisdiction. api.jud11.flcourts.org

Guardianship

• Guardianship initial inventory and initial plan are due 60 days after the Letters of Guardianship are signed. jud11.flcourts.org
• A guardianship of the person of a minor after a parent's death, or with parental consent and no abuse allegation, is filed in the Probate Division. A case filed in the wrong division is transferred. api.jud11.flcourts.org
• Professional guardians are appointed from the circuit's Professional Guardianship Registry, which serves people who are not indigent. api.jud11.flcourts.org

Forms and checklists

• Probate Checklists: estate CC-01 to CC-12 and guardianship CC-101 to CC-107, Eleventh Judicial Circuit
• CC-01 Summary Administration, no will checklist, Eleventh Judicial Circuit
• CC-02 Summary Administration, with will checklist, Eleventh Judicial Circuit
• CC-03 Formal Administration, no will, no bond checklist, Eleventh Judicial Circuit
• CC-04 Formal Administration, with will, no bond checklist, Eleventh Judicial Circuit
• CC-05 Formal Administration, no will, bond checklist, Eleventh Judicial Circuit
• CC-06 Formal Administration, with will, bond checklist, Eleventh Judicial Circuit
• CC-07 Determination of Homestead, summary administration checklist, Eleventh Judicial Circuit
• CC-08 Determination of Homestead, formal administration checklist, Eleventh Judicial Circuit
• CC-09 Sale of Real Property checklist, Eleventh Judicial Circuit
• CC-10 Distribution checklist, Eleventh Judicial Circuit
• CC-11 Attorney's Fees, estates checklist, Eleventh Judicial Circuit
• CC-12 Discharge checklist, Eleventh Judicial Circuit
• Probate Smart Forms (estate, curator, guardianship and self-represented litigant forms), Eleventh Judicial Circuit
• Administrative Memorandum restating mandatory Smart Forms and Certification Checklists (effective September 1, 2020), Eleventh Judicial Circuit
• Statement of Claim, Clerk of the Court and Comptroller of Miami-Dade County
• Caveat by Creditor, Clerk of the Court and Comptroller of Miami-Dade County
• Caveat by Interested Person (Other than Creditor), Clerk of the Court and Comptroller of Miami-Dade County
• Notice to Caveator, Clerk of the Court and Comptroller of Miami-Dade County
• Notice of Trust, Clerk of the Court and Comptroller of Miami-Dade County
• Petition to Open Safe Deposit Box, Clerk of the Court and Comptroller of Miami-Dade County

Property and homestead

• The Homestead Exemption lowers the taxable value of a primary residence by up to $50,000: the first $25,000 applies to all taxing authorities and the second $25,000 excludes School Board taxes and applies where assessed value is above $50,000. miamidadepa.gov
• Homestead requires legal or equitable title and permanent residence on January 1. If title is held in a trust, a copy of the trust document is provided. Applications are due March 1; later applications may be accepted until the deadline on the TRIM Notice and may need a Value Adjustment Board petition with a $15 fee. miamidadepa.gov
• The Widow/Widower Exemption is a $5,000 reduction for an unmarried widow or widower who is a Florida resident on January 1. It can be claimed without a homestead exemption and does not apply to a spouse who remarries. miamidadepa.gov
• The Property Appraiser's offices are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, excluding holidays. miamidadepa.gov
• Suspected homestead exemption fraud may be reported to the Property Appraisal Homestead Exemption Investigation Unit online or by calling 305-375-3402. miamidadepa.gov

Death certificates

• Florida death certificates cover deaths from 2009 to present at the county office; earlier deaths are requested from the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville or through VitalChek. Valid photo identification goes with each request, and cause of death is released to family members and legal representatives. miamidade.floridahealth.gov
• Downtown vital records office: Health District Center, 1350 NW 14th St., Miami, FL 33125, 305-575-3800. miamidade.floridahealth.gov
• North Dade vital records office: 18680 NW 67th Ave., Hialeah, FL 33015, 305-628-7230. miamidade.floridahealth.gov
• West Perrine vital records office: 18255 Homestead Ave., Miami, FL 33157, 305-234-5400. miamidade.floridahealth.gov

Records and help

• Estate and guardianship case images are available through the clerk's Civil, Family and Probate Courts Online System. The clerk grants advanced access to civil, family and probate court records free of charge under the Florida Supreme Court access standards. miamidadeclerk.gov
• Chapter 2026-57, Laws of Florida, took effect July 1, 2026. laws.flrules.org
• The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service takes calls at 800-342-8011, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. floridabar.org

Sources

Last checked: October 16, 2026. Each source shows the text that supports the facts above.

