Fullerton Probate Court Records

All probate matters for Fullerton residents go through Orange County Superior Court. Fullerton does not operate its own probate court. California law places probate jurisdiction at the county level. When a Fullerton resident passes away, their estate case must be filed with the county court system. Orange County runs the probate division for all 34 cities within its boundaries. The probate office is at the Costa Mesa Justice Complex located at 3390 Harbor Boulevard. Fullerton residents must travel to Costa Mesa for all probate court business. You file petitions there, attend hearings there, and access records there. The court is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Orange County Probate Court

Fullerton cases go to Orange County Superior Court. The probate division operates from the Costa Mesa Justice Complex at 3390 Harbor Boulevard in Costa Mesa. The court handles all probate, guardianship, and conservatorship matters for Orange County.

Court hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The clerk window accepts filings throughout the day. Walk-in service is available. No appointment required for most transactions. Arrive before 3:30 PM if you need assistance with forms or have questions.

Orange County uses Tyler Odyssey software for case management. Access the online portal at occourts.org. Search by name or case number. The system displays filed documents, hearing schedules, and case status. Basic searches are free without registration.

The county maintains additional probate information at occourts.org. This page includes local rules, fee schedules, and probate-specific forms. Review local rules before filing as they supplement statewide Judicial Council rules.

How to File a Probate Case

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

Attach a certified death certificate to your petition. If a will exists, attach the original. The court keeps original wills as permanent records. Make copies for yourself before filing. You cannot retrieve originals later.

Take your completed petition to 3390 Harbor Boulevard in Costa Mesa. Go to the probate clerk window. Pay the $435 filing fee. Accepted payments include cash, check, money order, and credit card. The clerk stamps your documents and assigns a case number. They set a hearing date typically six to eight weeks out.

After filing, publish notice of the hearing in a legal newspaper approved by Orange County. Several papers qualify. The newspaper files proof with the court after publication. Mail notice to all heirs, beneficiaries, and known creditors. File proof of mailing at least 15 days before your hearing or the judge will continue the case.

Attend your scheduled hearing. Arrive early. Bring copies of your petition and supporting documents. The judge reviews everything and may ask questions. If approved, you receive an Order for Probate and Letters. These give you legal authority to manage the estate. File an Inventory and Appraisal within four months of receiving your letters.

Small Estate Procedures

California offers shortcuts for estates worth less than $208,850. This threshold applies to deaths on or after April 1, 2025. Small estates can skip the full probate process. This saves months of time and hundreds of dollars.

Use form DE-310 for personal property. This covers bank accounts, vehicles, and stocks. Wait 40 days after death. Complete the form and present it to whoever holds the assets. Banks and other institutions accept this form and transfer property to you. No court hearing required. No filing fee charged.

Real property worth less than $67,425 uses form DE-305. File it with the Orange County Recorder. The recorder charges about $15. This works only for real estate located in California. Property in other states requires different procedures.

Assets with named beneficiaries transfer automatically outside probate. This includes life insurance, retirement accounts, and payable-on-death accounts. Joint tenancy property also transfers to the surviving owner. Living trusts avoid probate if properly set up and funded.

Legal Help for Fullerton Residents

Orange County Superior Court provides self-help services at the Costa Mesa courthouse. Staff assist with form completion and explain procedures. They cannot give legal advice about your specific case. Self-help is free. Go during court hours. No appointment needed.

Several organizations offer legal aid to Orange County residents:

• Public Law Center at 714-541-1010 provides free legal services
• Orange County Office on Aging Legal Advocacy at 714-480-6450 helps seniors
• Legal Aid Society of Orange County at 800-834-5001 serves low-income people
• Orange County Bar Association Lawyer Referral at 714-738-4737 connects you with private attorneys

The Fullerton Public Library has legal reference materials. The main library is at 353 West Commonwealth Avenue. Librarians help you locate forms and information. Free computer access is available for online research.

Private probate attorneys in Orange County charge $350 to $550 per hour typically. Some work on flat fees. Others charge a percentage of estate value. California law sets maximum statutory fees. Get written fee agreements before hiring any attorney.

Getting Death Certificates

Certified death certificates are required for probate filings. Order from the Orange County Clerk-Recorder or California Department of Public Health. The county office processes recent deaths faster. The state office has older records.

The Orange County Clerk-Recorder is in Santa Ana. Order online through the county website. Call 714-834-2500 for information. 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 state vital records office is at 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 but still requires processing time.

Only certain people can order death certificates. This includes immediate family, legal representatives, and people with property interests. Bring valid ID when ordering in person. Online orders require identity verification.

Other Orange County Cities

These nearby cities also use Orange County Superior Court for probate: Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, and Orange. All cases file at the Costa Mesa courthouse.

For adjacent counties, visit: Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County, and San Diego County.

Searching Probate Cases

Use the Orange County online portal to search cases. Enter the last name in the search field. Try different spellings and variations. Try with and without middle names. People sometimes use nicknames but court documents show legal names. Women may have cases under maiden names or married names. Search both ways.

If you have a case number, that works best. Orange County probate cases use a standard numbering format. Enter the full number including prefixes and zeros. This takes you directly to the case file where you can view all documents and court dates.

The online system includes cases from recent decades. Very old probate cases may exist only on paper. For estates from the 1980s or earlier, contact the clerk office directly. They can search archives but it takes time. Call ahead with your request.

Remember that many estates skip probate entirely. Small estates use simplified procedures with no court case. Assets with beneficiaries transfer automatically. Living trusts avoid probate. If your search finds nothing, a probate case may not exist.