Pomona Probate Records

Pomona does not run its own probate court. All probate matters for Pomona residents go through Los Angeles County Superior Court. This includes estate administration, will validation, trust disputes, conservatorships, and guardianships. California law assigns probate jurisdiction to county courts rather than cities. If a person lived in Pomona when they died, their estate case is filed with the county system. The probate division operates from Stanley Mosk Courthouse at 111 North Hill Street in downtown Los Angeles, about 30 miles west of Pomona. All probate filings for the county happen at this central location.

Los Angeles County Probate Division

Los Angeles County Superior Court manages probate for the entire county from its downtown location. The probate division is at Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 North Hill Street. The clerk office is in Room 112 on the first floor. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Call 213-830-0850 for probate questions. Staff explain procedures and forms. They cannot give legal advice about your case. A free self-help center on the first floor assists with form completion.

Search probate cases online at lacourt.org. The county also provides case access at lacourt.ca.gov. Enter a name or case number. View filed documents, hearing dates, and case status.

From Pomona, take the 60 Freeway west to the 710 Freeway north. Merge onto Interstate 10 west and exit at Los Angeles Street. The courthouse is downtown near City Hall. Parking garages nearby charge varying rates. Public transit serves the area. Metrolink trains run from Pomona to downtown Los Angeles. Allow extra time for travel and courthouse security.

How to Open a Case

Get form DE-111, the Petition for Probate. Download it from the court website or pick it up at the courthouse. Fill in all required information about the deceased, their property, and their heirs. Attach a certified death certificate. Include the original will if there is one.

File at the probate clerk window. The fee is $435. Pay with cash, check, money order, or credit card. The clerk stamps your documents, assigns a case number, and sets a hearing date. Hearings are typically scheduled six to eight weeks out.

After filing, notify interested parties. Mail copies of your petition and hearing notice to all heirs and beneficiaries. Keep proof of mailing. Publish notice in an approved newspaper. Options include the Los Angeles Times or local papers. Publish once a week for three weeks. Get an affidavit from the newspaper as proof.

File proof of mailing and publication before the hearing. Attend the hearing with original documents. The judge reviews your petition. If approved, you receive an Order for Probate and Letters of Administration. These give you legal authority to manage estate assets.

File an Inventory and Appraisal within four months. This lists all estate property and values. Some assets need appraisal by a court-appointed referee. When you finish managing the estate, file a final petition and accounting. This requires another hearing and fee.

Small Estate Procedures

Estates under $208,850 may qualify for simplified procedures. Use form DE-310, the small estate affidavit. Fill it out, get it notarized, and take it to whoever holds the assets. They release property if the form is proper and 40 days have passed since death. No court filing. No fee. No hearing.

Real property valued under $71,600 can transfer through a simplified court process. Use form DE-305. This involves a court filing and hearing, but the process is faster and less expensive than full probate.

Many assets bypass probate. Life insurance with a named beneficiary pays directly to that person. Retirement accounts do the same. Payable-on-death bank accounts transfer automatically. Joint tenancy property passes to the surviving owner. Living trusts avoid probate. Estate planning in Pomona often includes these tools.

Legal Assistance for Pomona

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles serves low-income residents throughout the county. Call 800-399-4529. They handle civil matters including some probate cases. Income limits apply. They also provide self-help materials and workshops.

Neighborhood Legal Services helps families in various Los Angeles County communities. Call 800-433-6251. They assist with civil legal problems. Probate help is available when resources permit. Check their website for eligibility guidelines.

The Los Angeles County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service at 213-243-1525. They connect you with a private attorney for a reduced-rate consultation. Fees after that are between you and the lawyer.

Pomona Public Library has legal reference materials. The main library on Garey Avenue stocks court forms and self-help books. Librarians help you find resources but cannot give legal advice. Free computer access lets you research and complete forms online.

Getting Death Certificates

Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder maintains death records. Their office is at 12400 East Imperial Highway in Norwalk. Request certified copies in person or by mail. Cost is about $28 per copy. Bring valid ID for in-person orders.

Order online through the county website. Fill out the application, pay by card, and receive the certificate by mail. Processing takes one to two weeks. Expedited service costs more but is faster.

For older records, contact California Department of Public Health in Sacramento. Write to P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento CA 95899-7410. Call 916-445-2684. Online ordering available. State processing takes three to four weeks.

Other Cities in LA County

Other large cities using Los Angeles County Superior Court for probate include Los Angeles, Long Beach, Glendale, Pasadena, Torrance, Downey, and Inglewood.

Adjacent counties operate separate systems. See San Bernardino County, Orange County, and Riverside County.

Searching for Probate Cases

Use the online portal to search by last name. Try different spellings. People sometimes use nicknames but court records show legal names. Women may have cases under maiden names or former married names.

If you have a case number, enter it exactly. Include letters, dashes, and leading zeros. The format tells the court the case type and year.

Older cases may not be online. Los Angeles County digitized recent records but older files may be in archives. Contact the clerk office for archived searches. Fees may apply and retrieval takes time.

Not all deaths create probate cases. Small estates use affidavits outside of court. Assets with beneficiaries transfer directly. Joint property passes automatically. Many estates avoid probate through planning.