1. Florida Courts, Trial Courts - Circuit, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Eleventh Circuit - Miami-Dade

   Note: The page text is delivered by script, so a checker that reads only the page markup does not see it. Read in a browser on 2026-10-16: Eleventh Circuit - Miami-Dade; Fifteenth Circuit - Palm Beach.

2. Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Home, checked October 16, 2026
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   • Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida
   • Probate Attorney's Corner
3. Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Probate Division, checked October 16, 2026
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   • The Probate Division has jurisdiction over a broad category of cases including mental health, guardianship, estates and trusts.
   • Six circuit judges and two general magistrates are assigned to hear cases in the Circuit Probate Division.
   • The judges and support personnel of this division are located at the Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center.
   • Hours Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
   • all you need is your court case number (ends with CP-02, GD-02 or MH-02)
4. Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Administrative Orders, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Administrative Orders of The Chief Judge
   • AO Category
5. Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Probate Attorney's Corner, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Attorneys must e-file all documents, except for the documents listed below, through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal below.
   • Attorneys must physically file the following documents with the Probate Clerk at
   • Authenticated copies and exemplified copies (have raised seals) from other jurisdictions
   • Registration is available on the Clerk of Courts website under records and advanced search
   • All petitions and motions must be filed and served upon all parties prior to scheduling a special set hearing through courtMAP.
   • Submit the motion to transfer the case to another Division through the Florida courts e-filing portal. Then email a copy of the motion to the Judicial assistant for the administrative judge of the probate division.
   • Original Wills Original Codicils Commissions Subpoenas Defaults Bonds
   • Original Death Certificates (please physically file within two working days of electronically filing the case and receiving a case number)
   • As per this Court's July 11, 2016 Administrative Memo, attorneys must use the Smart Form petition or order if one exists for a given matter.
   • Judges may refuse to sign orders that do not use the Smart Forms.
   • Once the submission appears on the docket, upload the emergency petition or motion to the courtMAP Emergency Motion queue and the Probate emergency duty judge will review and respond to the submission within 24-48 hours.
   • If the judge's website does not indicate how many days in advance to submit documents to courtMAP, please submit them ten days in advance.
   • All motions to transfer cases to another division are heard by the administrative judge.
   • Physical files are only needed for hearings that involve court documents filed before April 28, 2014, and that are not viewable through Odyssey Public Access.
   • Attorneys must register for Odyssey Public Access to view estate and guardianship case files.
   • The initial guardianship inventory and the initial guardianship plan are due 60 days from the date the Letters of Guardianship are executed by the judge.
6. Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Probate Checklists, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • Pursuant to Administrative Memorandum, the following checklist(s) are mandatory and must be e-filed.
   • When uploading proposed orders through Court Map please submit checklist as supporting documentation.
   • If there is no applicable checklist, one is not required for submission of proposed orders through Court Map.
   • Any order or notice submitted after 11/01/2022 without the required petition or motion identifier will be rejected.
   • CC-01 - Summary Administration (intestate/ no will) Checklist and Certification
   • CC-12 - Discharge of Personal Representative Checklist and Certification
   • Restatement of Mandatory Use of Probate Smart Forms and Mandatory Use of Certification Checklists in Estate and Guardianship Administrations
7. Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Probate Smart Forms, checked October 16, 2026
   Supporting text

