Elk Grove Probate Court Records

Probate matters for Elk Grove are handled by Sacramento County Superior Court. Elk Grove has no probate court of its own. California law assigns all probate jurisdiction to county courts. When an Elk Grove resident dies, their estate goes through the Sacramento County system. The probate division is at 3341 Power Inn Road in Sacramento. This location serves all cities and unincorporated areas within Sacramento County. Elk Grove residents must go to this courthouse for all probate business. You file petitions there, attend hearings there, and access records there. The court is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. No local court facility in Elk Grove handles estate matters.

Sacramento County Probate Division

All Elk Grove estate cases go to Sacramento County Superior Court. The probate division operates from 3341 Power Inn Road in Sacramento. This is not the main courthouse downtown. Probate moved to this separate facility. The office handles probate, guardianships, and conservatorships.

Court hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. The clerk window accepts filings all day. Walk-in service is available. No appointment needed for most transactions. Arrive early if you have questions or need help with forms.

Sacramento County uses an online portal at prod-portal-sacramento-ca.journaltech.com. Search cases by name or number. The system shows filed documents and hearing schedules. Access is free. No registration required for basic searches. You can also view tentative rulings and local forms.

The county also maintains a probate page at saccourt.ca.gov. This has local rules, fee schedules, and contact information. Read the local rules before filing your first case. They add details to statewide rules.

Filing a Probate Case

Use form DE-111 to open a probate case. Download it from the Judicial Council website. Fill in all sections. List the decedent's name and address. Give the date of death. Name all heirs and beneficiaries. Describe the estate property including real estate, accounts, and personal items.

You need a certified death certificate. Attach it to your petition. If a will exists, include the original. The court keeps the original will. Make copies for yourself before filing. You cannot get the original back once filed.

Take your completed petition to 3341 Power Inn Road. Go to the probate clerk window. The filing fee is $435. Pay by cash, check, money order, or credit card. The clerk reviews your documents and assigns a case number. They set your hearing date. Expect it six to eight weeks out.

After filing, you must publish notice of the hearing. Use a legal newspaper approved by Sacramento County. Several papers qualify. The newspaper files proof with the court after publication runs. You also mail notice to all heirs, beneficiaries, and known creditors. File proof of mailing before your hearing date.

Attend your hearing on the scheduled date. Arrive early. Bring copies of your petition and supporting documents. The judge reviews everything and asks questions if needed. If approved, you get an Order for Probate and Letters. These give you authority to manage the estate. You can then access accounts, pay bills, and handle property sales.

Small Estate Alternatives

Estates worth less than $208,850 can use simplified procedures. This threshold applies to deaths on or after April 1, 2025. Small estate procedures save time and money. They avoid the full probate process.

Form DE-310 handles personal property for small estates. This includes bank accounts, vehicles, and stocks. Wait 40 days after death. Fill out the form and take it to whoever holds the assets. They review it and transfer property to you. No court filing needed. No hearing required. No fee charged.

Real property worth less than $67,425 uses form DE-305. File this with the Sacramento County Recorder, not the court. The recorder charges about $15 to file. This works only for real estate in California. Out of state property follows different rules.

Joint tenancy property transfers automatically to the surviving owner. Life insurance, retirement accounts, and payable-on-death accounts transfer to named beneficiaries. These skip probate entirely. Living trusts also avoid probate if properly funded.

Note: California adjusts the small estate threshold every three years based on cost-of-living changes.

Finding Legal Assistance

Sacramento County Superior Court offers self-help services for probate. Staff help with forms and explain procedures. They cannot give legal advice about your case. Self-help is free. Go to the probate building at 3341 Power Inn Road during court hours.

Legal Services of Northern California provides free help to low-income residents. Call 916-551-2150. They handle probate and estate matters. Senior Legal Hotline serves people over 60. Call 800-222-1753. They answer questions and provide advice regardless of income.

The Sacramento County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. Call 916-564-9600. They connect you with private attorneys. Expect consultation fees. Probate attorneys charge $300 to $500 per hour on average. Some work on flat fees. Get written fee agreements before hiring anyone.

The Elk Grove Library has legal reference materials. The main library is at 8900 Elk Grove Boulevard. Librarians help you find forms and guides. Free computer access is available for research and completing forms online.

Obtaining Death Certificates

Probate cases require certified death certificates. Order from Sacramento County Vital Records or the state vital records office. The county office is faster for recent deaths. The state has older records.

Sacramento County Vital Records is part of the Public Health Department. Order online through the county website. Call 916-874-5584 for information. Certified copies cost about $28 each. Order several. You need them for banks, insurance, and court. Processing takes one to two weeks.

The California Department of Public Health maintains statewide records. Mail orders to P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento CA 95899-7410. Call 916-445-2684 with questions. State processing takes three to four weeks. Online ordering is available through their website.

Only authorized people can order death certificates. This includes family members, legal representatives, and people with property interests. Provide valid ID when ordering. You may need to show proof of relationship or legal authority.

Other Sacramento County Cities

These cities near Elk Grove also use Sacramento County Superior Court for probate: Sacramento, Citrus Heights, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, and Galt. All cases go to the same probate facility at 3341 Power Inn Road.

For neighboring counties, see: San Joaquin County, Placer County, El Dorado County, and Yolo County.

How to Search Cases Online

Use the Sacramento County online portal to search probate cases. Enter the last name in the search field. Try different variations. Some names have alternate spellings. Try with middle initials and without. People use nicknames but legal documents show full names. Women may appear under maiden or married names.

If you have a case number, enter it exactly as shown. Include all letters and leading zeros. Probate cases follow a standard numbering format. Direct case number searches give you immediate access to the file. You see all documents and hearing dates.

The online system covers cases from recent decades. Very old cases may exist only in paper archives. For probate from the 1980s or earlier, contact the clerk office. They can search archived records. This takes time so call ahead with your request.

Some estates never go through probate. Small estates use affidavits that do not create court files. Assets with beneficiaries transfer outside probate. Living trusts avoid probate altogether. If you find no case, one may not exist.