Del Norte County Probate Records

Del Norte County handles probate court records at the Superior Court in Crescent City. The courthouse sits at 450 H Street in Room 209. All estate matters for county residents are processed at this location. This includes wills, intestate estates, conservatorships, and guardianships. The clerk office is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. Call 707-464-8115 for general probate information. Del Norte County provides online case access through a public portal at cmsportal.dncourt.com. You can search cases, view documents, and check hearing schedules from home. For in-person assistance, visit the courthouse during business hours.

Del Norte Superior Court Probate

The Del Norte County Superior Court probate division is in Crescent City at 450 H Street. Go to Room 209 for probate matters. This small courthouse serves California's far northwest corner near the Oregon border. The court processes a limited number of probate cases each year due to the low population.

Office hours are 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday. Walk-ins are welcome. Lines are uncommon given the small population. You can usually speak with a clerk immediately. The courthouse has parking available nearby. Crescent City is a small town, so finding parking is rarely difficult.

Call 707-464-8115 for probate questions. Staff can tell you if a case exists, provide hearing dates, and answer basic filing questions. They cannot give legal advice about your specific situation. For legal advice, consult an attorney or legal aid service.

The Del Norte court website at delnorte.courts.ca.gov provides contact information and links to state resources. For detailed probate guides, visit the California Courts Self-Help Center at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov.

Online Case Portal

Del Norte County provides online case access through a public portal. The system is at cmsportal.dncourt.com. Search by party name or case number to find probate records. The portal shows filed documents, hearing dates, and case status.

Most documents can be viewed online. Some records may be sealed or restricted by court order. If you cannot find a document online, contact the clerk office. Certified copies must be requested from the clerk. The fee is forty dollars plus fifty cents per page. Processing takes about one week.

The online portal is free to use. No account creation is required for basic searches. Registration may be needed for e-filing or case notifications. Del Norte County offers limited e-filing options. Check with the court for current e-filing availability.

Filing a Probate Case

Begin by completing form DE-111, the Petition for Probate. The filing fee is four hundred thirty-five dollars. Attach a certified death certificate. Get this from the county health department or California Department of Public Health. If the decedent had a will, file the original. The court keeps the original will. Make copies for your records.

After filing, the court sets a hearing date. This is typically six to eight weeks out. Before the hearing, publish notice in a local newspaper. Del Norte County has limited newspaper options. The Triplicate in Crescent City may accept legal notices. Ask the clerk which papers qualify. Notice must run once a week for three weeks.

Mail notice to all heirs and beneficiaries. This includes anyone named in the will and anyone who would inherit under California law. File proof of mailing at least fifteen days before the hearing. Use form DE-120.

At the hearing, the judge reviews your petition. If approved, you receive an Order for Probate and Letters of Administration. These letters give you authority to manage estate assets. You can now open estate bank accounts, collect property, and pay debts. Within four months, file an Inventory and Appraisal using form DE-160.

File periodic accountings during estate administration. When ready to close, file a Petition for Final Distribution. This requires another hearing and another four hundred thirty-five dollar fee. The judge approves distribution to heirs. Once the order is signed, distribute assets and close the estate.

Note: Small estates under $208,850 may use simplified procedures under California Probate Code sections 13100 to 13116. This avoids formal probate and is faster and less expensive.

Legal Aid Resources

Del Norte County has limited local legal services. Residents can access statewide resources for help. Legal Services of Northern California serves the area from regional offices. Call 916-551-2150 for intake. They assist low-income residents with probate matters.

Seniors age sixty and older can call the Senior Legal Hotline at 800-222-1753. This free service provides legal advice over the phone. Attorneys answer questions about wills, estates, and conservatorships. No income limits apply for seniors.

• Legal Services of Northern California: 916-551-2150
• Senior Legal Hotline: 800-222-1753
• State Bar Lawyer Referral: 866-442-2529
• California Courts Self-Help: selfhelp.courts.ca.gov
• Judicial Council Forms: courts.ca.gov

For attorney referrals, contact the State Bar of California at 866-442-2529. They can connect you with probate attorneys who serve Del Norte County. Some attorneys in Eureka or Redding handle cases in Del Norte. Ask about flat fee arrangements for simple estates.

Cities in Del Norte County

Del Norte County has no cities with populations over 100,000. The county seat is Crescent City, which is also the largest community. All probate cases for county residents are filed at the Superior Court in Crescent City.

Nearby Counties

Del Norte County is California's northernmost coastal county. It borders Oregon to the north. For probate matters in neighboring California counties, see Humboldt County and Siskiyou County.