Probate in Butte County

Probate Court Record

Butte County Superior Court - Civil/Probate Division

Butte County

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:00 PM

Office

1775 Concord Avenue, Chico, CA 95928

Self-represented filing

Allowed

Self-help forms

How to file probate in Butte County →

Verified October 15, 2026 · Source

Do I need a lawyer for probate in Butte County? →Settling an estate in Butte County →

Probate Firms Serving Butte County

Serves San Francisco and the greater Bay Area from downtown San Francisco, and handles probate proceedings in every California county. Guides executors, administrators, and trustees through probate and trust administration alongside estate planning, billing probate work at California Probate Code statutory rates. Founded in 2018.

Since 2018Serves the whole stateFree consultationVirtual consultationsEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate

Serves Marin County from San Rafael, with offices across Northern and Southern California and statewide service by phone and video. Handles probate, trust administration, and Medi-Cal and elder law matters alongside estate and tax planning. Founder Jim Cunningham heads the San Rafael office and is a State Bar certified specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law.

Serves the whole stateFree consultationVirtual consultationsEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawTax Planning+3

Serves San Diego County and Southern California from Newport Avenue in San Diego, centered on probate and trust disputes. Handles probate and trust administration, contested wills and accountings, trustee removal, and breach-of-fiduciary-duty claims, plus elder law and Medi-Cal planning. Vincent M. Casiano is a State Bar certified specialist; the first 30-minute consultation is free.

Solo PracticeServes the whole stateFree consultationEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+4

Bakersfield boutique serving Kern and Tulare counties from offices in Bakersfield and Visalia, and probate matters throughout California. Supports executors and administrators through California probate and represents heirs, excluded heirs, and fiduciaries in estate disputes, including will contests, breach-of-fiduciary-duty claims, and trust-distribution litigation.

Serves the whole stateEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust LitigationAsset Protection

Serves Orange County and San Diego from offices in Irvine and San Diego, and takes probate and trust litigation statewide. Handles trust and will contests, trustee misconduct and accounting disputes, conservatorship fights, and elder financial abuse claims, with probate and trust administration alongside. Founded in 2005; often brought in as trial counsel when an estate plan breaks down.

Since 2005Serves the whole stateTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust LitigationConservatorshipElder Abuse

San Diego estate, trust, and probate firm in Bankers Hill, with clients throughout California. Guides executors and administrators through probate — identifying assets and debts, paying creditors, distributing to beneficiaries — and handles trust administration, beneficiary representation, fiduciary duty disputes, and conservatorships and guardianships.

Serves the whole stateEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+3

All 35 California probate firms serving Butte County →

Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in California

Free California forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for California.

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Revocable Living Trust

Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.

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Last Will and Testament

In California, a will is signed before 2Cal. Prob. Code § 6110Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and the witnesses sign an affidavit at probate instead of a self-proving affidavitCal. Prob. Code § 6110Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.

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Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in California

Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in California: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool for California.

How Much Does Probate Cost?

Probate on a $500,000 estate in California costs an estimated $27,235Cal. Prob. Code § 10810Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees are statutory (set by law)Cal. Prob. Code § 10810Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.

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How Do I Settle an Estate?

Settling an estate in California: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 120 daysCal. Prob. Code §§ 8800-8804, 8900-8903Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 4 monthsCal. Prob. Code §§ 9050-9054, 9100-9104, 9150, 9153, 9256, 9353, 11420; CCP § 366.2Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 9 months to 12 months.

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How Much Can an Executor Charge?

California sets executor compensation by statute — about $13,000 on a $500,000 estate, roughly 2.6%Cal. Prob. Code § 10800Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.

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Do I Need Probate?

In California, estates valued at $208,850Cal. Prob. Code § 13100Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less skip probate with the Small Estate AffidavitCal. Prob. Code § 13100Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, 40 daysCal. Prob. Code § 13100Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death.

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What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?

In California, creditors have 4 monthsCal. Prob. Code § 9100 — later of 4 months from letters or 60 days from mailed/personal notice of administrationVerified Sep 8, 2026View source from the personal representative's appointment to present claims; late claims are barred.

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Can I Self-File Probate?

In California, informal probate is not availableCal. Prob. Code §§ 8005 (hearing on the petition), 8006 (court admits the will and appoints the personal representative); no registrar or clerk informal probate trackVerified Sep 8, 2026View source, so self-filing means a formal court petition rather than a registrar filing.

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