A good place to start is with the California Courts website, which provides a good introduction to the probate process:
The Legislative Counsel of California website provides the California Probate Code in its entirety:
The Counsel provides both Flash and non-Flash versions of the Code. The Flash version can be reached by clicking on their logo above. For ease of use, all of the links below are to the non-Flash version of the Code:
Click here for the non-Flash version of the California Probate Code.
Click here for the general provisions regarding Trust Law (Cal. Prob. Code § 15000-15004)
The State Bar of California website provides a number of valuable resources:
Click here for their Trusts and Estates Section Home Page
Click here for Trust and Estates New Case Alerts
Click here for their Public Services Home Page
They have a few very nice pamphlets regarding Wills, Estate Planning, and Trusts in multiple languages. If you click the name of the pamphlet below, you will be directed to the pamphlet’s page with multiple language options. If you click on the pamphlet image, you will be directed to the English version pdf.
If you do not currently have a will and would like to create a very simple one, you can find the California Statutory Will by clicking here.
The website of the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles contains important information, specific to Los Angeles County:
Stanley Mosk Courthouse
Address:
111 North Hill Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Building Hours
8:30AM – 4:30PM, Monday – Friday, except court holidays
Probate Court Office
Fourth Floor, Room 429
(213) 974-5471
Click here for the Probate Court page.
Click here for the Probate Self-Help page.
Click here for a list of Locally Approved Probate Forms
Click here for the Conservatorship Forms Packet.
You can fill out a Petition for Appointment of Probate Conservator form by clicking here.
Click here for the Guardianship Forms Packet.
You can fill out a Petition for Appointment of Guardian of Minor form by clicking here.
Click here for the Probate / Decedent’s Estates Forms Packet.
You can fill out a Petition for Probate form by clicking here.
The website of the Superior Court of California, County of Riverside contains important information, specific to Orange County:
Central Justice Center
Address
700 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Building Hours
8:00AM – 4:00PM, Monday – Friday, except court holidays
Probate Clerk’s Office
Room D110
Probate General Information
(657) 622-7845
Click here for the Probate/Mental Health Unit page.
Click here for the Probate Self-Help page.
Click here for a list of Locally Approved Forms.
You can fill out a Petition for Appointment of Probate Conservator form by clicking here.
You can fill out a Petition for Appointment of Guardian of Minor form by clicking here.
You can fill out a Petition for Probate form by clicking here.
The website of the Superior Court of California, County of Riverside contains important information, specific to Riverside County:
WESTERN REGION
All documents concerning actions or proceedings that arise out of the zip codes of 91752, 92501-92509, 92513-92519, 92521-92522, 92551-92557, 92860, or 92877-92883 shall be filed at the Riverside Historic Courthouse.
Riverside Historic Courthouse
Address:
4050 Main Street
Riverside, CA 92501
Building Hours
7:30AM – 4:00PM, Monday – Friday, except court holidays
Probate Department
First Floor, Department 8
(951) 777-3067
MID COUNTY REGION
All documents concerning actions or proceedings that arise out of the zip codes of 92530-92532, 92536, 92543-92546, 92548, 92562-92564, 92567, 92570-92572, 92581-92587, 92589-92593, 92595-92596, or 92599 shall be filed at the Temecula Courthouse.
Temecula Courthouse
Address
41002 County Center Drive #100
Temecula, CA 92591
Building Hours
7:30AM – 4:00PM, Monday – Friday, except court holidays
Probate Department
Department T1
(951) 704-7634
DESERT REGION
All documents concerning actions or proceedings that arise out of the zip codes of 92201-92203, 92210-92211, 92220, 92223, 92225-92226, 92230, 92234-92236, 92239-92241, 92247-92248, 92253-92255, 92258, 92260-92264, 92270, 92274-92276, 92280, 92282, 92320, 92539, 92549, or 92561 shall be filed at the Larson Justice Center.
Larson Justice Center
Address
46-200 Oasis Street
Indio, CA 92201
Building Hours
7:30AM – 4:00PM, Monday – Friday, except court holidays
Probate Department
First Floor, Department 1A
(760) 393-2433
Click here for the Probate Court page.
Click here for the Conservatorship Self-Help page.
Click here for the Guardianship Self-Help page.
Click here for the Wills, Estates, & Trusts Self-Help page.
Click here for a list of Locally Approved Forms.
You can fill out a Conservator forms packet by clicking here.
You can fill out a General Guardianship forms packet by clicking here.
You can fill out a Temporary Guardianship forms packet by clicking here.
