Find San Francisco Probate Records

San Francisco handles probate through its county Superior Court, not through city departments. The city and county of San Francisco are one government entity, which is unique in California. The probate division sits at 400 McAllister Street in Department 204. All estate administration, will validation, conservatorships, and guardianships are processed here. Anyone who lived in San Francisco when they died will have their probate case filed at this courthouse. The court also handles cases when the deceased owned real property in San Francisco, even if they lived elsewhere. This is the exclusive venue for all probate matters involving San Francisco residents and property.

Superior Court of San Francisco

San Francisco is both a city and a county. The Superior Court of San Francisco handles all probate cases for residents. The probate court is at 400 McAllister Street in Department 204. Walk in through the main entrance on McAllister.

Call 415-551-3702 for probate information. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. The clerk window handles filings, questions, and document requests during these hours.

San Francisco provides online case access. Search at sf.courts.ca.gov. You can also use the case search portal at webapps.sftc.org. Enter a name or case number to find cases. The system shows filed documents and upcoming hearings.

The court accepts electronic filing for most probate documents. You can file online, in person at the clerk window, or by mail. Many attorneys use e-filing, but self-represented people often file in person.

How to File Probate Cases

Get form DE-111 from the California Courts website. This is the Petition for Probate. Complete all sections. Include information about the deceased, their assets, and proposed executor or administrator.

You need a certified death certificate. Get one from the San Francisco County Clerk or the state vital records office. If a will exists, get the original. California law requires delivery of wills to court within 30 days of learning about a death.

File your petition at the courthouse on McAllister Street. Go to Department 204. Pay the $435 filing fee. The clerk accepts cash, money orders, and credit cards. They assign a case number and schedule a hearing date about six to eight weeks out.

After filing, publish notice in a local newspaper. The San Francisco Examiner or Daily Journal are commonly used. Mail notice to all heirs and beneficiaries. File proof of these notices with the court before your hearing. The clerk can explain specific notice requirements.

Attend the hearing on the scheduled date. Bring photo ID. The judge reviews your petition and supporting documents. If everything is proper, the judge issues an Order for Probate and Letters. These letters authorize you to manage estate assets, pay bills, and distribute property.

Legal Help in San Francisco

The San Francisco Law Library is at 1145 Market Street on the fourth floor. The library has probate forms, practice guides, and legal research tools. Librarians help locate resources but do not give legal advice.

Several organizations offer free or low-cost legal assistance to San Francisco residents:

• Legal Assistance to the Elderly at 415-538-3333 for seniors
• Bay Area Legal Aid at 415-982-1300 for low-income individuals
• San Francisco Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service at 415-989-1616
• Volunteer Legal Services Program for qualifying applicants
• Court Self-Help Center at the courthouse

The Self-Help Center provides assistance with court forms and procedures. Staff answer questions about the probate process and help fill out documents. They cannot give legal advice about your specific case or represent you in court. Walk-in service is available during regular court hours.

Note: Small estates under $208,850 may not require full probate. California offers simplified procedures for qualifying estates. Check form DE-300 for current thresholds. Use form DE-310 for personal property or DE-305 for real estate. These procedures avoid lengthy court processes and reduce costs.

Getting Death Certificates

You need certified death certificates to file probate. Get them from the San Francisco County Clerk or the California Department of Public Health. The county office processes recent deaths faster.

The San Francisco County Clerk is at City Hall, Room 168, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place. Call 415-554-4950 for information. You can order in person or online through the county website. Certified copies cost about $28 each. Processing takes one to two weeks for mail orders.

The state office in Sacramento handles older records. Mail requests to P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento CA 95899-7410. Phone is 916-445-2684. Online orders can be placed at cdph.ca.gov. State processing takes three to four weeks.

Adjacent Counties

San Francisco is surrounded by water on three sides. Adjacent counties include San Mateo County to the south, Marin County to the north across the Golden Gate Bridge, and Alameda County and Contra Costa County to the east across the bay.

Other Bay Area cities with populations over 100,000 include Oakland, Fremont, San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Berkeley, Daly City, and San Mateo.

Tips for Searching Cases

When using the online case search, try searching by last name only. Then narrow results by adding first name or middle initial. Some people used nicknames in life but legal documents show their full legal name.

Women may have cases under their married name, maiden name, or both. Try all variations. Also check for common misspellings or alternate spellings of names.

If you have a case number from documents, enter it exactly as shown. Include all letters, numbers, and punctuation. The system may not find cases if formatting is wrong.

The online database covers recent decades. Very old probate records may only exist on paper. Contact the clerk office to request searches of archived files. Retrieval of old cases can take weeks.

Keep in mind that not all deaths result in probate. Small estates often use simplified procedures that don't create full court files. Assets with named beneficiaries transfer outside probate. Living trusts avoid probate completely.