Rialto Probate Court Records

Rialto does not run a probate court. San Bernardino County Superior Court handles all probate cases for Rialto residents. California assigns probate jurisdiction to county courts rather than cities. This includes estate administration, wills, trusts, conservatorships, and guardianships. If a Rialto resident dies, their probate case is filed at the county courthouse in San Bernardino. The probate division is located at 247 West Third Street in downtown San Bernardino, about 11 miles west of Rialto. Court staff process filings and maintain records at this central location. Walk-in service is available during business hours for document filing and case research.

San Bernardino County Court System

San Bernardino County Superior Court operates the probate division at 247 West Third Street in San Bernardino. Call 909-521-3388 for probate information. Clerk staff answer questions about procedures and forms. They cannot provide legal advice about your specific case.

Search cases online at cap.sb-court.org. The portal allows searches by name or case number. View case details, filed documents, and hearing schedules. Some documents are available to download online. Others require an in-person visit to the courthouse.

From Rialto, take Interstate 10 west toward San Bernardino. Exit at Waterman Avenue and head north. Turn right on Third Street. The courthouse is downtown. Parking lots and street parking are available. Fees vary. Public buses serve the area. Plan extra time for parking and courthouse security screening.

Clerk windows are open weekdays. Check the website for current hours. The courthouse is busiest Monday mornings and Friday afternoons. Arrive early if you need help from staff or have documents to file.

How to File a Case

Get form DE-111 from the court website or clerk window. This is the Petition for Probate. Fill in details about the person who died, their property, and their heirs. Attach a certified death certificate. Include the original will if there is one. Sign the form under penalty of perjury.

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 schedules a hearing. Hearings are typically set six to eight weeks from filing.

After filing, notify all interested people. Mail copies of your petition and hearing notice to all heirs and beneficiaries. Keep proof of mailing. Publish notice in a local newspaper. San Bernardino County has several approved newspapers. The San Bernardino Sun is one option. Publish once a week for three weeks. Get an affidavit from the paper as proof.

File proof of mailing and publication before your 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 letters give you authority to manage estate assets.

Within four months, file an Inventory and Appraisal. This lists all estate property and values. Some assets need appraisal by a probate referee. The court appoints referees. When you finish administering the estate, file a final petition and accounting. This requires another hearing and fee.

Small Estate Options

Not every estate needs full probate. Estates under $208,850 may qualify for a small estate affidavit. This is form DE-310. Fill it out, have 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 worth less than $71,600 can transfer through a simplified court procedure. Use form DE-305. This involves a court filing and hearing, but the process is faster and cheaper than full probate.

Many assets bypass probate. Life insurance with a named beneficiary goes straight to that person. Retirement accounts work the same way. Payable-on-death bank accounts transfer automatically. Joint tenancy property passes to the surviving owner. Living trusts avoid probate by design.

Legal Resources for Rialto

San Bernardino County Superior Court runs a self-help center. Staff assist with forms and procedures. The center has computers, printers, and reference materials. Services are free. Located at the courthouse. Open weekdays. No appointment needed. Staff cannot represent you in court or give legal advice about your case.

Inland Counties Legal Services provides free legal help to low-income residents. They serve San Bernardino County including Rialto. Call for an intake appointment. They handle civil matters including probate when resources allow. Income limits apply.

The San Bernardino County Bar Association operates a lawyer referral service. They match you with a private attorney for a low-cost consultation. After the first meeting, fees are negotiated with the lawyer. Call or use their online referral form.

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

Getting Death Certificates

San Bernardino County Recorder maintains death records. Their office is in downtown San Bernardino. Request certified copies in person or by mail. Cost is about $28 per copy. Bring valid ID if ordering in person. California law limits who can order death certificates. Family members, legal representatives, and people with property interests qualify.

Order online through the county website. Fill out the form, pay by credit card, and receive the certificate by mail. Processing takes about 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 San Bernardino County Cities

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

Adjacent counties operate separate probate systems. See Los Angeles County to the west and Riverside County to the south.

Tips for Searching Cases

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

If you have a case number, enter it exactly as shown. Include all letters, dashes, and leading zeros. The format identifies the case type and year.

Older cases may not appear online. San Bernardino County digitized recent records but older files may be in archives. Contact the clerk office to search archived records. 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.