Siskiyou County Probate Records

Probate filings in Siskiyou County are handled at the Superior Court in Yreka. The court processes estate administration cases, wills, conservatorships, and guardianship matters for residents of this northern California county. Court staff can provide information about filing procedures and case status. One important local rule: probate letters and bonds must be filed in paper form, not electronically. This differs from many California counties that accept electronic filing for most documents. Visit the courthouse in person or call ahead to understand current filing requirements before submitting your probate petition.

Siskiyou Superior Court

The courthouse is in Yreka. Call 530-842-0411 for general court information. Staff can answer questions about procedures, hours, and filing requirements. Ask specifically about current local rules, as practices in Siskiyou County may differ from other California counties.

The court website is siskiyou.courts.ca.gov. Check the site for updates on local procedures. The county does not have a separate probate division page, so probate information is included under civil division resources.

An important local rule: probate Letters and bonds must be filed in paper form. This applies even if other documents in your case can be filed electronically. Bring original Letters and bond documents to the courthouse or mail them. Do not attempt to file these documents online.

Siskiyou County is rural and covers a large geographic area. The courthouse in Yreka serves the entire county. For residents in remote areas, travel to the courthouse can be significant. Consider mailing documents when in-person filing is not required.

How to File Probate Documents

Get a certified death certificate before filing. Order from the county where death occurred. For Siskiyou County deaths, contact the county health department. Cost is typically $28 for the first copy.

Complete form DE-111, Petition for Probate. Attach the certified death certificate. If there is a will, bring the original to court. The court keeps the original will. File your petition at the courthouse in Yreka. The filing fee is $435.

The clerk gives you a hearing date, usually six to eight weeks out. You must publish notice in a local newspaper. Ask the clerk which newspapers serve the area where the decedent lived. Publication must occur at least fifteen days before the hearing.

Mail notice to all heirs and anyone named in the will. Use certified mail with return receipt. Keep all receipts. File proof of publication and proof of mailing before the hearing. The court checks that you properly noticed everyone.

At the hearing, the judge reviews your petition. If no one objects and your paperwork is correct, the judge signs an Order for Probate. You then receive Letters giving you authority to act for the estate. Remember: Letters must be filed in paper form, not electronically.

Managing Estate Assets

Once you have Letters, you can access estate bank accounts, sell property, and pay debts. Get certified copies of the Letters to show banks and other institutions. Certification costs $40 plus fifty cents per page. Order several copies to avoid multiple trips to the courthouse.

File an Inventory and Appraisal within four months. Use form DE-160. List all estate property and its value. A probate referee appointed by the state values the assets. The referee serves multiple counties in the region. Contact the court clerk for referee contact information.

Keep detailed records during administration. File accountings showing all money received and spent. Save receipts for all expenses. Good records make closing the estate much easier.

When ready to close, file a Petition for Final Distribution using form DE-295. The filing fee is $435. Attach a final accounting. The judge holds a hearing to review the accounting and approve distribution to heirs. After the judge signs the final order, distribute assets and file receipts showing each heir received their share.

Note: Most estates take nine to eighteen months from start to finish. Simple estates may complete faster. Complex estates with disputes or unusual assets take longer.

Simplified Procedures

Estates worth less than $208,850 can use small estate procedures. Form DE-310 is for personal property. No court filing is needed. Wait 40 days after death, complete the affidavit, and present it to whoever holds the assets. Banks and other institutions must release property when shown a valid affidavit.

Real property valued under $70,200 can be transferred with a simplified petition. Use form DE-305. File with the court and pay the $435 fee. One hearing is usually enough to get an order transferring the property.

Surviving spouses can file a Spousal Property Petition on form DE-221. This works for community property and for separate property left to the spouse. The fee is $435. Most spousal petitions are approved at the first hearing.

Small estate procedures save time and money. They avoid the complexity of full probate administration. Many Siskiyou County estates qualify because property values in rural areas are often lower than in urban counties.

The small estate limit of $208,850 runs from April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2028. The limit adjusts every three years based on inflation. Check current limits at courts.ca.gov when filing.

Legal Assistance Options

Court staff can provide basic information about procedures and forms. They cannot give legal advice or tell you what to do in your specific case. Call ahead with questions about filing requirements and local rules.

Legal aid organizations serving Siskiyou County include:

• Legal Services of Northern California: 530-241-3565
• Senior Legal Hotline: 800-222-1753
• Disability Rights California: 800-776-5746

These organizations provide free legal help to people who meet income requirements. Services include phone advice, help with forms, and sometimes court representation. Most programs prioritize seniors and low-income families.

Private probate attorneys in Siskiyou County may be limited. Some attorneys from neighboring counties travel to Yreka for court appearances. Ask about travel fees when discussing costs. Many attorneys charge statutory fees based on estate value. For a $400,000 estate, the statutory fee is $11,000.

You can handle probate yourself if the estate is straightforward. Many people do this successfully. The California Courts website has forms, instructions, and self-help guides at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov.

Required Forms

Download all California probate forms free at courts.ca.gov. Forms are available in PDF format. Fill them out on your computer or print and complete by hand in blue or black ink.

Key forms include DE-111 to start probate, DE-140 for the court order, DE-150 for Letters, DE-160 for the Inventory and Appraisal, and DE-295 to close the estate. Each form includes instructions explaining how to complete it.

Check with the Siskiyou County court clerk for any local forms or special requirements. Some counties have additional local rules beyond the statewide forms.

Additional County Services

Death certificates for Siskiyou County deaths are issued by the county health department. Order in person, by mail, or online if available. Only eligible people can request death certificates: family members, legal representatives, or others with a direct interest.

If the estate includes real property, work with the county recorder to transfer title after probate closes. Record the court order and any required deeds. Recording fees depend on the number of pages in your documents.

Property taxes continue during probate. Pay them on time to avoid penalties and interest. Contact the county assessor with questions about property tax during estate administration. Some properties may qualify for reassessment after transfer to heirs.

Communities in Siskiyou County

Siskiyou County has no cities with populations over 100,000. Communities include Yreka (the county seat), Mount Shasta, Weed, Dunsmuir, and Tulelake. All probate cases from these communities are filed at the county courthouse in Yreka.

The county is large and rural, covering over 6,000 square miles. It borders Oregon to the north. Travel times within the county can be significant due to mountainous terrain and winter weather conditions.

Nearby Counties

For probate cases in neighboring counties, see: Shasta County, Modoc County, and Trinity County. Siskiyou County also borders Oregon. For Oregon probate matters, contact courts in Jackson County or Klamath County, Oregon.