Burbank Probate Records

Los Angeles County Superior Court processes all probate cases for Burbank residents. The city does not operate a probate court. California assigns this function to county courts exclusively. When a Burbank resident passes away, their estate goes through the county system. All probate cases for LA County are filed at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 North Hill Street in downtown Los Angeles. This location handles cases for 88 cities including Burbank. The probate clerk office is in Room 112 on the first floor. Court hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. You can file papers, ask questions, and search records during these hours.

LA County Probate Court

Los Angeles County Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction over Burbank probate matters. The Stanley Mosk Courthouse is about 15 miles southeast of Burbank. Take the 134 East to the 101 South, exit at Temple Street. The courthouse is on Hill Street near Temple. Parking garages are available nearby.

Enter through security on the Hill Street side. Take the elevator or stairs to the first floor. Room 112 is the probate clerk window. Lines can be long in the morning. Afternoon visits often have shorter waits.

Call 213-830-0850 for probate information. Phone lines get busy during peak hours. Try calling right at 8:30 AM when the office opens for better response times.

Los Angeles County mandates electronic filing for attorneys. This rule started in June 2017. People representing themselves can still file paper documents. Bring two copies of everything. The clerk stamps one copy and returns it.

Search cases online at lacourt.org. The portal lets you look up cases by name or case number. You can view filed documents and hearing schedules. Some older cases may not appear online.

Opening a Probate Case

Start by obtaining certified death certificates. You need the original will if one exists. Fill out form DE-111, the Petition for Probate. Download it from courts.ca.gov. Provide information about the deceased, their assets, and their heirs.

Take your petition to Room 112 at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. Attach the death certificate and will. The filing fee is $435. Pay with cash, money order, credit card, or debit card. No personal checks.

The court schedules a hearing six to eight weeks out. You must publish notice in a newspaper serving the Burbank area. You also mail notice to all heirs and beneficiaries. File proof of these notices before your hearing date. Missing this step causes delays.

Attend the hearing. The judge reviews your paperwork. If everything is in order, you get Letters of Administration. These give you legal authority to handle estate assets. You can then access bank accounts, sell property, and pay creditors.

File an Inventory and Appraisal within four months. This lists all estate property and values. When ready to close, file a final petition and accounting. Pay another $435 fee. The judge approves distribution to heirs at a final hearing.

Small Estate Options

Estates worth less than $208,850 may avoid full probate. This applies to deaths on or after April 1, 2025. The limit covers personal property like bank accounts and vehicles. Real estate is treated separately.

Use form DE-310 for personal property under the threshold. Wait 40 days after the death. Fill out the affidavit and present it to banks or other asset holders. They release the property to you. No court filing needed.

For real estate valued under $80,925, use form DE-305. File with the probate court. Pay a $50 fee. The court issues an order in a few weeks. Use this to transfer the property deed.

Joint tenancy assets transfer automatically. Beneficiary designations on life insurance and retirement accounts bypass probate. Living trusts avoid court if set up properly before death.

Note: Threshold amounts adjust every three years. Check current limits before filing.

Legal Help for Burbank Residents

The LA Superior Court self-help center operates on the first floor of the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. Staff help with forms and procedures. They cannot give legal advice about specific cases. Walk-in service is available during court hours.

Bet Tzedek Legal Services provides free help to seniors and people with disabilities. Call 323-939-0506. They assist with wills, powers of attorney, and probate matters. Income limits apply to some services.

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles serves low-income residents. Call 800-399-4529. They handle various civil matters including probate. Intake staff determine eligibility based on income.

The Los Angeles County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. Call 213-243-1525. For a consultation fee, you meet with a probate attorney. You can then decide whether to hire that lawyer.

Burbank Public Library has legal reference materials at its branches. The main library on Glenoaks Boulevard stocks forms and guides. Librarians can help you find resources but cannot interpret legal documents.

Finding Probate Cases

Use the LA County online portal to search by name. Type the last name first. Try different spellings if your first search fails. Women may appear under maiden or married names. Check both if unsure.

Case numbers give more precise results. If you have a case number, enter it exactly. Include all letters, numbers, and dashes. Format is important for searches.

Cases from decades ago may not be online. The county digitized records from recent years only. For older estates, call the clerk at 213-830-0850. Staff can search archived records. This takes time. In-person visits speed things up.

Not all deaths create probate cases. Small estates use simpler procedures. Assets with named beneficiaries transfer outside court. Living trusts bypass probate entirely. A death does not always mean a court case exists.

Other LA County Cities

These cities also use LA County Superior Court for probate: Los Angeles, Glendale, Pasadena, Santa Clarita, Torrance, and Pomona. All go to the Stanley Mosk Courthouse.

Adjacent counties with their own probate courts: Ventura County to the northwest and Orange County to the south.