Santa Maria Probate Records

Probate cases for Santa Maria residents are filed with Santa Barbara County Superior Court. The city of Santa Maria does not operate its own probate court. All estate administration, will validation, conservatorships, and guardianships go through the county court system. Santa Barbara County has two main courthouse locations. The Santa Maria courthouse is at 312 East Cook Street. The Santa Barbara courthouse is at 1100 Anacapa Street. Anyone who lived in Santa Maria when they died will have their estate case filed with one of these courthouses. The county court also has jurisdiction when the deceased owned property in Santa Barbara County, regardless of where they lived. These are the only legal venues for probate proceedings involving Santa Maria residents.

Santa Barbara County Superior Court

Probate is a county function in California. Cities have no jurisdiction. Santa Barbara County Superior Court processes all probate filings for Santa Maria and every other city in the county.

The Santa Maria courthouse is at 312 East Cook Street. Phone 805-614-6414 for probate questions. The Santa Barbara courthouse is at 1100 Anacapa Street. Phone 805-882-4520. Email ProbateExaminer@sbcourts.org with questions. Both locations handle probate filings and hearings.

Santa Barbara County uses an online case portal. Search at santabarbara.courts.ca.gov. Enter a name or case number to find cases. The system shows filed documents, hearing dates, and court orders.

Electronic filing is available for probate documents. You can file online, in person at either courthouse, or by mail. Many attorneys use the e-filing system. Self-represented people often file in person at the clerk window.

Opening Estate Cases

Start with form DE-111, the Petition for Probate. Download it from the California Courts website. Complete all required sections with information about the deceased, their assets, and the proposed executor or administrator.

Gather a certified death certificate. If a will exists, obtain the original. Take these documents to either the Santa Maria or Santa Barbara courthouse. File at the probate clerk window. Pay $435 when you file. The court accepts cash, checks, money orders, and credit cards.

The clerk assigns a case number and schedules a hearing six to eight weeks out. You must publish notice in a local newspaper. The Santa Maria Times is commonly used for Santa Maria cases. 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. If everything is in order, the judge issues an Order for Probate and Letters. These letters authorize you to manage estate assets, pay creditors, and distribute property to heirs.

Within four months of receiving letters, file an Inventory and Appraisal using form DE-160. List all estate assets and their values. When the estate is ready to close, file a final accounting and petition for distribution. This requires another hearing and another $435 fee.

Legal Help in Santa Maria

The Santa Barbara County Law Library has branches at both courthouse locations. The libraries stock probate forms, legal guides, and research materials. Library staff help you find resources but cannot give legal advice.

Free and low-cost legal help is available through:

• Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County at 805-963-6754
• Senior Legal Advocacy Program for people over 60
• Santa Barbara County Bar Association Lawyer Referral at 805-569-9400
• Court Self-Help Center at both courthouse locations

The Self-Help Center has staff who answer procedural questions and help fill out forms. They cannot represent you in court or give legal advice about your specific case. Walk-in service is available during court hours.

Note: Estates valued under $208,850 may qualify for simplified procedures instead of full probate. 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

Certified death certificates are required to file probate. Get them from the Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder or the California Department of Public Health. The county office processes recent deaths faster.

The county clerk office has locations in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria. Call 805-568-2250 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 Santa Barbara County Areas

All Santa Barbara County residents use the same probate court system, whether they live in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, or other cities in the county.

Adjacent counties include San Luis Obispo County, Ventura County, and Kern County.

Nearby cities in other counties include San Buenaventura, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, and Simi Valley in Ventura County.

Finding Probate Cases

When using the online search, try searching by last name only first. Then add first name to narrow results. Some records use middle initials while others spell out middle names. Women may appear 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 is format-sensitive.

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 beneficiaries pass outside probate. Living trusts avoid probate. If no case appears, one may not exist.