   • All documents posted below in PDF format must be filed with the court in PDF format.
   • Estate Forms
   • Self-Represented Litigant
8. Eleventh Judicial Circuit, courtMAP, checked October 16, 2026
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   • courtMAP also allows parties to self-schedule their case events - motion calendar, special sets, and trials
9. Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Judicial Directory, checked October 16, 2026
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   • Colodny, Yvonne PMH 05 Go to Section: PMH 05 Administrative Judge
   • Santovenia, Maria de Jesus PMH 04 Go to Section: PMH 04 Assoc. Administrative Judge
   • Cueto, Jorge E. PMH 01 Go to Section: PMH 01 Circuit Judge
   • Fernandez, Jose L. PMH 06 Go to Section: PMH 06 Circuit Judge
   • Sayfie, Nushin G. PMH 07 Go to Section: PMH 07 Circuit Judge
   • Soto, Bertila PMH 03 Go to Section: PMH 03 Circuit Judge
   • Adebayo, Olanike PMHGMB Go to Section: PMHGMB General Magistrate
   • Feuer, Aaron PMHGMA Go to Section: PMHGMA General Magistrate
10. Judge Colodny, section PMH 05, checked October 16, 2026
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    • Yvonne Colodny Division: Circuit Probate Section: PMH 05 Court Location: Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center Phone: (305) 349-7117 Room: OSJC 17.230
    • Division 05 does not have a Motion Calendar, all hearings are set in the Special Set folder.
    • All evidentiary hearings and Bench Trials will be conducted in-person, unless all parties wish to have the hearing held on Zoom AND the Judge agrees.
    • 5 - 10 minute motions shall be conducted by Zoom (only the judge can change the format).
    • All Jury Trials will be conducted in-person.
11. Judge Santovenia, section PMH 04, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Maria de Jesus Santovenia Division: Circuit Probate Section: PMH 04 Court Location: Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center Phone: (305) 349-7105 Room: OSJC 18.232
    • All hearings must be specially set and are to be scheduled via courtMAP.
    • submit the response via courtMAP to chambers, at least ten (10) days prior to the hearing date.
12. Judge Cueto, section PMH 01, checked October 16, 2026
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    • Jorge E. Cueto Division: Circuit Probate Section: PMH 01 Court Location: Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center Phone: (305) 349-7135 Room: OSJC 18.235
    • filings of petitions with proposed orders in CourtMap must include established checklist certification forms as supporting documents with your submissions.
13. Judge Fernandez, section PMH 06, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Jose L. Fernandez Division: Circuit Probate Section: PMH 06 Court Location: Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center Phone: (305) 349-6108 Room: OSJC 18.253
    • Division PMH06 does not have a Motion Calendar; all hearings are scheduled via the Special Set folder.
    • ALL MOTIONS requiring up to 60 minutes shall be heard by Zoom and only on morning calendars.
    • At least 30 days' notice is required unless all counsel agree to, and the Court's Judicial Assistant approves, a sooner date.
14. Judge Sayfie, section PMH 07, checked October 16, 2026
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    • Nushin G. Sayfie Division: Circuit Probate Section: PMH 07 Court Location: Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center Phone: (305) 349-7595 Room: OSJC 17.261
    • Division 07 does not have a Motion Calendar. Hearings can be set as Special Set Hearings.
15. Judge Soto, section PMH 03, checked October 16, 2026
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    • Bertila Soto Division: Circuit Probate Section: PMH 03 Court Location: Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center Phone: (305) 349-7086 Room: OSJC 17.260
    • supporting documents must be uploaded to CourtMAP at least 5 days prior to hearing.
    • If supporting documents are not uploaded or hard copies not received within 5 days of the hearing, your hearing is subject to cancellation.
16. AO 25-03, checked October 16, 2026
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    • Section PMH 07 is hereby established in the Probate Division.
    • This Administrative Order shall become effective July 1, 2025.
    • 188 pending Estate (CP) cases on open, inactive, reopen, or post-judgement status shall be randomly and blindly selected
    • 16.7% of the pending Guardianship (GD) cases
    • Starting July 1, 2025, Section PMH 07 shall be added to the blind filing system.
    • day of June 2025
17. AO 25-18, checked October 16, 2026
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    • is hereby appointed Associate Administrative Judge of the Probate Division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, effective July 1, 2025, until further order of the Court
    • this 1st day of July 2025
18. AO 25-34, checked October 16, 2026
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    • The HONORABLE NUSHIN G. SAYFIE shall be reassigned from Chief Judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, located at the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center to the Circuit Probate Division (Section PMH 07), located at the Dade County Courthouse
    • this 1st day of July 2025
19. AO 24-3, checked October 16, 2026
