Trusted legal guidance for estate planning and elder law matters in Boca Raton, Florida.
Boca is Palm Beach County, and that changes things.
Every other city we serve sits in Broward County. Boca Raton does not. Boca is in Palm Beach County, which means probate here is filed with the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, not the Seventeenth.
Why should you care? Because the two counties do not run identically. Filing requirements, local practice and timelines differ, and a firm that mostly files in one county can be slower in the other. We file in both, routinely. Having our Boca office means we are not treating your case as an away game.
A lot of Boca residents live somewhere else for part of the year. New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Canada. That is where dual residency questions start, and where expensive mistakes hide.
Florida has no state income tax and no state estate tax. Your other state may have both, and it may be quite motivated to claim you as its resident. Being taxed by two states on the same estate is a real outcome, not a scare story.
So establishing Florida domicile properly matters. That means more than owning a place here. It is a collection of things done consistently, and the more of them that point to Florida, the stronger your position:
An out of state will is usually valid in Florida, so please do not panic. But there is a specific problem worth knowing about. Florida has rules about who may serve as your personal representative (many states call this role the “executor”). Broadly, the person must be a Florida resident, or a close relative such as a spouse, child, parent or sibling, no matter where they live.
So the trusted friend or professional you named back home may not be permitted to serve here. Families usually find this out at the worst possible moment. A quick review of an out of state plan is one of the most useful hours you can spend after a move.
Boca Raton probate is filed with the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County. We handle the filing and the court communication, and in most cases you never need to appear.
Thinking about doing it yourself? Read Should I Use an Online Legal Service for My Florida Estate Plan? before you sign anything.
Elder law planning is essential for protecting seniors and families from the high costs of long-term care. Our firm assists Boca Raton clients with strategic planning for aging, incapacity, and medical care needs.
Medicaid planning and eligibility strategies
Long-term care planning
Special needs planning
Clear explanations without unnecessary legal jargon
In Palm Beach County, with the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. Most other cities we serve are in Broward County. We file in both counties routinely, and in most cases you never need to appear in court.
Usually, yes. But Florida limits who can serve as personal representative (often called the “executor”). The person must be a Florida resident or a close relative, such as a spouse, child, parent, or sibling. The friend you named up north may not qualify, so a quick review after a move is worth it.
File a Declaration of Domicile, apply for the homestead exemption, get a Florida driver license, register to vote here, and spend more of the year in Florida. Your estate documents should be Florida documents too.
No. Florida has no state estate tax or state income tax. Your other state may have both, which is why proper domicile matters. Large estates may still owe federal estate tax.
Yes. We offer a free 15-minute phone consultation. Call our Boca line at (561) 941-7274.
Estate Law of Florida has an office in Boca Raton and has been serving clients throughout South Florida for over 14 years.
Contact us today to schedule your free consultation or ask any questions.