Solano County Probate Court Records

The Solano County Superior Court handles all probate matters at the Fairfield courthouse located at 600 Union Avenue. Probate cases include estate administration, will contests, conservatorships, and guardianships. The court operates a combined family and probate division, so inquiries about probate cases go through the family division contact line. You can search cases online through the county portal or visit the courthouse in person during business hours. Email questions to the family division at familydivision@solano.courts.ca.gov or call 707-207-7341 for assistance with probate procedures.

Filing Location and Contact

File probate documents at the Solano County Superior Court, 600 Union Avenue in Fairfield. The courthouse is centrally located between Vallejo and Vacaville. Parking is available in adjacent lots. Public transit serves the area with several bus routes.

Call 707-207-7341 for probate inquiries. This number reaches the family division, which handles probate matters. Email questions to familydivision@solano.courts.ca.gov. Include your case number if you have one. Most email inquiries receive responses within two business days.

The court website is solano.courts.ca.gov. The site has information about filing procedures, local rules, and required forms. Check the website before filing to understand current requirements.

Solano County operates an online case portal at portal.solano.courts.ca.gov. Use the portal to search cases, view documents, and check hearing dates. Some documents can be viewed for free. Others require a fee to download.

Online Case Search

Search probate cases at portal.solano.courts.ca.gov. Enter the last name of the person who died or the case number. The system shows case status, filed documents, and upcoming hearings.

The portal displays a register of actions for each case. This is a list of all documents filed and all court orders. Click on documents to view them. Many are available at no charge. Certified copies must be requested from the clerk office.

You can also use the portal to check tentative rulings. Judges post tentative rulings the day before hearings. If you agree with the tentative, you do not need to appear. If you disagree, you must appear and argue your position.

For cases not available online, contact the clerk office by phone or email. Older records may be archived offsite. Retrieval can take one to two weeks. The California State Archives also maintains historical Solano County probate records.

Starting a Probate Case

Obtain a certified death certificate from the county where death occurred. For Solano County deaths, contact the county health department. Cost is typically $28 for the first copy and $14 for additional copies ordered at the same time.

Complete form DE-111, Petition for Probate. Attach the certified death certificate and the original will if one exists. Take these documents to the courthouse at 600 Union Avenue. Pay the $435 filing fee. Cash, checks, money orders, and credit cards are accepted.

The clerk stamps your petition and assigns a hearing date. The date is usually six to eight weeks out. Write down the date, time, and department number. You must publish notice of the hearing in a local newspaper before the hearing date.

Solano County requires publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the area where the decedent lived. Common choices are the Vallejo Times-Herald, Daily Republic (Fairfield), or Reporter (Vacaville). Publish at least fifteen days before the hearing. Get an affidavit of publication from the newspaper and file it with the court.

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

Court Hearings

Arrive early on your hearing date. Check in at the clerk window. Bring copies of all filed documents. The judge calls your case when ready. If no one objects and your paperwork is correct, the judge signs an Order for Probate.

The order appoints you as administrator or executor. You then receive Letters of Administration or Letters Testamentary. These give you legal authority to manage estate assets. Get certified copies of the Letters. Cost is $40 for certification plus fifty cents per page.

Take certified Letters to banks, brokerages, and anyone holding estate property. They need to see the Letters before releasing assets to you. Order several certified copies at once to save trips back to the courthouse.

Within four months, file an Inventory and Appraisal on form DE-160. A probate referee appointed by the state values estate assets. The referee charges a fee based on asset value. Contact the clerk for referee information for Solano County.

File accountings during administration showing all money received and spent. Keep receipts and detailed records. When ready to close the estate, file a Petition for Final Distribution using form DE-295. The filing fee is another $435. The judge holds a final hearing to review your accounting and approve distribution.

Note: Most estates take nine to eighteen months from start to finish. Simple cases may complete in six months. Complex estates with disputes can take two years or more.

Small Estate Options

Estates worth less than $208,850 qualify for simplified procedures. Use form DE-310 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 properly completed affidavit. This saves the time and expense of full probate. There is no filing fee and no court hearing.

Real property valued under $70,200 can be transferred with form DE-305. This requires a court filing and the $435 fee, but the process is simpler than regular probate. One hearing is usually enough to get an order transferring the property to heirs.

Surviving spouses can use form DE-221, the Spousal Property Petition. 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 without the need for full probate administration.

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

Legal Assistance

The court self-help center provides free assistance with forms and procedures. Staff can explain what forms you need and how to complete them. They cannot give legal advice or tell you what to do in your specific case. No appointment is needed.

Legal aid organizations serving Solano County include:

• Legal Services of Northern California: 707-643-0054
• Senior Legal Services: 707-644-4621
• Bay Area Legal Aid: 800-551-5554

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

The Solano County Bar Association operates a lawyer referral service. Call to get names of probate attorneys. Many offer free initial consultations. Ask about fees during the consultation. Some charge hourly rates. Others use statutory fees based on estate value.

For a $500,000 estate, the statutory attorney fee is $13,000. For a $700,000 estate, the fee is $17,000. These are maximums set by California law. Some attorneys charge less for straightforward cases.

Probate Forms

Download all California probate forms free at courts.ca.gov. Forms are in PDF format. You can 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 has instructions explaining how to complete it.

Check the Solano County court website for any local forms or requirements. Some counties have additional local rules beyond the statewide Judicial Council forms.

Additional County Services

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

If the estate includes real estate, you need to record transfer documents with the county recorder after the judge signs the final distribution order. The recorder office is in the same building as the courthouse. Recording fees vary based on document length.

Property taxes continue during probate. Pay them on time to avoid penalties. Contact the Solano County Assessor if you have questions about property tax during estate administration.

Cities in Solano County

Solano County includes the cities of Fairfield and Vallejo, both with populations over 100,000. All probate cases for residents of these cities are filed at the county courthouse in Fairfield.

Other cities in the county include Vacaville, Benicia, Dixon, Rio Vista, and Suisun City. No city operates its own probate court. All cases go through Solano County Superior Court.

Nearby Counties

For probate cases in neighboring counties, see: Napa County, Yolo County, Sacramento County, Contra Costa County, and Marin County.