Not a government site. We do not sell records or host personal data. About us

County Records Guide
Menu

Finding a will or probate case in California

Who holds it: Superior Court of the county where the estate is administered (probate division/clerk)1

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Fees
  2. More details
  3. Related records in California
  4. Probate and wills in California counties with a full guide
  5. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  6. Sources

Fees

Will deposit fee
$50 (GC 70626(d))2

More details

Will deposit
Custodian must deliver the original will to the superior court clerk within 30 days of learning of the death3
Copy of lodged will
Clerk releases a copy of a lodged will on payment of fee plus court order or certified death certificate3
State registry
No state will registry4
Courts: court system
Unified state trial court system: one Superior Court per county (58), unified as of February 20015
Courts: statewide case search
None for trial courts: each superior court keeps its own records; contact/search that court. Appellate cases: appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov1
Courts: fees
Statewide civil fee schedule (eff. Jan. 1, 2026): copy $0.50/page (GC 70627(a)); certification $40 (GC 70626(a)(4)); search >10 min $15 (GC 70627(c)); comparison $1/page; exemplification $502
Death certificates: who holds it
CDPH-Vital Records (since July 1905) and County Recorder of the county of death; local health dept for current and prior year6
Death certificates: fee
$26 per certified copy at CDPH-VR (effective Jan. 1, 2026)7

Probate and wills in California counties with a full guide

The local office, its official online search and its own fee, for each county with a full guide. Local fees can differ from the statewide figures above.

CountyOfficeSearch onlineFee
Alameda CountySuperior Court: Probate9Search8—
Butte CountySuperior Court of California, County of Butte - Probate11Search10—
Contra Costa CountySuperior Court of California, County of Contra Costa - Court Records12——
El Dorado CountySuperior Court of California, County of El Dorado - Probate Division13——
Fresno CountySuperior Court of California, County of Fresno - Probate Division15Search14—
Humboldt CountySuperior Court Probate Division, 421 I Street, Eureka; (707) 445-7256 option 216——
Imperial CountySuperior Court of California, County of Imperial - Probate Division17——
Kern CountySuperior Court Probate18——
Kings CountySuperior Court of California, County of Kings19——
Lake CountySuperior Court, Probate20——
Los Angeles CountySuperior Court of California, County of Los Angeles - Probate21——
Madera CountySuperior Court of California, County of Madera, Probate Court23Search22—
Marin CountySuperior Court of California, County of Marin: Probate24——
Mendocino CountySuperior Court of California, County of Mendocino - Probate Division26Search25—
Merced CountySuperior Court of California, County of Merced – Probate Unit of the Clerk's Office27——
Monterey CountySuperior Court of California, County of Monterey - Probate28——
Napa CountySuperior Court of California, County of Napa – Probate30Search29—
Nevada CountySuperior Court of California, County of Nevada - Nevada City Courthouse32Search31—
Orange CountySuperior Court Probate; online Probate Case Access https://probatepublic.occourts.org/33——
Placer CountySuperior Court of California, County of Placer - Probate34——
Riverside CountySuperior Court of California, County of Riverside (probate)35——
Sacramento CountySuperior Court of California, County of Sacramento - Probate Unit36——
San Bernardino CountySuperior Court (probate division); historical probate proceedings 1853-1926 at County Historical Archives37——
San Diego CountySuperior Court of California, County of San Diego - Probate38——
San Francisco CountySuperior Court - Probate Court39—$0.50 per page; certification $4040
San Joaquin CountySuperior Court of California, County of San Joaquin, Probate42Search41$0.50 per page; certified $40.00 plus copy fees43
San Luis Obispo CountyProbate, wills, conservatorships and guardianships: Superior Court Civil & Family Law Branch44——
San Mateo CountySuperior Court: Probate Division46Search45—
Santa Barbara CountySuperior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara: Probate47——
Santa Clara CountySuperior Court - Probate Clerk's Office48——
Santa Cruz CountySuperior Court of California, County of Santa Cruz, Records Division49——
Shasta CountySuperior Court of California, County of Shasta - Probate Division50——
Solano CountySuperior Court of California, County of Solano - Probate & Conservatorship/Guardianship51——
Sonoma CountySuperior Court: Probate Division53Search52—
Stanislaus CountySuperior Court of California, County of Stanislaus - Probate55Search54—
Sutter CountySuperior Court of California, County of Sutter - Probate56——
Tulare CountySuperior Court: Civil/Criminal Records, South County Justice Center57——
Ventura CountySuperior Court, County of Ventura, Juvenile and Probate Courthouse59Search58—
Yolo CountySuperior Court of California, County of Yolo - Probate60——
Yuba CountySuperior Court of California, County of Yuba - Probate61——

For any other county, see the county list on the California guide.

