Vallejo Probate Court Records

Probate court records for Vallejo residents are filed at Solano County Superior Court in Fairfield. The city of Vallejo does not operate a probate court. California law gives county Superior Courts exclusive jurisdiction over probate matters. When a Vallejo resident dies, their estate case must be filed with Solano County Superior Court. This includes all wills, estate administration, guardianships, and conservatorships. The probate division is located at 600 Union Avenue in Fairfield, which is about 15 miles northeast of Vallejo. The court phone for probate questions is 707-207-7341. Email the family division at familydivision@solano.courts.ca.gov for specific inquiries.

Solano County Probate Division

Vallejo is part of Solano County. All probate cases go through Solano County Superior Court. The courthouse is at 600 Union Avenue in Fairfield. From Vallejo, take Interstate 80 east for about 15 miles. Court hours are standard business hours Monday through Friday. Call 707-207-7341 for general probate information.

Solano County operates an online case portal at portal.solano.courts.ca.gov. Search by name or case number to find probate records. The system displays filed documents, hearing dates, and case status. Most probate records are public unless sealed by court order for privacy.

The court has a self-help center where staff answer basic questions about forms and procedures. They do not provide legal advice for your specific case. The center is available during regular court hours. No appointment is needed for quick questions.

Filing Probate for Vallejo Residents

To open a probate case, go to the Fairfield courthouse. Bring form DE-111, the Petition for Probate. Attach a certified death certificate and the original will if one exists. The filing fee is $435. Pay by cash, check, money order, or credit card.

The clerk window reviews your paperwork for completeness. They check that forms are properly filled out and signed. Once accepted, they stamp your petition, assign a case number, and set a hearing date. Hearings are typically scheduled six to eight weeks out.

You must publish legal notice before the hearing. The Vallejo Times-Herald or other Solano County newspaper works for this. You also mail notice to all heirs and beneficiaries named in the will or entitled under state law. File proof of publication and mailing with the court at least 15 days before your hearing.

The judge reviews everything at the hearing. Most hearings are short if the paperwork is proper. The judge asks a few questions and reviews supporting documents. If approved, you get an Order for Probate and Letters of Administration. These letters prove your legal authority to manage the estate.

Within four months, file an Inventory and Appraisal listing all estate assets. A court-appointed probate referee values real estate, vehicles, and other property. When the estate is ready to close, file a final petition and accounting. This requires another $435 fee and another hearing.

Simplified Procedures for Small Estates

Many Vallejo estates qualify for simplified procedures. If the total estate value is less than $208,850, you can use a small estate affidavit. This threshold applies to deaths on or after April 1, 2025. It changes every three years based on the California Consumer Price Index.

Use form DE-310 for personal property like bank accounts, stocks, and vehicles. Wait 40 days after death, then present the completed affidavit to banks or other asset holders. They must release the assets to you without a court order. For real estate valued under the limit, use form DE-305 and record it with the county recorder.

Assets with named beneficiaries skip probate completely. Life insurance proceeds go directly to listed beneficiaries. Retirement accounts transfer to named persons. Bank accounts with payable-on-death designations transfer automatically. Real estate in a living trust or held as joint tenants with right of survivorship avoids probate.

Legal Help in Vallejo

Solano County Bar Association operates a lawyer referral service. Call 707-428-3100 for a referral to a probate attorney. The first consultation is often free or reduced cost. Most probate attorneys charge based on a statutory fee schedule that is a percentage of estate value.

Legal aid is available for low-income Solano County residents. Legal Services of Northern California has an office in Fairfield. Call 707-428-1912 for intake information. They handle some probate matters if you meet financial eligibility requirements.

The Vallejo Public Library has legal reference materials and computers for public use. Find California probate forms at courts.ca.gov/forms.htm. The California Courts Self-Help Center at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/probate provides step-by-step guides.

Senior services in Vallejo can refer older adults to legal resources. Area 4 Agency on Aging serves Solano County. They connect seniors with legal assistance and other services. Call 800-510-2020 for information.

Obtaining Death Records

Certified death certificates are required for probate filings. Get them from Solano County Health and Social Services or the California Department of Public Health. The county office is at 275 Beck Avenue in Fairfield. Call 707-784-8400 for information. Certified copies cost about $28 each.

Order online through the county website for convenience. Processing takes one to two weeks for recent deaths. The state vital records office in Sacramento has all California death records going back many years. Mail orders to P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento CA 95899-7410. State processing takes longer, typically three to four weeks.

Order multiple certified copies. Each institution needs its own certified copy. Plan on three to five copies for most estates.

Other Solano County Cities

The only other Solano County city with a population over 100,000 is Fairfield. Adjacent counties include Napa County, Contra Costa County, and Sacramento County.

Tips for Searching Cases

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

Probate case numbers in Solano County follow a specific format. If you have a case number from paperwork, enter it exactly as shown. Include all letters, dashes, and numbers in the correct order.

Older cases may not be in the online system. The county digitized recent years but older probate files may exist only in paper form. For estates from decades ago, contact the clerk office directly. Archived record retrieval takes extra time.

If no case appears, it might not exist. Not all deaths create probate cases. Small estates use affidavits. Assets with beneficiaries transfer outside probate. Living trusts avoid court. Some estates have no assets requiring administration. Call the clerk to confirm whether a case was filed.