Probate Records in Santa Monica

Probate cases for Santa Monica residents go through Los Angeles County Superior Court. The city of Santa Monica does not have its own probate court or handle estate matters. All probate proceedings, including estate administration, will validation, conservatorships, and guardianships, are filed with the county court system. The probate division for all of Los Angeles County is located at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse at 111 North Hill Street in downtown Los Angeles. This court processes cases for anyone who lived in Santa Monica when they passed away. It also handles estates when the deceased owned property in Los Angeles County, even if they lived elsewhere. The county Superior Court is the exclusive legal venue for all probate matters involving Santa Monica residents and their estates.

Los Angeles County Handles All Cases

California law assigns probate to county Superior Courts. Cities lack authority. Los Angeles County Superior Court handles all probate cases for Santa Monica and every other city in the county.

The Stanley Mosk Courthouse is downtown Los Angeles at 111 North Hill Street. Call 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 case access portal at lacourt.ca.gov. Enter a name or case number. The system shows filed documents and hearing schedules.

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

How to Start Probate

Get form DE-111 from courts.ca.gov. This is the Petition for Probate. Fill it out completely. Include information about the deceased, their assets, and who will serve as executor or administrator.

You need a certified death certificate. If there is a will, get the original document. 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 sets a hearing date six to eight weeks out. You must publish notice in a local newspaper. The Santa Monica Daily Press or Los Angeles Daily Journal are options. Mail notice to all heirs and beneficiaries. File proof of these notices before your hearing.

Attend the hearing at the scheduled time. Bring photo ID. The judge reviews your petition and supporting papers. If approved, you receive an Order for Probate and Letters. These authorize you to manage estate assets, access accounts, pay bills, and distribute property.

Legal Help for Santa Monica Residents

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

Free and low-cost legal help is available through:

• 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
• Santa Monica City Attorney's Office for general legal referrals

The Santa Monica Public Library main branch has a legal reference section. Librarians can help you find probate forms and information. Many libraries stock basic legal guides.

Note: Estates worth less than $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.

Obtaining 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.

Nearby Los Angeles County Cities

Other cities that use Los Angeles County Superior Court include Los Angeles, Long Beach, Glendale, Santa Clarita, Burbank, Pasadena, Torrance, Inglewood, Downey, and Pomona. All file at the same downtown courthouse.

Adjacent counties include Ventura County and Orange County.

Searching for Cases

When searching online, try different name variations. Search by last name only first. Then add first name. Some people used nicknames but legal documents show their full legal name. 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 on documents. Include all letters and leading zeros.

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

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. If you cannot find a case, one may not exist.