Sacramento Probate Records

Sacramento does not run a city probate court. Sacramento County Superior Court handles all probate cases for Sacramento residents. This includes wills, estate administration, trust disputes, conservatorships, and guardianships. California law places probate jurisdiction at the county level instead of with individual cities. When someone who lived in Sacramento dies, their estate case must be filed at the county courthouse. The probate division operates from the Gordon D. Schaber Sacramento County Courthouse at 3341 Power Inn Road in Sacramento. Court hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. Walk-in service is available during those hours for filing documents and accessing public records.

Sacramento County Superior Court

Sacramento County Superior Court is located at 3341 Power Inn Road in Sacramento. The courthouse is south of downtown near the airport. Probate services operate from this location. Court hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays. The court website at saccourt.ca.gov has information about procedures and local rules.

Search cases online at prod-portal-sacramento-ca.journaltech.com. The county uses Journal Technologies software. Enter a name or case number to search. View case information, filed documents, and hearing dates. Some documents can be viewed or downloaded online. Others require an in-person visit.

From downtown Sacramento, take Highway 50 east to Power Inn Road. Exit and head north. The courthouse is on the right. Parking is available on site. Spaces are free. Public transportation serves the area. Regional Transit buses stop near the courthouse. Allow time for security screening at the entrance.

The courthouse serves all of Sacramento County. It handles a high volume of cases given the county population. Arrive early if you need help from staff or have documents to file. Monday mornings are the busiest time.

How to File a Probate Case

Get form DE-111 from the court website or clerk window. This is the Petition for Probate. Fill out all required sections. Provide details about the person who died, their assets, and their heirs. 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, notify all 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. The Sacramento Bee is commonly used. Other approved newspapers are listed on the court website. Publish once a week for three consecutive weeks. Get an affidavit from the newspaper as proof.

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 approved, 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. This requires another hearing and fee.

Small Estate Procedures

Full probate is not always needed. Estates worth less than $208,850 may use a small estate affidavit. This is form DE-310. Fill it out, have it notarized, and take 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 procedure. Use form DE-305. This involves a court filing and hearing, but the process is faster and cheaper than full probate.

Many assets transfer without 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 avoid probate. Estate planners in Sacramento often recommend these tools.

Legal Resources in Sacramento

Legal Services of Northern California serves low-income residents in Sacramento County. Their Sacramento office is at 515 12th Street. Call 916-551-2150 for an intake appointment. They handle civil matters including probate when resources allow. Income limits apply. They also provide self-help materials and workshops.

Senior Legal Hotline provides free phone advice to California seniors age 60 and older. Call 800-222-1753. They answer questions about wills, trusts, and probate. Income does not matter for seniors. The hotline operates weekdays during business hours.

The Sacramento County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. Call or visit their website to get matched with a private attorney. Fees are negotiated between you and the lawyer. Initial consultations may be offered at reduced rates.

Sacramento Public Library branches have legal reference materials. The Central Library on I Street has an extensive collection. Regional branch libraries also stock court forms and self-help books. Librarians help you find resources but cannot give legal advice. Free computer access allows online research and form completion.

Getting Death Certificates

Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder maintains death records for the county. Request certified copies in person or by mail. Cost is about $28 per copy. Bring valid ID if ordering in person. California law restricts who can order death certificates. Family members, legal representatives, and people with property interests qualify.

Order online through the county website. Fill out the application, pay by credit card, and receive the certificate by mail. Processing takes one to two weeks. Expedited service may be available for an additional fee.

For older records, contact California Department of Public Health. They are located in Sacramento at 1615 Capitol Avenue. You can visit in person or mail your request to P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento CA 95899-7410. Call 916-445-2684. Online ordering available. Processing takes three to four weeks.

Other Sacramento County Cities

Other large cities in Sacramento County that file probate cases at the same courthouse include Elk Grove and Citrus Heights. All Sacramento County residents use the Power Inn Road courthouse for probate.

Adjacent counties operate their own probate systems. See Placer County to the north, Yolo County to the west, San Joaquin County to the south, and El Dorado County to the east.

Searching for Cases

Use the online portal to search by last name. 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 shown. Include all letters, dashes, and leading zeros. The format identifies the case type and filing year.

Older cases may not appear online. Sacramento 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 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 planning with trusts and beneficiary designations.