Search Downey Probate Court Records

Downey residents rely on Los Angeles County Superior Court for all probate needs. Cities in California do not run probate courts. The county system has exclusive jurisdiction over estate matters. When a Downey resident dies, their estate goes through the Los Angeles County probate division. This applies to all 88 cities in LA County. The probate office sits at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse on 111 North Hill Street in downtown Los Angeles. That is where you file petitions, attend hearings, and access case files. Downey has no local probate office or court facility. Everything happens at the county level in the main courthouse downtown.

Los Angeles County Probate Division

All probate cases for Downey go through Los Angeles County Superior Court. State law gives counties full control over estate administration. The probate clerk office is in Room 112 at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. Call 213-830-0850 for general information. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Walk-in service is available. No appointment needed.

The courthouse address is 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Parking is available in nearby lots and structures. Public transportation serves the courthouse well. The Metro Red and Purple lines stop at Civic Center station. Several bus lines also stop within walking distance.

Los Angeles County runs an online case portal at lacourt.org. Search by name or case number. The system displays filed documents and hearing schedules. You can also check case status and upcoming court dates. Access is free but you need to create an account for some features.

Attorneys must file electronically in LA County probate cases. This rule took effect in June 2017. Self-represented people can still file on paper. Bring documents to the clerk window during business hours. Staff will review and stamp your filings. Make copies for your records before filing.

Starting Probate Cases for Downey Residents

Use form DE-111 to start a probate case. This is the Petition for Probate. Download it from the California Courts website. Fill in all sections. List all heirs and beneficiaries. Describe the estate assets.

Attach a certified death certificate to the petition. You also need the original will if one exists. If no will exists, state that in the petition. The court treats cases without wills as intestate estates. State law determines who inherits in intestate cases.

File your petition at the probate clerk window. The fee is $435. Bring cash, money order, or credit card. The clerk gives you a case number and hearing date. Hearings usually get scheduled six to eight weeks out. Write down your hearing date and time. Missing your hearing causes delays.

You must publish notice of the hearing in a local newspaper. The Los Angeles Daily Journal qualifies. So do several other papers. The newspaper files proof of publication with the court. You also mail notice to all interested parties. This includes heirs, beneficiaries, and creditors. Keep copies of everything you mail.

Note: Proof of notice must be on file at least 15 days before the hearing or the judge will continue the case.

Finding Legal Assistance

The Los Angeles Superior Court operates a self-help center at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. Staff help with forms and procedures. They cannot give legal advice about your case. The center is free and open during court hours. No appointment needed.

Downey residents can get free legal help from several organizations:

• Bet Tzedek at 323-939-0506 helps with probate and estate planning
• Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles at 800-399-4529 serves low-income residents
• Neighborhood Legal Services at 800-433-6251 provides civil legal aid
• LA County Bar Association Lawyer Referral at 213-243-1525 connects you with private attorneys

The Downey City Library has a legal reference section. The main library is at 11121 Brookshire Avenue. Librarians can help you find probate forms and information. The library offers free internet access for online research and form completion.

Private probate attorneys in LA County charge $300 to $600 per hour on average. Some work on flat fees. Others charge a percentage of the estate value. California law sets maximum fees based on estate size. Get written fee agreements before hiring anyone.

Alternatives to Full Probate

Small estates can avoid full probate in California. The current threshold is $208,850 as of April 1, 2025. Estates below this value can use simplified procedures. This saves time and money.

Use form DE-310 for personal property. This includes bank accounts, vehicles, and stocks. Wait 40 days after death. Then take the completed form to whoever holds the assets. They review it and transfer the property to you. No court hearing required. No filing fee charged.

Real property worth less than $67,425 uses form DE-305. File this with the county recorder. The fee is about $15. This works only for California real estate. Out of state property needs different procedures.

Joint tenancy property transfers automatically. It does not go through probate. The same applies to assets with named beneficiaries. Life insurance, retirement accounts, and payable-on-death accounts skip probate. Living trusts also avoid the probate process entirely.

Obtaining Death Certificates

Death certificates are required for probate filings. Get certified copies from the LA County Registrar-Recorder office. Their main office is at 12400 East Imperial Highway in Norwalk. You can also order online through their website at lavote.gov.

Certified copies cost about $28 each. Order several copies. You will need them for banks, insurance companies, and other institutions. Processing takes one to two weeks for mail orders. In-person service is faster.

The state vital records office in Sacramento also has death records. Call 916-445-2684 for information. Mail orders to P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento CA 95899-7410. State processing takes three to four weeks. Only authorized people can order death certificates. This includes family members and legal representatives.

Other LA County Cities

These cities near Downey also use Los Angeles County Superior Court for probate: Norwalk, Bellflower, South Gate, Paramount, Compton, Lakewood, and Long Beach. All estate matters go to the same downtown courthouse.

Adjacent counties include: Orange County, San Bernardino County, and Ventura County.

Probate Record Search Tips

Try different name variations when searching. Use last name only. Try middle initials and without them. Some people use nicknames but legal documents show their full legal name. Women may appear under maiden or married names.

LA County probate case numbers follow a specific format. If you have a case number, enter it exactly as written. Include all letters and leading zeros. This gives you direct access to the case file.

Older records may not be online. The county digitized recent decades but older cases exist only on paper. For estates from the 1980s or earlier, contact the clerk office. They can search archived records. Retrieval takes time so plan ahead.

Not all deaths result in probate cases. Small estates use simplified procedures with no court file. Assets with beneficiaries transfer outside probate. Living trusts avoid probate completely. If you cannot find a case, one may not exist.