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    • shall be reassigned from the Circuit Court Civil Division (Section CA 07), located at the Dade County Courthouse, to the Circuit Court Probate Division (Section PMH 04)
    • the following reassignment will take effect on January 3, 2024
    • Probate Division (Section PMH 04), located at the Dade County Courthouse, in addition to her current Civil Appellate Assignment (Section AP 03)
    • day of January 2024
20. AO 24-07, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • from which the trial courts may appoint an eldercaring coordinator.
    • The Director of the Probate Division for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit shall have administrative responsibility for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Eldercaring Coordination Roster.
    • this 26th day of August 2024
21. AO 22-13, checked October 16, 2026
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    • shall be reassigned from the Circuit Criminal Division (Section F070), located at Richard E. Gerstein Building to the Circuit Probate Division (Section PMH 06), located at the Dade County Courthouse
    • the following assignment will take effect on July 5, 2022
    • 1st day of July 2022
22. AO 22-06, checked October 16, 2026
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    • then the matter shall be filed in the Probate Division as a Petition for Guardianship of the Person of the Minor.
    • If a case subject to this order is filed in the wrong division of the court, it shall be transferred to the proper division.
    • this 29th day of April 2022
23. AO 22-02, checked October 16, 2026
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    • The motion identifiers must be listed in every attorney-generated notice of hearing for a specific motion and in every proposed order submitted for signature by the Court.
    • Judges have the authority to reject any proposed order that does not comply with this directive and require the filer to correct the submission.
    • this 7th day of March 2022
24. AO 21-22, checked October 16, 2026
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    • shall be reassigned from the Circuit Family Division (Section FC 14), located at the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center to the Circuit Probate Division (Section PMH 03), located at the Dade County Courthouse
    • the following reassignment will take effect on August 2, 2021
    • day of July 2021
25. AO 21-20, checked October 16, 2026
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    • Probate Matters Section PMHGMB is established in the Probate Division, effective November 15, 2021.
    • Probate Matters Section D007 shall be redesignated as Probate Matters Section PMHGMA.
    • 1st day of November, 2021
26. AO 21-15 A1, checked October 16, 2026
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    • shall be automatically referred directly to the General Magistrate for the Probate Division pursuant to Administrative Order No. 18-41 and Florida Probate Rule 5.095.
    • day of April 2024
27. AO 14-09 A2, checked October 16, 2026
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    • the parties shall have a duty to inform the court of any related cases that are pending or filed in any Division within the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Miami-Dade County
    • the attached Probate Notice of Related Cases form must accompany the initial pleading, but also must be filed when a new related case is filed
    • 11th day of August 2021
28. AO 14-07 A1, checked October 16, 2026
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    • complaint with the Clerk of the Probate Division and payment of the filing fee prescribed for the filing of a civil action.
    • shall be commenced in a court of competent jurisdiction as an independent action and litigated to judgment there.
    • Administrative Order No. 14-07 is hereby superseded by this Administrative Order
    • 9th day of July, 2014
29. AO 18-01, checked October 16, 2026
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    • Section PMH 06 is established in the Probate Division.
    • This Administrative Order shall be effective January 18, 2018, nunc pro tunc.
    • 12th day of February, 2018
30. AO 18-52, checked October 16, 2026
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    • is hereby appointed Administrative Judge of the Probate Division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, from September 4, 2018 until further order of the Court.
31. AO 18-22, checked October 16, 2026
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    • shall be reassigned from the Circuit Criminal Division (Section CF 13), located at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building, to the Circuit Probate Division (Section CP 01)
    • the following reassignment will take effect on April 9, 2018
    • 21st day of March, 2018
32. AO 15-04, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • is hereby established in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida to provide guardianship services to individuals who are not indigent
    • 23rd day of March, 2015
33. Local Rule R-1-9, Probate Division, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • LOCAL RULE R-1-9
    • The administration of decedents' estates.
    • Guardianships of minors and adult incompetents.