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any California office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Rules in other states: probate records and wills in every state. Everything else in California: California public records guide.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Public RecordsJudicial Council of Californiachecked November 4, 2026
  2. Superior Court of California Statewide Civil Fee Schedule (effective January 1, 2026)Judicial Council of Californiachecked November 4, 2026
  3. Probate Code § 8200 (custodian must deliver will to superior court clerk)California Legislature (Legislative Counsel)checked November 4, 2026
  4. Frequently Asked Questions - Public RecordsCalifornia Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney Generalchecked November 4, 2026
  5. Superior CourtsJudicial Council of Californiachecked November 4, 2026
  6. Obtaining Certified Copies of Death CertificatesCalifornia Department of Public Health - Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026
  7. Vital Records FeesCalifornia Department of Public Health - Vital Recordschecked November 4, 2026
  8. Court Records Request and Information | Superior Court of California | County of AlamedaSuperior Court of California, County of Alamedachecked November 4, 2026
  9. Probate | Superior Court of California | County of AlamedaSuperior Court of California, County of Alamedachecked November 4, 2026
  10. Case and Calendar InformationSuperior Court of California, County of Buttechecked November 4, 2026
  11. Superior Court of California, County of Butte homeSuperior Court of California, County of Buttechecked November 4, 2026
  12. Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa (home)Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costachecked November 4, 2026
  13. Probate DivisionSuperior Court of California, County of El Doradochecked November 4, 2026
  14. Case InformationSuperior Court of California, County of Fresnochecked November 4, 2026
  15. ProbateSuperior Court of California, County of Fresnochecked November 4, 2026
  16. Contact Us/LocationsSuperior Court of California, County of Humboldtchecked November 4, 2026
  17. Superior Court of California, County of Imperial homeSuperior Court of California, County of Imperialchecked November 4, 2026
  18. ProbateSuperior Court of California, County of Kernchecked November 4, 2026
  19. Superior Court of California, County of Kings: homeSuperior Court of California, County of Kingschecked November 7, 2026
  20. Superior Court homeSuperior Court of California, County of Lakechecked November 8, 2026
  21. Access a CaseSuperior Court of California, County of Los Angeleschecked November 4, 2026
  22. eFiling, Portal & Online Case InformationSuperior Court of California, County of Maderachecked November 7, 2026
  23. Probate CourtSuperior Court of California, County of Maderachecked November 7, 2026
  24. ProbateSuperior Court of California, County of Marinchecked November 4, 2026
  25. Court Records RequestsSuperior Court of California, County of Mendocinochecked November 7, 2026
  26. Probate DivisionSuperior Court of California, County of Mendocinochecked November 7, 2026
  27. ProbateSuperior Court of California, County of Mercedchecked November 4, 2026
  28. ProbateSuperior Court of California, County of Montereychecked November 4, 2026
  29. Disclaimer and Terms of Use (Case Lookup)Superior Court of California, County of Napachecked November 4, 2026
  30. Research & RecordsSuperior Court of California, County of Napachecked November 4, 2026
  31. Web PortalSuperior Court of California, County of Nevadachecked November 7, 2026
  32. Nevada County home pageCounty of Nevada, Californiachecked November 7, 2026
  33. Case Access | Superior Court of California | County of OrangeSuperior Court of California, County of Orangechecked November 4, 2026
  34. Probate DivisionSuperior Court of California, County of Placerchecked November 4, 2026
  35. Public RecordsJudicial Council of Californiachecked November 4, 2026
  36. Recorded Documents (copies)Sacramento County Clerk/Recorderchecked November 4, 2026
  37. Historical Archives - General InformationSan Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  38. Accessing Court RecordsSuperior Court of California, County of San Diegochecked November 4, 2026
  39. Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco (home)Superior Court of California, County of San Franciscochecked November 4, 2026
  40. Statewide Civil Fee Schedule, Effective January 1, 2026Judicial Council of California (as posted by the San Francisco Superior Court)checked November 4, 2026
  41. Case Management Search | Superior Court of California - County of San JoaquinSuperior Court of California, County of San Joaquinchecked November 4, 2026
  42. Probate | Superior Court of California - County of San JoaquinSuperior Court of California, County of San Joaquinchecked November 4, 2026
  43. Records Management | Superior Court of California - County of San JoaquinSuperior Court of California, County of San Joaquinchecked November 4, 2026
  44. ProbateSuperior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispochecked November 4, 2026
  45. Records Management | Superior Court of California | County of San MateoSuperior Court of California, County of San Mateochecked November 4, 2026
  46. Probate Division | Superior Court of California | County of San MateoSuperior Court of California, County of San Mateochecked November 4, 2026
  47. HomeSuperior Court of California, County of Santa Barbarachecked November 4, 2026
  48. Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara homeSuperior Court of California, County of Santa Clarachecked November 4, 2026
  49. Records & Information | Superior Court of California | County of Santa CruzSuperior Court of California, County of Santa Cruzchecked November 4, 2026
  50. Probate DivisionSuperior Court of California, County of Shastachecked November 4, 2026
  51. Superior Court of California, County of Solano - homeSuperior Court of California, County of Solanochecked November 4, 2026
  52. Case PortalSuperior Court of California, County of Sonomachecked November 4, 2026
  53. Probate DivisionSuperior Court of California, County of Sonomachecked November 4, 2026
  54. Search for a CaseSuperior Court of California, County of Stanislauschecked November 4, 2026
  55. Superior Court of California, County of Stanislaus - homeSuperior Court of California, County of Stanislauschecked November 4, 2026
  56. Superior Court of California, County of Sutterchecked November 7, 2026
  57. Records RequestSuperior Court of California, County of Tularechecked November 4, 2026
  58. Case Inquiry | Superior Court of California | County of VenturaSuperior Court of California, County of Venturachecked November 4, 2026
  59. Probate | Superior Court of California | County of VenturaSuperior Court of California, County of Venturachecked November 4, 2026
  60. Probate Court Services and Case TypesSuperior Court of California, County of Yolochecked November 4, 2026
  61. Superior Court of California, County of Yuba (home)Superior Court of California, County of Yubachecked November 7, 2026