Sutter County Probate Court

Probate matters in Sutter County are filed at the Superior Court located at 1175 Civic Center Boulevard in Yuba City. The court processes all estate administration cases, will filings, conservatorships, and guardianships for county residents. Court hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Call 530-822-3304 for probate inquiries and general information about filing procedures. You can file documents in person at the clerk window during business hours or submit them by mail. Public access to court records is available at the courthouse for those who want to search or review probate case files.

Sutter Superior Court

The courthouse is at 1175 Civic Center Boulevard in Yuba City. Park in the lot adjacent to the building or use nearby street parking. The court is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The building is closed on weekends and court holidays.

Call 530-822-3304 for probate questions. Staff can provide basic information about procedures and case status. They cannot give legal advice. For specific questions about your case, ask to speak with a probate clerk who can access your file.

The court website is sutter.courts.ca.gov. Check the site for information about local rules and filing procedures. Each California county uses the same statewide Judicial Council forms but may have different local requirements for notice and hearings.

Sutter County is part of the Yuba City metropolitan area. The courthouse serves both Sutter and Yuba counties for many purposes, though probate cases are filed separately by county. Make sure you file in the correct county based on where the person who died lived.

Filing a Probate Case

Start by getting a certified copy of the death certificate. Order from the county where death occurred. For Sutter County deaths, contact the county health department. Cost is typically $28 for the first copy and $14 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.

Complete form DE-111, Petition for Probate. Download it free from courts.ca.gov. Attach the certified death certificate. If there is a will, bring the original to court. Photocopies are not accepted for wills. The court keeps the original in the file.

Take your documents to the courthouse at 1175 Civic Center Boulevard. File at the clerk window during business hours. Pay the $435 filing fee. The clerk accepts cash, checks, money orders, and credit cards. The clerk stamps your petition and gives you a hearing date.

The hearing is scheduled six to eight weeks out. You must publish notice in a local newspaper before the hearing. Sutter County requires publication in a paper of general circulation in the area where the person lived. Common choices include the Appeal-Democrat or other local papers. 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 requested. Keep all return receipts. File proof of publication and proof of mailing with the court before the hearing. The court checks that you properly noticed everyone. Missing proofs will delay your case.

Court Hearings and Estate Management

At the hearing, the judge reviews your petition. If no one objects and your paperwork is in order, the judge signs an Order for Probate. This appoints you as administrator or executor of the estate. You then receive Letters giving you authority to manage estate assets.

Get certified copies of the Letters. Cost is $40 for certification plus fifty cents per page. You need certified copies to show banks, brokerages, and other institutions holding estate property. Order several copies at once to avoid multiple trips to the courthouse.

Within four months of getting Letters, file an Inventory and Appraisal using form DE-160. List all estate assets and their values. A probate referee appointed by the state values the property. The referee charges a fee based on asset value. Contact the clerk for referee contact information for Sutter County.

During administration, keep detailed records of all transactions. File accountings showing money received and spent. Save receipts for all expenses. Good record-keeping makes closing the estate much easier.

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

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

Small Estate Options

Estates worth less than $208,850 can use simplified procedures instead of full probate. Form DE-310 is for personal property. No court filing is needed. Wait 40 days after death, fill out 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 court 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 to heirs. This is simpler and faster than full probate.

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 without the need for full probate administration.

Small estate procedures save time and money. They avoid the complexity of ongoing estate administration. Check if your estate qualifies before starting regular probate. Many Sutter County estates qualify because property values in this agricultural area are often moderate.

The small estate limit of $208,850 runs from April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2028. The limit increases every three years based on inflation. Future limits will be higher.

Finding Legal Assistance

The court may have self-help resources available. Ask at the clerk window about assistance with forms. Court staff can provide basic procedural information but cannot give legal advice or tell you what to do in your specific case.

Legal aid organizations serving Sutter County include:

• Legal Services of Northern California: 530-743-8064
• Senior Legal Services: 800-222-1753
• California Rural Legal Assistance: 800-337-0690

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

Private probate attorneys in Sutter County and nearby Yuba County charge hourly rates or use statutory fees. California law sets maximum fees based on estate value. For a $300,000 estate, the statutory fee is $9,000. For a $500,000 estate, the fee is $13,000. Many attorneys charge the statutory maximum.

You can handle probate yourself if the estate is straightforward. Many people do this successfully. The California Courts website has forms and instructions at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov. The self-help guide explains each step in plain language.

Probate Forms

All California probate forms are available free at courts.ca.gov. Download and fill them out on your computer or print and complete by hand. If writing by hand, use 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 the Sutter County court website for any local forms or special requirements. Some counties have additional local rules beyond the statewide Judicial Council forms.

Additional County Services

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

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

Property taxes continue during probate. Pay them on time to avoid penalties and interest. Contact the Sutter County Assessor if you have questions about property tax during estate administration. Some properties may qualify for reassessment after transfer to heirs.

Communities in Sutter County

Sutter County has no cities with populations over 100,000. The largest community is Yuba City (the county seat), followed by Live Oak. Other communities include Sutter, Meridian, and Robbins. All probate cases from these areas are filed at the county courthouse in Yuba City.

The county is primarily agricultural with extensive farmland. Population centers are concentrated along the Feather River. Total county population is under 100,000, making it a small to mid-sized California county.

Nearby Counties

For probate cases in neighboring counties, see: Yuba County, Colusa County, Butte County, Placer County, and Yolo County.