34. Administrative Memorandum, restatement of mandatory Probate Smart Forms and Certification Checklists (scanned PDF, read visually), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • RESTATEMENT OF MANDATORY USE OF PROBATE SMART FORMS AND MANDATORY USE OF CERTIFICATION CHECKLISTS IN ESTATE AND GUARDIANSHIP ADMINISTRATIONS
    • all litigants must utilize the Probate Smart Forms when available
    • Litigants must use most recent Probate Smart Forms and Certification Checklists.
    • The Probate Certification Checklists shall be submitted as a supporting document to the related submission.
    • Any submission without an accompanying Probate Certification Checklist may be rejected and thus have to be resubmitted.
    • This Administrative Memorandum supersedes the July 11, 2016 memorandum on this same issue
    • shall become effective on September 1, 2020.
35. Circuit checklist CC-01 Summary Administration, no will (revised 07/2026), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Checklist and Certification - Summary Administration
    • Last revised: 07/2026
    • Affidavit of Heirs (Form E-7)
    • Notice of Related Cases - Administrative Order 14-09
    • less than $75,000 as Decedent died prior to July 1, 2026, but has been dead less than 2 years OR
    • less than $150,000 as Decedent died on or after July 1, 2026.
36. Circuit checklist CC-02 Summary Administration, with will (revised 07/2026), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Checklist and Certification - Summary Administration
    • Last revised: 07/2026
37. Circuit checklist CC-03 Formal Administration, no will, no bond (revised 11/2024), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Checklist and Certification
    • Last revised: 11/2024
38. Circuit checklist CC-04 Formal Administration, with will, no bond (revised 11/2024), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Checklist and Certification
    • Last revised: 11/2024
39. Circuit checklist CC-05 Formal Administration, no will, bond (revised 11/2024), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Checklist and Certification
    • Last revised: 11/2024
40. Circuit checklist CC-06 Formal Administration, with will, bond (revised 11/2024), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Checklist and Certification
    • Last revised: 11/2024
41. Circuit checklist CC-07 Determination of Homestead, summary administration (revised 03/2025), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Determination of Homestead (Summary)
    • Last Revised 03/2025
42. Circuit checklist CC-08 Determination of Homestead, formal administration (revised 03/2025), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Determination of Homestead (Formal)
    • Last Revised: 03/2025
43. Circuit checklist CC-09 Sale of Real Property (revised 11/2024), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Sale of Real Property
    • Last Revised: 11/2024
44. Circuit checklist CC-10 Distribution (revised 11/2024), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Checklist and Certification
    • Distribution
    • Last Revised: 11/2024
45. Circuit checklist CC-11 Attorney's Fees, estates (revised 11/2024), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Attorney's Fees - Estates
    • Last Revised - 11/2024
46. Circuit checklist CC-12 Discharge (revised 05/2025), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Checklist and Certification
    • Discharge
    • Last Revised - 05/2025
47. Miami-Dade Clerk, Probate Court, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • The Probate Court can assist with small estates petitions, Wills on Deposit and Caveats.
    • A Small Estates Petition is also known as Disposition of Personal Property without Administration.
    • The deceased must have been a resident of Miami-Dade County at the time of death.
    • Assets of the deceased must be $6,000 or less and cannot exceed the funeral bill.
    • A certified copy of the death certificate
    • A copy of the itemized funeral contract
    • The receipt paid in full
    • If there is more than one bank account, there is an additional $3 fee per account.
    • A Small Estates Petition can be filed in person at the Probate Court Office or by mail.
    • A caveat filed by an heir, interested party or creditor will be accepted before a case is filed.
    • The probate of all wills and granting of letters must be in the state and county where the deceased lived.
    • the custodian of the will must deposit the will with the Clerk of the Court in the county and state where the deceased lived.
    • This must be done within 10 days after being informed that the person has died.
    • Opening an estate; open a safe-deposit box; enter rooms and places; determination of heirs; foreign guardian, authenticating copies, settling minor's claims, emergency misc.-CP and GD - $232
    • Caveat and notice of trusts - $40
    • Petition and order to admit foreign wills - $232
    • Disposal of personal property without administration - $232
    • Summary administration for estate
    • $1,000 - $236
    • $1,000 - $346
    • Formal & ancillary administration, curatorship and conservatorship - $401
    • Guardianship of person only - $236
    • Formal guardianship - $401
    • V.A. guardianship - $236
    • Petition for incapacity - $232
    • Appeal to District Court of Appeals (Check written to District Court) - $300
    • Appeal to District Court of Appeals (Collected by Clerk) - $100
    • Filing fee for reopening a case - $50
    • Attorney appearing pro hac vice - $100

