Probate Court Records in Los Angeles

Probate cases for Los Angeles residents are filed at the Los Angeles County Superior Court, not through the city itself. The city of Los Angeles does not operate its own probate court. All estate administration, will validation, conservatorship, and guardianship matters go through the county court system. The probate division for all of Los Angeles County is located at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse at 111 North Hill Street in downtown Los Angeles. This handles cases for the city of Los Angeles and all other cities within the county.

Los Angeles County Handles All Probate

California law places probate jurisdiction at the county level through Superior Courts. Cities do not have separate probate divisions or courts. If someone who lived in Los Angeles passes away, their estate case must be filed with Los Angeles County Superior Court. This applies to all Los Angeles residents regardless of which neighborhood they lived in.

The Stanley Mosk Courthouse serves as the central probate location for the entire county. The court is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The probate clerk office is in Room 112 on the first floor. You can call 213-830-0850 for general information. Walk-in service is available without appointments.

Los Angeles County uses an online case portal at lacourt.org where you can search probate cases by name or case number. The system shows filed documents and hearing schedules. You can also access case information through the public portal at lacourt.ca.gov.

The county requires mandatory electronic filing for attorneys in probate cases. This rule started in June 2017. People representing themselves can still file paper documents in person or by mail. The clerk window accepts filings during regular business hours.

How to File Probate Cases

To open a probate case for a Los Angeles resident, go to the Stanley Mosk Courthouse downtown. Bring form DE-111, which is the Petition for Probate. Attach a certified death certificate. Include the original will if one exists. The filing fee is $435. Pay by cash, money order, or credit card at the clerk window.

After filing, the court sets a hearing date six to eight weeks out. You must publish notice of the hearing in a local newspaper. You also must mail notice to all heirs and beneficiaries named in the will or entitled under state law. File proof of these notices before your hearing date.

At the hearing, the judge reviews your petition and supporting documents. If approved, you get an Order for Probate and Letters of Administration. These letters give you legal authority to act for the estate. You can then access bank accounts, sell property, and pay bills. Within four months you must file an Inventory and Appraisal listing all estate assets.

When the estate is ready to close, file a final petition and accounting. This requires another $435 fee and another hearing. The judge reviews everything and approves distribution to heirs. After the judge signs the final order, you can distribute assets and close out the estate.

Legal Help in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Superior Court runs a self-help center on the first floor of the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. Staff can help you fill out forms and understand procedures. They cannot give legal advice about your specific case. The center is open during court hours.

Several organizations provide free or low-cost legal help to Los Angeles residents:

• Bet Tzedek Legal Services at 323-939-0506 helps with wills, powers of attorney, and probate
• Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles at 800-399-4529 assists low-income residents
• Neighborhood Legal Services at 800-433-6251 covers various civil matters
• LA County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service at 213-243-1525 connects you with private attorneys

The Los Angeles Public Library main branch downtown has a legal reference section. Librarians can help you find probate forms and information. Many branch libraries also stock basic legal forms and guides.

Note: If the estate is worth less than $208,850, you may not need full probate. California allows simplified procedures for small estates. Use form DE-310 for personal property or form DE-305 for real estate. These forms let you transfer assets without going through the full probate process.

Death Records for Los Angeles

You need a certified death certificate to file probate cases. Get death certificates from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder office or from the California Department of Public Health. The county office is faster for recent deaths. The state office has records going back many decades.

The county registrar office is at 12400 East Imperial Highway in Norwalk. You can also order online through their website. Certified copies cost about $28 each. Processing takes one to two weeks. Bring valid ID when ordering in person.

The state vital records office is in Sacramento. Mail orders to P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento CA 95899-7410. Call 916-445-2684 for information. Online ordering is available through their website. State processing takes longer than county service, usually three to four weeks.

Nearby Cities in LA County

These nearby cities also use Los Angeles County Superior Court for probate: Long Beach, Glendale, Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Lancaster, Pomona, Torrance, Pasadena, Downey, Inglewood, Burbank, and Santa Monica.

For adjacent counties, visit: Orange County, Ventura County, San Bernardino County, and Kern County.

Tips for Finding Probate Cases

When searching online, try different name variations. Search by last name only. Try with and without middle initials. Some people go by nicknames but legal documents use their full legal name. Women may have cases under maiden names or married names.

Case numbers in Los Angeles use a specific format. Probate cases start with certain prefixes. If you have a case number from paperwork, enter it exactly as shown. Include all letters and leading zeros.

Older probate records may not be in the online system. The county digitized cases from recent decades. For estates from the 1980s or earlier, you may need to contact the clerk office directly. They can search archived records, but retrieval takes time.

If you cannot find a case, it might not exist. Not all deaths result in probate cases. Small estates use simplified procedures that do not create court files. Assets with named beneficiaries transfer outside of probate. Some people have living trusts that avoid probate entirely.