Richmond Probate Records

Richmond has no municipal probate court. Contra Costa County Superior Court handles all probate cases for Richmond residents. This includes wills, estate administration, trust matters, conservatorships, and guardianships. State law places probate jurisdiction at the county level instead of with individual cities. When someone who lived in Richmond dies, their probate case must be filed at the county courthouse in Martinez. The probate division is at 725 Court Street in Martinez, about 12 miles east of Richmond. The court processes filings and maintains records at this location. Walk-in service is available during business hours for document submission and public records research.

Contra Costa County Court

Contra Costa County Superior Court operates the probate division at 725 Court Street in Martinez. The court phone is 925-608-1000. Call with questions about procedures and forms. Clerk staff explain filing requirements. They cannot give legal advice about your specific case.

The county has a probate facilitator who provides free help. Call 925-608-2066 or email probfac@contracosta.courts.ca.gov. The facilitator helps with forms and procedures. Services are free for people representing themselves.

Search cases online at odyportal.cc-courts.org. The county uses Tyler Odyssey software. Enter a name or case number to search. View filed documents, hearing dates, and case status. Some documents are available to download. Others require an in-person visit.

From Richmond, take Interstate 80 east to Highway 4 east. Exit at Alhambra Avenue and head north. Turn right on Court Street. The courthouse is in downtown Martinez. Parking lots are available nearby. Street parking is also an option. Public transportation serves Martinez. Plan extra time for travel and courthouse security.

Filing a Probate Case

Start with form DE-111, the Petition for Probate. Download it from the court website or pick up a copy at the courthouse. Fill out all required sections. Provide information about the deceased person, their assets, and their family. Sign under penalty of perjury. Attach a certified death certificate. Include the original will if one exists.

File your petition at the probate clerk window. The fee is $435. Pay with cash, check, money order, or credit card. The clerk stamps your documents and assigns a case number. They set a hearing date, usually six to eight weeks from filing.

After filing, you must notify interested parties. Mail copies of the petition and hearing notice to all heirs and beneficiaries. Keep proof that you sent these. Publish notice in a local newspaper. Contra Costa County has approved newspapers. The Contra Costa Times is commonly used. Publish once a week for three consecutive weeks. Get an affidavit from the newspaper proving publication.

File proof of mailing and proof of publication before your hearing. Attend the hearing with original documents. The judge reviews your petition and may ask questions. If everything is proper, the judge signs an order appointing you as estate representative. You receive Letters of Administration giving you authority to manage estate assets.

Within four months, file an Inventory and Appraisal listing all estate property. Some assets require appraisal by a probate referee. The court appoints referees. When you finish administering the estate, file a final petition and accounting. Another hearing and fee are required.

Small Estate Procedures

Full probate is not always needed. Estates worth less than $208,850 may qualify for a small estate affidavit. This is form DE-310. Fill it out, get it notarized, and present it to banks or other asset holders. They release property if the form is proper and 40 days have passed since death. No court filing. No fee. No hearing.

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

Some assets never need probate. Life insurance with a named beneficiary pays directly 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 allow assets to avoid probate. Many Richmond estate planners recommend these tools.

Legal Resources for Richmond

Contra Costa Senior Legal Services provides free legal help to county residents age 60 and older. Call 925-609-7900. They handle wills, powers of attorney, and probate matters. Income does not matter for seniors. They serve all of Contra Costa County including Richmond.

Bay Area Legal Aid serves low-income residents in Contra Costa County. Call their intake line for an appointment. They handle various civil matters including probate when resources allow. Income limits apply. They also provide self-help materials and workshops.

The Contra Costa County Bar Association operates a lawyer referral service. They connect you with a private attorney for a reduced-rate consultation. After the first meeting, fees are negotiated with the lawyer. Call or use their online referral form.

Richmond Public Library has legal reference materials. The main library on Civic Center Plaza stocks court forms and self-help guides. Librarians help locate resources but cannot give legal advice. Free computer access allows online research and form completion.

Obtaining Death Certificates

Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder maintains death records for the county. Their office is in Martinez. 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. Complete the application, pay by credit card, and receive the certificate by mail. Processing takes about two weeks. Expedited service may be available for an additional fee.

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 Contra Costa County Cities

Other cities that file probate cases with Contra Costa County include Concord, Antioch, and Fairfield. All use the Martinez courthouse. Martinez serves as the county seat and central location for probate matters.

Adjacent counties operate their own probate systems. See Alameda County to the south, Solano County to the north, and Marin County to the west.

Searching for Cases

Use the online portal to search by the last name of the deceased. Try different spellings and variations. 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 it appears. Include all letters, dashes, and leading zeros. The format identifies the case type and filing year.

Older cases may not be in the online system. Contra Costa County digitized recent files but older records may be in archives. Contact the clerk office to search archived records. Fees may apply and retrieval takes time.

Not all deaths result in probate cases. Small estates use affidavits that do not go through court. Assets with beneficiaries transfer directly. Joint property passes automatically. Many estates avoid probate through advance planning with trusts and beneficiary designations.