    Note: The fee list prints a comparison sign before each summary administration amount (under $1,000 for $236; $1,000 or more for $346); the text checker drops the sign. The clerk's caveat paragraph also says there is no filing fee for 'these forms'; the fee list on the same page shows caveat and notice of trusts at $40, and this file uses the fee list.

48. Miami-Dade Clerk, Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • 20 NW 1 st Avenue Miami, Florida 33128
    • Monday : 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Tuesday : 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Wednesday : 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Thursday : 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Friday : 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Saturday : Closed Sunday : Closed
    • Probate Court, Suite 6.223 Telephone: 305-349-7492 Telephone: 305-349-7502
49. Miami-Dade Clerk, Contact Us, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • For general information, call 305-275-1155 for the Interactive Voice Response System.
    • Probate Court Office 20 NW 1st Avenue, Suite 6.223 Miami, Florida 33128 786-767-7FAM(326)
50. Miami-Dade Clerk, Certified copies for probate cases, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • an additional search fee of $2 per year, per name will be added for every year searched for all documents.
    • Personal checks are not accepted.
    • Mail to: Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts Attn: Probate Correspondence Dept. Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center 20 NW 1st Avenue, Suite 6.223 Miami, FL 33128
    • Fee: $1 per page, $2 per document for the certification
51. Miami-Dade Clerk, eFiling, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • The Florida Courts e-Filing Portal is a statewide web site mandated by the Florida Legislature and the eFiling Authority that provides online filing capability to users with a single login.
    • You can file 20-day summons on the eFiling portal for the adoption, circuit civil, county civil, family/domestic relations and probate divisions.
    • To access filings, dockets and documents for a civil, family or probate case, please visit the Miami-Dade County Civil, Family and Probate Courts Online System
    • The Florida Supreme Court has adopted the electronic format of PDF/A (Portable Document Format for Archiving) as the official format for filing and storing electronic documents in the state court system.
52. Miami-Dade Clerk, Records, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Civil/Family/Probate Court Online System
    • Advanced access to Civil, Family and Probate court records as per the current version of the Florida Supreme Court Standards for Access to Electronic Court Records and the Access Security Matrix
53. Miami-Dade Clerk, Civil, Family and Probate Courts Online System, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Miami-Dade County OCS

