Santa Clarita Probate Court Records

Probate cases in Santa Clarita are handled by Los Angeles County Superior Court, not by the city. Santa Clarita does not have a municipal probate court or process estate cases locally. All probate proceedings, including estate administration, will validation, conservatorships, and guardianships, go through the county court system. The probate division for all of Los Angeles County is at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 North Hill Street in downtown Los Angeles. Anyone who lived in Santa Clarita when they died will have their estate case filed at this courthouse. The county court also handles cases when the deceased owned property in Los Angeles County. This is the only legal venue for all probate matters involving Santa Clarita residents and their estates.

Los Angeles County Probate Court

California assigns probate jurisdiction to county courts. Cities have no role. Los Angeles County Superior Court handles all probate cases for Santa Clarita residents and everyone else in the county.

The Stanley Mosk Courthouse is downtown at 111 North Hill Street in Los Angeles. Phone 213-830-0850 for probate information. The probate clerk office is in Room 112 on the first floor. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Los Angeles County provides online case access. Search at lacourt.org. You can also use the public portal at lacourt.ca.gov. Enter a name or case number to find cases. The system shows filed documents and hearing schedules.

The county requires mandatory electronic filing for attorneys in probate cases. This started in June 2017. Self-represented people can still file paper documents in person or by mail. The clerk window accepts filings during regular business hours.

Filing Estate Cases

To start a probate case, get form DE-111 from courts.ca.gov. This is the Petition for Probate. Fill in all sections. Include details about the deceased, their assets, and who will serve as personal representative.

You need a certified death certificate. If there is a will, get the original. Take these items to the downtown Los Angeles courthouse. File at the probate clerk window in Room 112. Pay $435 when you file. The court accepts cash, money orders, and credit cards.

After filing, the court schedules a hearing six to eight weeks out. You must publish notice in a local newspaper. The Santa Clarita Valley Signal or Los Angeles Daily Journal are options. Mail notice to all heirs and beneficiaries. File proof of these notices before your hearing.

Go to the hearing at the scheduled time. Bring photo ID. The judge reviews your petition and attachments. If approved, you receive an Order for Probate and Letters. These give you authority to manage estate assets, pay bills, and distribute property.

Getting Legal Help

The Los Angeles Superior Court operates a self-help center on the first floor of the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. Staff can help you fill out forms and understand procedures. They cannot give legal advice about your case. The center is open during court hours.

Several organizations provide free or low-cost legal assistance:

• Bet Tzedek Legal Services at 323-939-0506 for wills, powers of attorney, and probate
• Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles at 800-399-4529
• Neighborhood Legal Services at 800-433-6251
• LA County Bar Association Lawyer Referral at 213-243-1525

The Santa Clarita Valley Bar Association also has resources. Call 661-222-4529 for information about local attorneys who handle probate cases.

Note: Estates valued under $208,850 may not need full probate. California allows simplified procedures for small estates. Use form DE-310 for personal property or DE-305 for real estate. These procedures avoid court hearings and save time.

Death Certificates

You must have certified death certificates to file probate. Get them from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder or the California Department of Public Health. The county office is faster for recent deaths.

The county registrar office is at 12400 East Imperial Highway in Norwalk. You can also order online through their website. Certified copies cost about $28 each. Processing takes one to two weeks. Bring valid ID when ordering in person.

The state vital records office is in Sacramento. Mail orders to P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento CA 95899-7410. Call 916-445-2684 for information. Online ordering available at cdph.ca.gov. State processing takes three to four weeks.

Other Los Angeles County Cities

Nearby cities that also use Los Angeles County Superior Court include Los Angeles, Palmdale, Lancaster, Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena, Long Beach, Torrance, Pomona, and Downey. All file at the same downtown Los Angeles courthouse.

Adjacent counties include Ventura County, Kern County, Orange County, and San Bernardino County.

Tips for Finding Cases

When searching online, try different name variations. Search by last name only. Try with and without middle initials. Some people go by nicknames but legal documents use full legal names. Women may have cases under maiden names or married names.

Case numbers in Los Angeles follow a specific format. If you have a case number, enter it exactly as shown. Include all letters and leading zeros.

Older probate records may not be in the online system. The county digitized cases from recent decades. For estates from the 1980s or earlier, contact the clerk office directly. They can search archived records, but retrieval takes time.

If you cannot find a case, it might not exist. Not all deaths result in probate cases. Small estates use simplified procedures. Assets with named beneficiaries transfer outside probate. Some people have living trusts that avoid probate.