Find Probate Records in Ontario

Ontario does not operate a municipal probate court. All probate matters for Ontario residents are handled by San Bernardino County Superior Court. This includes estate administration, will validation, conservatorships, trust disputes, and guardianships. California assigns probate jurisdiction to county courts rather than cities. If a person lived in Ontario when they died, their estate case gets filed in San Bernardino. The county probate division is located at 247 West Third Street in downtown San Bernardino, about 16 miles east of Ontario. Court staff process filings weekdays and provide public access to case records both in person and online.

San Bernardino County Court

San Bernardino County Superior Court handles all probate cases for the county. The probate division phone is 909-521-3388. Call with questions about procedures or forms. Clerk staff can explain filing requirements and court rules. They cannot give advice about your specific legal situation.

The court runs an online case portal at cap.sb-court.org. Search for cases by party name or case number. The system shows basic case information, filed documents, and upcoming hearings. You can view some documents online. Others require an in-person visit to the courthouse.

To get to the courthouse from Ontario, take Interstate 10 east to San Bernardino. Exit at Waterman Avenue and head north. Turn right on Third Street. The courthouse is downtown near City Hall. Parking lots and street meters are available nearby. Public transportation serves the area. Plan extra time for parking and courthouse security.

Clerk windows open weekday mornings and close in the afternoon. Check the website for current hours. Arrive early if you need to file documents or get information from staff. The courthouse gets busy, especially on Monday mornings.

Opening a Probate Case

Use form DE-111 to start a probate case. This is the Petition for Probate. Download it from the court website or pick it up at the courthouse. Fill in all the required information about the deceased person, their property, and their family. Sign under penalty of perjury. Attach a certified copy of the death certificate. If there is a will, attach the original document.

File everything at the probate clerk window. The basic fee is $435. Pay by cash, check, money order, or card. The clerk assigns a case number and sets a hearing date. Hearings are typically six to eight weeks from the filing date. You receive a notice with the date, time, and department.

Before the hearing, publish notice in a newspaper. The court website lists approved newspapers. The San Bernardino Sun and other local papers handle these notices. Publish once a week for three weeks. Get an affidavit from the newspaper showing proof of publication. File it with the court.

Also mail notice to all heirs and beneficiaries. Send them a copy of the petition and hearing notice. Keep a record of when and how you sent each notice. File proof of service with the court showing that you notified everyone.

Attend the hearing. Bring your ID and any original documents. The judge reviews your petition and asks questions if needed. If everything is proper, the judge issues an Order for Probate and Letters of Administration. The letters give you authority to manage estate assets. Banks, title companies, and others will require these letters before releasing property.

After appointment, file an Inventory and Appraisal within four months. This lists all estate property and values. A probate referee may appraise some assets. The court appoints referees from an official list.

Small Estate Procedures

Many estates avoid full probate. For estates worth $208,850 or less, use the small estate affidavit. This is form DE-310. Fill it out, get it notarized, and take it to whoever holds the assets. They must release the property if the form is proper and at least 40 days have passed since death. No court filing needed. No fee. No judge approval required.

Real property valued under $71,600 can transfer through a court petition without full probate. Use form DE-305. This still requires a court hearing but the process is simpler and faster than regular probate. File the form with the court, pay a reduced fee, and attend one hearing. The judge reviews the petition and issues an order transferring title.

Some assets never need probate at all. Life insurance goes directly to the named beneficiary. So do retirement accounts and payable-on-death bank accounts. Property held in joint tenancy automatically passes to the surviving owner. Revocable living trusts allow assets to transfer without probate. Many Ontario residents plan their estates to minimize or eliminate the need for probate court.

Legal Help for Ontario Residents

The San Bernardino County courts offer a self-help center. Staff help you understand procedures and fill out forms. They have computers, printers, and reference materials. The center is located at the main courthouse. Hours are weekdays. No appointment needed. Services are free. Staff cannot represent you in court or give legal advice about your case.

Inland Counties Legal Services provides free help to low-income residents. They have an office in San Bernardino and serve the entire county including Ontario. Call for an intake appointment. They handle various civil matters including probate when resources allow. Check their website for eligibility guidelines.

The San Bernardino County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. They connect you with a private attorney for a low-cost consultation. After the first meeting, you negotiate fees with the lawyer. Call the bar association or use their online referral form.

Ontario City Library branches have legal reference sections. The main library on Euclid Avenue stocks court forms and self-help books. Librarians can point you to resources but cannot give legal advice. Free computer access allows you to research online and complete forms.

Getting Death Certificates

San Bernardino County Recorder maintains death records for the county. Their office is in downtown San Bernardino. You can request certified copies in person or by mail. The cost is about $28 per copy. Bring ID if requesting in person. California law limits who can order death certificates. Family members, legal representatives, and people with property interests qualify.

The county website offers online ordering. Fill out the request form, pay by card, and receive the certificate by mail. Standard processing takes about two weeks. Expedited service costs more but delivers faster.

For older death records, contact the California Department of Public Health. They maintain statewide records going back many decades. Write to them in Sacramento or call 916-445-2684. Online ordering is available through their website. Allow three to four weeks for processing. Fees are similar to county fees.

Other Cities in San Bernardino County

Other major cities that file probate cases with San Bernardino County include San Bernardino, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Victorville, and Rialto. All use the same courthouse and court system.

Nearby counties operate their own probate courts. See Los Angeles County to the west and Riverside County to the south. Each has different local rules and procedures.

Tips for Searching Cases

When using the online portal, search by the last name of the deceased. Try variations and different spellings. Some people go by nicknames but legal records use formal names. Women may have cases under a previous married name or maiden name. Searching by last name only brings up all possible matches.

If you have a case number from paperwork, enter it exactly. Include letters, dashes, and any leading zeros. The format tells the court what type of case it is and when it was filed.

Older cases may not appear in the online system. San Bernardino County digitized recent records but older files may still be in paper archives. Contact the clerk office to search for archived cases. They charge a fee for this service and it takes time.

Some estates do not go through probate. Small estates use affidavits outside of court. Assets with beneficiaries transfer directly. Joint property passes automatically. Many people use trusts to avoid probate. If you cannot find a case, it may be because probate was not needed.