    Note: The application returns only its title to a checker; the clerk's probate and records pages link to it as the case search.

54. Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal serves as a single, statewide access point connecting thousands of users to Florida's court system.
55. Clerk form, Statement of Claim, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • CIRCUIT COURT OF THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
    • STATEMENT OF CLAIM
56. Clerk form, Caveat by Creditor, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • PROBATE DIVISION
    • CAVEAT BY CREDITOR
    • The interest of the caveator is that of a creditor of
57. Clerk form, Caveat by Interested Person, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • PROBATE DIVISION
    • CAVEAT BY INTERESTED PERSON (OTHER THAN CREDITOR)
58. Clerk form, Notice to Caveator, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • PROBATE DIVISION
    • NOTICE TO CAVEATOR
    • Copy mailed to Caveator on or about
59. Clerk form, Notice of Trust, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • PROBATE DIVISION
    • NOTICE OF TRUST
    • which is a trust described in Section 733.707(3), Florida Statutes
60. Clerk form, Petition to Open Safe Deposit Box, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • PETITION TO OPEN
    • SAFE DEPOSIT BOX
61. Florida Statutes § 732.901, production of wills (2026), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • The custodian of a will must deposit the will with the clerk of the court having venue of the estate of the decedent within 10 days after receiving information that the testator is dead.
    • the clerk shall retain and preserve the original will in its original form for at least 20 years
62. Florida Statutes § 28.2401, probate service charges and filing fees (2026), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Fee for formal administration, guardianship, ancillary, curatorship, or conservatorship proceedings .......... $395
    • Fee for summary administration - estates valued at $1,000 or more .......... $340
    • Fee for summary administration - estates valued at less than $1,000 .......... $230
    • Charge for caveat .......... $40
    • Fee for disposition of personal property without administration .......... $230
    • Fee for guardianship proceedings of person only .......... $230
    • Fee for veterans' guardianship pursuant to chapter 744 .......... $230
    • Fee for petition for determination of incompetency .......... $230
    • Charge for exemplified certificates .......... $7
    • An additional service charge of $4 on petitions seeking summary administration, formal administration, ancillary administration, guardianship, curatorship, and conservatorship shall be paid to the clerk.
63. Florida Statutes § 28.241, filing fees for trial and appellate proceedings (2026), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Reopen fees are due at the time a party files a pleading to reopen a proceeding if at least 90 days have elapsed since the filing of a final order or final judgment with the clerk.
64. Florida Statutes § 735.201, summary administration (2026), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • does not exceed $150,000 or that the decedent has been dead for more than 2 years
    • s. 7, ch. 2026-57
65. Chapter 2026-57, Laws of Florida, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Section 7. Subsection (2) of section 735.201, Florida Statutes, is amended
    • Section 14. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
66. Florida Statutes § 735.301, disposition without administration (2026), checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • nonexempt personal property the value of which does not exceed the sum of the amount of preferred funeral expenses and reasonable and necessary medical and hospital expenses of the last 60 days
67. The Florida Bar, Lawyer Referral Service, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Call 800-342-8011, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
68. Miami-Dade Property Appraiser, Home, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Property Appraiser of Miami-Dade County
    • Exemptions & Benefits
69. Miami-Dade Property Appraiser, Homestead Exemption, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • The Homestead Exemption is a valuable property tax benefit that can save homeowners up to $50,000 on the taxable value of their primary residence.
    • The first $25,000 of this exemption applies to all taxing authorities.
    • The second $25,000 excludes School Board taxes and applies to properties with assessed values greater than $50,000.
    • Legal/equitable title as of January 1. If the title is held in a trust, a copy of the trust document must be provided.
    • Permanent residence on the property as of January 1.
    • Applications and required documentation must be submitted by March 1.
    • Timely property tax exemption applications are accepted through March 1st.
    • Applications received after March 1 are considered late but may still be accepted up to the deadline date reflected on the Notice of Proposed Property Taxes ( TRIM Notice ), which is usually 25 days after the TRIM Notice is mailed.
    • Late applications may require filing a petition with the Value Adjustment Board, and a $15 fee may be applicable.
    • Stephen P. Clark Center 111 NW 1 Street Suite 710 Miami, FL 33128
    • South Dade Government Center 10710 SW 211 Street 2nd Floor Cutler Bay, FL 33189
    • For more information, call 305-375-4712 .
    • Suspected homestead exemption fraud may be reported to the Property Appraisal Homestead Exemption Investigation Unit online or by calling 305-375-3402.
70. Miami-Dade Property Appraiser, Widow/Widower Exemption, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • The Widow/Widower's Exemption provides a $5,000 reduction in property assessment to every unmarried widow or widower who is a bona fide resident of this state as of January 1.
    • A property owner can qualify for the Widow/Widower Exemption without a homestead exemption.
    • Copy of the death certificate or proof of surviving spouse.
    • Spouses who re-marry
71. Miami-Dade Property Appraiser, Contact, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Public Service: 305-375-4712
    • Offices are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays .
    • Main Office - Downtown Miami Stephen P. Clark Center 111 NW 1 Street Suite 710 Miami, Florida 33128-1984
72. Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County, Death Certificates, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Death Certificates are available for deaths occurring in the state of Florida from 2009 to present.
    • Any death prior to 2009 must be requested from the Florida Department of Health's Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville
    • A legible copy of a valid driver's license, passport, state-issued ID, or military identification card must accompany all requests.
    • You must be a family member or legal representative when requesting cause of death.
    • Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    • $20 Death Certificate $16 Additional Certificates $10 Rush Fee $3 Certificate Protective Sheath
    • Order death certificates online through VitalChek
73. DOH Miami-Dade, Health District Center, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Physical Address: 1350 NW 14th St., Miami, FL 33125 Phone: 305-575-3800
    • Birth and Death Certificates
74. DOH Miami-Dade, North Dade Vital Records, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Physical Address: 18680 NW 67th Ave., Hialeah, FL 33015 Phone: 305-628-7230
    • Birth and Death Certificates
75. DOH Miami-Dade, West Perrine Health Center, checked October 16, 2026
    Supporting text

    • Physical Address: 18255 Homestead Ave., Miami, FL 33157 Phone: 305-234-5400
    • Birth and Death Certificates