Fontana Probate Court Records

Probate cases for Fontana are handled by San Bernardino County Superior Court. The city of Fontana does not operate a probate court. California law assigns all probate jurisdiction to county courts. When a Fontana resident passes away, their estate goes through the San Bernardino County system. The probate division is at 247 West Third Street in downtown San Bernardino. This courthouse serves all 24 cities in San Bernardino County plus unincorporated areas. Fontana residents must travel to San Bernardino for probate services. You file cases there, attend hearings there, and access records there. Call 909-521-3388 for probate information. The office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours.

San Bernardino County Probate

All Fontana estate cases go to San Bernardino County Superior Court. The probate division operates from 247 West Third Street in San Bernardino. Call 909-521-3388 for questions. The court handles probate, guardianships, and conservatorships for the entire county.

Court hours run Monday through Friday. The clerk window is open during business hours. Walk-in service is available. No appointment needed for filing. Bring all required documents and payment. Staff review filings at the window.

San Bernardino County maintains an online case portal at cap.sb-court.org. Search by name or case number. The system displays case information, filed documents, and hearing schedules. Access is free. No registration required for basic searches.

The county also has a probate page at sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov. This includes local rules, forms, and contact information. Review local rules before filing. They supplement statewide Judicial Council rules.

Filing Probate Cases

Get form DE-111 from the California Courts website. This is the Petition for Probate. Fill it out completely. List the decedent's name, address, and date of death. Name all heirs and beneficiaries. Describe estate assets including real property, accounts, and personal items.

You need a certified death certificate. Attach it to your petition. If a will exists, attach the original. The court keeps original wills. Make copies for your records before filing. You cannot retrieve originals after they are filed.

Take your petition to 247 West Third Street in San Bernardino. Pay the $435 filing fee at the clerk window. Accepted payments include cash, check, money order, and credit card. The clerk assigns a case number and sets a hearing date. Expect your hearing six to eight weeks out.

Publish notice of the hearing in a legal newspaper approved by the court. Several papers serve San Bernardino County. The newspaper files proof with the court. Mail notice to all heirs, beneficiaries, and creditors. File proof of mailing before your hearing date. The judge will not proceed without proper notice.

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 affidavits avoid the full probate process. They save time and money.

Use form DE-310 for personal property. This includes bank accounts, vehicles, and stocks. Wait 40 days after death. Complete the form and present it to whoever holds the assets. They transfer the property without court involvement. No filing fee applies. No hearing occurs.

Real property worth less than $67,425 uses form DE-305. File it with the San Bernardino County Recorder. The recorder charges about $15. This works only for California real estate. Out of state property requires different procedures.

Assets with named beneficiaries skip probate. This includes life insurance, retirement accounts, and payable-on-death accounts. Joint tenancy property transfers automatically. Living trusts also avoid probate if properly established and funded.

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

Getting Legal Help

San Bernardino County Superior Court offers self-help services. Staff help with forms and explain procedures. They cannot give legal advice about your case. Self-help is free. Go to the courthouse during business hours. No appointment needed.

Legal aid organizations serve Fontana residents. Inland Counties Legal Services helps low-income people. Call 909-889-7328 for their San Bernardino office. They handle probate and estate matters. Senior legal services are also available through various organizations.

The San Bernardino County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. They connect you with private attorneys. Probate lawyers charge $300 to $500 per hour typically. Some work on flat fees. Others charge based on estate value. Get written fee agreements before hiring anyone.

The Fontana Public Library has legal reference materials. The main library is at 8437 Sierra Avenue. Librarians help you locate forms and guides. Free computer access is available for online research and form completion.

Death Certificate Orders

Certified death certificates are required for probate. Order from San Bernardino County Vital Records or the state office. The county office handles recent deaths. The state has older records.

San Bernardino County Vital Records is part of the Public Health Department. Order online through the county website. Certified copies cost about $28 each. Get multiple copies for different institutions. Processing takes one to two weeks for mail orders. In-person service is faster.

The California Department of Public Health is in Sacramento. Mail orders to P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento CA 95899-7410. Call 916-445-2684 for information. State processing takes three to four weeks. Online ordering is available but requires processing time.

Only authorized people can order death certificates. This includes immediate family, legal representatives, and people with property interests. Bring valid ID when ordering. You may need to prove your relationship or authority.

Other San Bernardino County Cities

These cities near Fontana also use San Bernardino County Superior Court for probate: Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, San Bernardino, Rialto, and Victorville. All cases file at 247 West Third Street in San Bernardino.

For adjacent counties, visit: Los Angeles County, Riverside County, and Orange County.

Searching for Cases

Use the San Bernardino County online portal to search probate cases. Enter the last name first. Try different spellings. Try with and without middle initials. People use nicknames but court records show legal names. Women may have cases under maiden or married names. Try both.

If you have a case number, enter it exactly as shown. San Bernardino County cases follow a standard format. Include all letters and zeros. This takes you directly to the case file. You can view documents and hearing dates.

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

Remember that not all deaths create probate cases. Small estates use simplified forms with no court file. Assets with beneficiaries transfer outside probate. Living trusts avoid probate. If no case exists, the estate may have used an alternative method.