Broward County, FL Consumer Law

Tools and Resources for Broward County, FL Consumers

Florida Inheritance Law & Probate Procedure

• Florida PROBATE COURT FINDER:
  
  • Probate Court for Broward County: Key information about your local probate court (Probate Court in Florida) for Broward County.
• How Probate Works in Florida: How to handle the probate of an inheritance at Broward County's probate court.
  • Here are links to Florida probate forms from the Florida probate court website.
• Small Estates Procedures in Florida: Learn how to use Florida's Small Estate procedures that can save you time and money.

  • You can use an Affidavit in South Carolina for estates with less than $25,000, not counting liens or encumbrances (like a mortgage) that pass by Will or under law. There is a 30-day waiting period. Probate judge must approve the Affidavit.

    S.C. Code Ann. 62-3-1201.

    You can use a summary probate procedure for estates in which the value of the estate passing by Will, less liens or encumbrances, is less than $25,000 (not counting exempt property, funeral expenses, and medical expenses of last illness).

    S.C. Code Ann. 62-3-1203.

• Florida Estate Taxes:

  • Florida, like most states, does not impose an estate or inheritance tax. Only a few states do.

• Avoiding Probate in Florida. Find out what property bypasses probate death and goes directly to beneficiaries. such as:
  • Transfer on Death Deeds (TODDs)

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Florida Wage & Hour Law

• Florida Minimum Wage:  

  • South Carolina does not have its own minimum wage law. Therefore, employees in South Carolina are entitled to earn at least the federal minimum wage, $7.25 an hour. 

    Broward County Minimum Wage

    The minimum wage in Broward County is $7.25 an hour, the state minimum wage. Florida law prohibits city and county governments from adopting a local minimum wage that's higher than the state minimum wage. 

    Fort Lauderdale Minimum Wage

    The minimum wage in Fort Lauderdale is $7.25 an hour, the state minimum wage. Florida law prohibits city and county governments from adopting a local minimum wage that's higher than the state minimum wage. 

  • To learn more about the federal minimum wage, see https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage.

• Overtime Pay: Every state has rules about weekly maximum hours and overtime. Learn about the overtime laws in Florida and whether they apply to you.

  • Florida has adopted the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime rate of 1-1/2 times your regular wage for every hour you work over 40 hours in a given workweek.

• Wage Claims: If you're being unlawfully underpaid, you need to learn how to file a "Wage Claim" in Florida. 

  • You can find information and resources on filing a federal minimum wage claim with the Wage and Hour division of the federal Department of Labor at its website. Although South Carolina does not have a minimum wage law, it has other wage and hour laws. The South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation has posted information and a complaint form for these laws at its website. 

• Tips : Every state has special pay rates for tipped workers. Find out the rules for tipped workers in Florida.

  • In Florida, your employer may pay you a minimum wage of $2.13 an hour, as long as you earn enough in tips to bring your total hourly pay up to the full minimum wage, $7.25 an hour. If you don’t earn enough in tips to bring your compensation to the full minimum wage, your employer must make up the difference.

• State Labor Board:
  • Learn more about your rights under Florida law from the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. 803-896-7756

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Florida Unemployment Benefits

• Benefit Amounts in Florida: Learn how unemployment works, how much you'll get, and for how long.
  • In Florida, unemployment benefits range from $42 per week to $326 per week.
  • Formula:

    In South Carolina, your weekly benefit amount will be one half of your average weekly wage during the highest paid quarter of the base period. 

  • Duration:

    In South Carolina, you can receive unemployment benefits for a maximum of 20 weeks. 

• Eligibility: >Whether you qualify for unemployment.
• How to Apply: How to apply for unemployment in Florida.
• Unemployment Office Near Me? How to find your local unemployment office.

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Bankruptcy & Debt

• Free Florida MEANS TEST CALCULATOR for Broward County (applies the state and county income and expense standards into your means test calculation. Updated with the latest median income and expense standards for April 1, 2024)
• Free Florida BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTION FINDER: Search detailed listings of bankruptcy exemptions under Florida law and Federal law, for use in filing out Schedule C, when you file for bankruptcy. 
• Florida BANKRUPTCY COURT ESSENTIAL INFO: Get information about using your local bankruptcy court.
• FREE BANKRUPTCY FORMS:
  We'll tell you which bankruptcy forms you need and where to find them.

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Child Custody & Family Courts in Florida 

• State Standards For Custody Decisions: How Florida Courts make child custody decisions
• Family Court for Broward County: Broward County Family Court information, including maps, forms and links.
• Enforcement of Custody Orders: Can you enlist local police to help enforce a custody court order?
• Child Custody Lawyers: To help you handle your child custody matters.

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Florida Obamacare

• Sign Up: We have the latest on how to sign up for Obamacare Insurance in Florida!
• Is Health Insurance Mandatory in Florida? Learn about whether Florida imposes tax penalties for not having health insurance.
• Special Enrollment Periods: How to enroll because of a "special enrollment period."
• Rates & Providers in Your County: Information and rates for providers for Broward County if you live in a state served by Healthcare.gov.

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Democracy In Florida, Broward County, Fort Lauderdale 

• Elected Representatives: Find out the websites and phone numbers of those representing you at the Federal, State, County, and City levels of government.
• How to Vote: Learn how to register and where and when to vote in Broward County, FL.
• Gerrymandering in Florida: Has your state been gerrymandered? Find out how to end gerrymandering and have voters pick politicians, not vice versa.
• Tracking Issues: Organizations that track legislation you care about 

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Find a Lawyer in Broward County, FL

• Our Lawyers by Zipcode section allows users to find a local lawyer using the best online resources, including on topics we don't cover.
• DUI, Criminal Defense
• Auto Accidents & Personal Injury
• Immigration
• Legal Aid in Florida:
  • LawHelp.org/SC 
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