Santa Ana Probate Court Records

Probate cases for Santa Ana residents are processed through Orange County Superior Court. The city of Santa Ana does not operate its own probate court. All estate administration, will validation, conservatorships, and guardianships are handled by the county court system. The probate division sits at the Costa Mesa Justice Complex at 3390 Harbor Boulevard in Costa Mesa. This court has jurisdiction over all probate cases for anyone who lived in Santa Ana or anywhere else in Orange County when they died. It also handles cases when the deceased owned real property in the county, regardless of where they resided. The county Superior Court is the exclusive venue for all probate proceedings involving Santa Ana residents.

Orange County Superior Court

Probate is a county-level function in California. Cities have no jurisdiction. Orange County Superior Court processes all probate petitions for Santa Ana residents and everyone else living in the county.

The probate courthouse is in Costa Mesa, not in Santa Ana. The address is 3390 Harbor Boulevard, Costa Mesa. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The clerk window handles filings and questions during these hours.

Orange County provides online access to probate cases. Visit occourts.org to search. Enter a name or case number. The system shows filed documents, hearing dates, and court orders. You can view most information without logging in.

The county uses Tyler Odyssey for case management. Electronic filing is available for probate documents. You can file online, in person at the clerk window, or by mail. Many attorneys use e-filing, while self-represented parties often file in person.

Starting a Probate Case

Get form DE-111 from courts.ca.gov. This is the Petition for Probate. Fill in all required sections with information about the deceased, their assets, and the proposed personal representative.

Collect a certified death certificate. If a will exists, get the original. Take these documents to the Costa Mesa Justice Complex. File at the probate clerk window. Pay $435 at the time of filing. The court accepts cash, money orders, checks, and credit cards.

The clerk assigns a case number and schedules a hearing. Hearings typically occur six to eight weeks after filing. You must publish notice in a local newspaper. The Orange County Register or Daily Pilot are commonly used. Mail notice to all heirs and beneficiaries. File proof of publication and mailing before your hearing date.

Attend the hearing. Bring photo ID. The judge reviews your petition and supporting documents. Most uncontested petitions are approved quickly. If approved, you receive an Order for Probate and Letters. These authorize you to manage estate assets, pay creditors, and distribute property to heirs.

Legal Help in Santa Ana

The Orange County Law Library is at 515 North Flower Street in Santa Ana. The library has probate forms, legal guides, and research materials. Library staff help locate resources but cannot give legal advice.

Several organizations provide free or low-cost legal assistance:

• Legal Aid Society of Orange County at 714-571-5200
• Public Law Center at 714-541-1010 for low-income residents
• Orange County Bar Association Lawyer Referral at 949-440-6700
• Office on Aging Legal Advocacy at 714-480-6450 for seniors

The court operates a self-help center with staff who answer procedural questions and assist with forms. They cannot give legal advice about your specific case. The center is at the Costa Mesa Justice Complex and offers walk-in service during court hours.

Note: Estates valued under $208,850 may qualify for simplified procedures. Check form DE-300 for the current threshold. For personal property, use form DE-310. For real estate, use form DE-305. These procedures avoid lengthy court processes.

Getting Death Certificates

You need certified death certificates to file probate. Get them from the Orange County Clerk-Recorder or the California Department of Public Health. The county office handles recent deaths faster.

The Orange County Clerk-Recorder has offices in Santa Ana at 601 North Ross Street and in Laguna Hills. Call 714-834-2500 for information. Online ordering is available 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 all California deaths. Mail requests to P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento CA 95899-7410. Phone 916-445-2684. Online ordering at cdph.ca.gov. State processing takes three to four weeks.

Other Orange County Cities

Other large Orange County cities include Anaheim, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Orange, Fullerton, Costa Mesa, Mission Viejo, and Newport Beach. All use the same probate court in Costa Mesa.

Adjacent counties are Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County, and San Diego County.

Tips for Searching Cases

When using the online portal, try searching by last name only. Then narrow results by adding first name. Some records use middle initials while others spell out middle names. Women may have cases under married names or maiden names.

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

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

Not every death creates a probate case. Small estates use simplified procedures that don't generate court files. Assets with named beneficiaries transfer outside probate. Living trusts avoid probate entirely. If no case appears, one may not exist.