Santa Rosa Probate Court Records
Probate cases for Santa Rosa residents are filed with Sonoma County Superior Court. The city of Santa Rosa does not operate its own probate court. All estate administration, will validation, conservatorships, and guardianships go through the county court system. The probate division is located in Santa Rosa at 3055 Cleveland Avenue. This court handles all cases for people who lived in Santa Rosa or anywhere else in Sonoma County when they passed away. It also has jurisdiction when the deceased owned property in Sonoma County, regardless of where they resided. The county Superior Court is the only legal venue for all probate proceedings involving Santa Rosa residents and their estates.
Santa Rosa Probate Information
Sonoma County Superior Court
Probate is a county function under California law. Cities have no role. Sonoma County Superior Court processes all probate petitions for Santa Rosa residents and everyone else in the county.
The courthouse is at 3055 Cleveland Avenue in Santa Rosa. Phone 707-521-6650 for probate questions. For tentative rulings, call 707-521-6607. The clerk window handles filings and general questions during business hours.
Sonoma County provides online access to probate cases. Visit sonoma.courts.ca.gov to search. Enter a name or case number. The portal shows filed documents, hearing dates, and court orders. You can view public information without creating an account.
Electronic filing is available for probate documents. You can file online, in person at the clerk window, or by mail. Many attorneys use the e-filing system. Self-represented parties often prefer in-person filing with help from clerk staff.
Starting Probate Cases
Begin with form DE-111, the Petition for Probate. Get it from the California Courts website. Fill out all sections. Include details about the deceased, their assets, and the proposed personal representative.
Gather a certified death certificate. If a will exists, obtain the original. Take these documents to the courthouse on Cleveland Avenue. File at the probate clerk window. Pay $435 when you file. The court accepts checks, money orders, and credit cards.
After filing, 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 Press Democrat is commonly used. Mail notice to all heirs and beneficiaries. File proof of publication and mailing before your hearing.
Attend the hearing. Bring photo ID. The judge reviews your petition and attachments. If everything is in order, the judge issues an Order for Probate and Letters. These letters give you authority 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 with their values. When the estate is ready to close, file a final accounting and petition for distribution.
Getting Legal Help
The Sonoma County Law Library is at 600 Administration Drive, Room 108J, in Santa Rosa. The library has probate forms, legal guides, and research materials. Staff help you find resources but cannot give legal advice about your case.
Free and low-cost legal assistance is available through:
- Legal Aid of Sonoma County at 707-542-1290
- Senior Legal Services for people over 60
- Sonoma County Bar Association Lawyer Referral at 707-542-1222
- Court Self-Help Center for procedural questions
The Self-Help Center has staff who answer questions about court procedures and help complete forms. They cannot represent you or give legal advice about your specific situation. Walk-in service is available 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 full probate and save time.
Death Certificates
You need certified death certificates to file probate. Get them from the Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor or the California Department of Public Health. The county office processes recent deaths faster.
The county clerk office is at 585 Fiscal Drive in Santa Rosa. Call 707-565-3800 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 Sonoma County Areas
All Sonoma County residents use the same probate court in Santa Rosa, whether they live in the city of Santa Rosa or other parts of the county.
Adjacent counties include Mendocino County, Lake County, Napa County, and Marin County.
Nearby cities in other counties include Vallejo in Solano County and Fairfield in Solano County.
Finding Cases Online
When using the online search, 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 be listed 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 sensitive to exact formatting.
The online database covers recent years. Older probate records may exist only on paper in courthouse archives. 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 online, one may not exist.