Search Compton Probate Records

Los Angeles County Superior Court handles probate cases for Compton residents. The city does not operate a probate court. California places this responsibility at the county level. When someone from Compton dies, their estate case goes through the county system. All LA County probate cases are filed at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 North Hill Street in downtown Los Angeles. This courthouse serves 88 cities including Compton. 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, search records, and ask questions during these hours. Call 213-830-0850 for information.

LA County Probate Court

Los Angeles County Superior Court has jurisdiction over all Compton probate matters. The Stanley Mosk Courthouse is about 15 miles north of Compton. Take the 710 North to the 10 West, exit at Broadway. The courthouse is on Hill Street between First and Temple. Parking garages are available in the area.

Enter through security on the Hill Street side. Take the elevator or stairs to the first floor. Room 112 is the probate clerk window. Morning hours tend to be busy. Afternoons after 2 PM often have shorter lines.

Call 213-830-0850 for general probate information. Phone lines get busy. Try calling right at 8:30 when the office opens. Clerk staff answer procedural questions but cannot give legal advice.

LA County requires 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 probate cases online at lacourt.org. Look up cases by name or case number. The portal shows filed documents and hearing schedules. Some older cases may not appear online.

Starting a Probate Case

Obtain certified death certificates before filing. You need the original will if one exists. Fill out form DE-111, the Petition for Probate. Download it from courts.ca.gov. Provide details 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 are accepted.

The court schedules a hearing six to eight weeks out. Publish notice in a newspaper serving Compton. Mail notice to heirs and beneficiaries. File proof of these notices before your hearing date. Missing this step causes delays.

At the hearing, the judge reviews your documents. If approved, you receive Letters of Administration. These give you authority to manage estate assets. You can access accounts, sell property, and pay creditors.

File an Inventory and Appraisal within four months. List all estate property and values. When ready to close the estate, 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 threshold applies to deaths on or after April 1, 2025. The limit covers personal property like bank accounts, stocks, and vehicles. Real estate is treated separately.

Use form DE-310 for personal property under the limit. Wait 40 days after the death. Fill out the affidavit. 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 Compton

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 civil matters including probate. Intake staff determine eligibility based on income and household size.

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 hire them afterward or seek other options.

Compton has a public library with legal reference materials. The main library on Willowbrook Avenue stocks forms and guides. Librarians can help you find resources but cannot interpret legal documents.

How to Find Records

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

Case numbers provide exact matches. If you have a case number, enter it completely. Include letters, numbers, and dashes. Format is important for searches.

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

Not all deaths result in probate. 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, Long Beach, Carson, Inglewood, Torrance, and Lakewood. All go to the Stanley Mosk Courthouse.

Adjacent county: Orange County to the south. It operates its own probate court system.