Walk-ins acceptedClerk's Office accepts in-person filings 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM; filings also accepted by mail or fax. Phone hours match the counter hours.
Self-represented filing
AllowedNo county-specific probate packet; court directs self-represented filers to the statewide Judicial Council forms (courts.ca.gov/forms) and selfhelp.courts.ca.gov.
Accepted payment
At the counterCash, Check, Money order.Checks and money orders payable to 'Alpine County Superior Court'. No debit or credit card at the window; online payment through ACI Payments (Official Payments) carries a transaction fee.
Hearing schedule
Probate calendar Mondays at 3:00 PM (moved to Wednesday when Monday or Tuesday is a court holiday).
Self-help center
Alpine County Courthouse, 14777 State Route 89, Markleeville1-530-545-1535 · selfhelp@alpine.courts.ca.govSelf-Help Services provided remotely by phone or email; in-person assistance closed. Listed areas are civil matters (debt collection, evictions, small claims, restraining orders); probate is not among them.
Mail
P.O. Box 518
Markleeville, CA 96120
Fax
1-530-694-2119
About the court
Smallest county by population in California. Alpine County Courthouse. Email: info@alpine.courts.ca.gov. The court does not post calendars; hearing inquiries go to the Clerk's Office with the case number.
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Alpine County, probate runs through the Superior Court at 14777 State Route 89, Markleeville. Unlike most California probate courts, which accept electronic filing, Alpine County remains one of 7 counties that file on paper.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under California intestacy law when there is no will.
Most California estates take 12 months to 18 months to move through this process. Creditors have 4 monthsCal. Prob. Code §§ 9050-9054, 9100-9104, 9150, 9153, 9256, 9353, 11420; CCP § 366.2Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present a claim, counted from the opening of the estate.
What Probate Costs in Alpine County
What probate costs in Alpine County, California comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Superior Court at 14777 State Route 89, Markleeville.
California charges $435Cal. Gov. Code §§ 70650(a), 70602.5, 70602.6Verified Oct 17, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
California sets attorney fees by statute — a percentage of the estate's gross value. Every attorney charges the same schedule, so the decision to hire one comes down to complexity, not price.
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. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
California requires publishing notice to creditors in a local newspaper, and the estate pays for it.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Industry surety premium estimate; the bond itself under Cal. Prob. Code §§ 8480 (bond required before letters issued), 8481 (waiver: will provision or all-beneficiary written waiver; court may still require bond for good cause)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in California typically runs 12 months to 18 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
How to File Probate at the Superior Court
Probate cases in Alpine County are filed at the Superior Court. File in person during business hours or by mail.
Self-Help Services provided remotely by phone or email; in-person assistance closed. Listed areas are civil matters (debt collection, evictions, small claims, restraining orders); probate is not among them.
Can You File Without an Attorney?
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.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Fax filings are limited to 20 pages with cover sheet MC-005; transmissions not received in full by 4:30 PM are filed the next day, and the $1.00 per page fee is paid by mailed check or through the court website within 24 hours.
Probate matters may be heard by Zoom unless the court orders otherwise; notice of remote appearance is submitted no later than five days before the hearing.
Alpine County has no adjudicated weekly newspaper; probate notices are published in the adjudicated newspaper of general circulation published nearest to Markleeville that circulates where the decedent resided or the property is located.
Filed with the opening petition at the Superior Court: Certified copy of the death certificate (required by some counties with the petition; not a statewide DE-111 attachment); Original will and any codicils (lodged with the court) (Cal. Prob. Code § 8200); Notice of Petition to Administer Estate (DE-121) with proof of publication and mailed notice (§§ 8100, 8120); Duties and Liabilities of Personal Representative (DE-147); Confidential Supplement to Duties and Liabilities of Personal Representative (DE-147S), where the court requires it by local rule; Proposed Order for Probate (DE-140)Cal. Prob. Code §§ 8000-8577 (appointment & letters); §§ 8002, 10450 (petition contents)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
Death Certificates and the Coroner in Alpine County
In California a death is registered locally, and in Alpine County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Assessor/Recorder, Alpine County as well as by California Department of Public Health - Vital Records.
The Assessor/Recorder is the county's local registrar, so one office registers deaths and issues the certificates. It issues certificates only for deaths in Alpine County.
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the County Recorder.
Deeds and other real property documents for Alpine County are recorded with the County Recorder at 99 Water Street, Markleeville, CA 96120. Phone: 1-530-694-2283. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-5:00 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 155, Markleeville, CA 96120.
The County Recorder charges $12 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page.
California allows independent administrationCal. Prob. Code §§ 10400 (Independent Administration of Estates Act), 10500(a) (administer without court supervision), 10501 (actions still requiring court supervision)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, so the personal representative manages, pays and distributes the estate without returning to the court for approval at each step. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Probate attorney fees in California are set by statute as a percentage of the estate's value, so every Alpine County attorney charges the same schedule. Price isn't the variable — experience with the Superior Court and responsiveness are.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Superior Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
South Lake Tahoe firm serving El Dorado County and the Tahoe basin, with attorneys admitted in both California and Nevada. Partner Tara Christian handles probate and trust administration, conservatorships and guardianships, and estate planning, alongside the firm's real estate and land use practice. The first consultation is free.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateConservatorshipand 3 more
South Lake Tahoe office serving El Dorado County and the Bay Area with trust and probate administration, trust and probate litigation, and wealth succession planning alongside estate planning. Attorney Jean-Claude Mallein is a dual Certified Specialist in Taxation Law and in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, certified by the California Board of Legal Specialization.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 4 more
Office
1046 Al Tahoe Blvd., Suite 13583South Lake Tahoe, CA 96151
South Lake Tahoe firm serving El Dorado and Alpine Counties with probate and trust administration alongside estate planning. Three Tillson attorneys with over 50 years of combined service in the community. Joseph W. Tillson holds the State Bar of California certified legal specialty in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law.
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.
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 4 more
Office
899 Northgate Drive, Suite 307San Rafael, CA 94903
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 5 more
Office
4967 Newport Avenue, Suite 12-172San Diego, CA 92107
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Data sourced from California statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Tools for Settling an Estate in California
Free tools for settling an estate in California: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool.
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.
See the Steps
How Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in California happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's trust statuteCal. Prob. Code § 15000 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 60 daysCal. Prob. Code §§ 16061.7, 16061.8, 16064, 16460Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
See the Steps
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.
Enter the estate value to see California attorney fees, executor fees, court costs and the timeline.
Examples:
General information about probate costs, not legal or financial advice. Fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value or net property after debts. Actual costs vary by county, attorney and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney for legal questions.
$
See whether you can file probate yourself
Enter the estate value to see whether California lets a self-represented person open probate, what the court requires, and what each route costs.
General information about filing probate without a lawyer, not legal advice. Both routes are priced by the probate cost estimator on the same estate; the attorney fee is the one line that differs. Actual costs vary by county, attorney and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney for legal questions.
