In Jackson, this mortuary serves families in Amador County and the Sierra Nevada foothills with burial, cremation, funeral and memorial services and pre-need planning. Established in 1902, it has a chapel and private viewing space. It operates no on-site cemetery or crematory and arranges human composting through a partner provider.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Amador County, California
How probate works in Amador County: the Superior Court - Probate Division record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Amador County Superior Court - Probate Division
Amador County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-3:30 PM
Office
500 Argonaut Lane, Jackson, CA 95642
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
OptionalProbate documents may be filed by electronic fax (fax 1-209-231-5811 with cover sheet MC-005), optional: $5 per document of 1-25 pages, $10 for 26-50 pages (50-page limit), plus a 3.5% processing fee on filing fees paid by credit card; fees waived under an approved fee waiver. Fax filing is accepted through January 31, 2027. E-filing through an electronic filing service provider opened September 14, 2026 for civil and small claims cases only; other case types are to be added later. On paper: Wills, codicils and testamentary trusts; Bonds and undertakings; Subpoenaed documents; Financial institution, care facility and escrow documents under Probate Code 2620 submitted by conservators, guardians or trustees of court-supervised trusts; California vital records forms; Documents lodged provisionally under seal and documents in sealed cases.
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe Probate page links the Judicial Council forms for decedent's estates and for guardianships and conservatorships.
Hearing schedule
- Probate, estates and conservatorships Fridays at 1:30 PM in Department 3 (weeks 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the month).
Self-help center
- Self-help service1-209-257-2627Family Law Facilitator and Self-Help Attorney, on site by appointment and limited drop-in; assistance in probate is limited to guardianship cases on a very limited basis.
County forms
- PR-001 Declaration in Support of Ex Parte ApplicationSupporting declaration for an ex parte application in a probate case.
Departments
- Court calendar information1-209-257-2600
About the court
- Hearing date inquiries: 209-257-2692. Court launched new website at amador.courts.ca.gov on 2026-05-26 (amadorcourt.org now 301-redirects). Clerk's Office counter and phone hours are 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday; the building is open 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Amador County
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 Amador County, probate runs through the Superior Court - Probate Division at 500 Argonaut Lane, Jackson. Probate e-filing in Amador County goes through amador.courts.ca.gov, which no other California county uses.
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 Amador County
What probate costs in Amador 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 - Probate Division at 500 Argonaut Lane, Jackson.
Procedures at this court that affect cost: Within 30 days of a conservatee's death the conservator files a notice of death with the death certificate attached and serves the Court Investigator; a final accounting follows within 60 days of the death; The court bills guardianship and conservatorship investigation fees unless waived for hardship; payment is due within 30 days of the bill.
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 Division
Probate documents in Amador County can be filed in person at the Superior Court - Probate Division, by mail, or electronically. Most families handling probate themselves prefer paper filing, though e-filing is available.
Beside the filing office, the court lists a separate line for Court calendar information.
Family Law Facilitator and Self-Help Attorney, on site by appointment and limited drop-in; assistance in probate is limited to guardianship cases on a very limited basis.
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.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Amador County Self-Filing Assessment.
Amador County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
After a petition for conservatorship or guardianship is filed, the clerk sets the hearing, generally 45 days from filing.
SourceThe civil law and motion rules apply to probate filings, except the tentative ruling procedure.
SourceA petitioner for appointment of a conservator files an Order Appointing Court Investigator (GC-330) with the petition.
SourceOther Requirements
A Court Investigator interviews the persons who are the subject of a conservatorship petition before the first hearing and periodically after appointment.
SourceProspective conservators (other than corporate or institutional conservators) watch the video "With Heart: Understanding Conservatorship" and submit the verification form before the hearing.
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Superior Court - Probate Division: 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 Amador County
In California a death is registered locally, and in Amador County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Recorder-Clerk, Amador County as well as by California Department of Public Health - Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
County Recorder
Amador County · Recorder-Clerk
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM (public counter)
Office
810 Court Street, Jackson, CA 95642
Website
Local rule
- The Recorder-Clerk is the county's local registrar and holds deaths in Amador County from 1872. The office takes cash, check or money order and no cards.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $26 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Sheriff-Coroner
Amador County · Sheriff's Office Coroners Bureau
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in Amador County
1 funeral home or crematory in Amador County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
Funeral homes by city: Jackson
Cremation Services in Amador County
1 listing
Pre-Need Funeral Plans in Amador County
1 listing
Burial Services in Amador County
1 listing
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in Amador 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-Clerk.
Deeds and other real property documents for Amador County are recorded with the County Recorder-Clerk at 810 Court Street, Jackson, CA 95642. Phone: 1-209-223-6468. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM (public counter).
The County Recorder-Clerk charges $12 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page.
Recording Office Record
County Recorder-Clerk
Amador County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM (public counter)
Office
810 Court Street, Jackson, CA 95642
Website
Fees
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $12 |
| Each additional page | $3 |
| GC 27388.1 Building Homes and Jobs Act Fee (SB 2)Applies to a TOD deed | $75 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | TOD deeds are exempt from transfer tax |
Cal. Gov. Code 27361; Cal. Gov. Code 27388; Cal. Gov. Code 27388.1; Cal. Gov. Code 27388.2; Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code 11911; Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code 11930
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Forms that put a death on the title
- Free forms: Affidavit of Death Form
Probate Attorneys Serving Amador County
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 Amador County attorney charges the same schedule. Price isn't the variable — experience with the Superior Court - Probate Division and responsiveness are.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Superior Court - Probate Division, 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.
Amador City firm serving Amador County and the surrounding Gold Country. Handles probate and estate administration and trust and estate litigation, alongside wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives, elder law, and real estate work. Notary services are available at the office.
Serves Amador and Calaveras counties from Main Street in Jackson. Handles probate and trust administration after a death alongside wills and trusts. Gwendolyn K. Christeson founded the practice and is a State Bar certified specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, practicing in Amador County since 2003; new estate plans get a free 30-minute consultation.
Jackson sole practitioner serving Amador County and the surrounding Mother Lode with estate planning, probate, trust administration, and Medi-Cal planning. Guides clients through probate from the petition through paying creditors, selling estate real property, and final distribution, and advises trustees on accountings. Makes house calls for clients unable to come to the office.
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.
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.
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.
Legal Sources
(10)·
- Cal. Gov. Code §§ 70650(a), 70602.5, 70602.6
- Cal. Prob. Code § 10800
- Cal. Prob. Code §§ 10400 (Independent Administration of Estates Act), 10500(a) (administer without court supervision), 10501 (actions still requiring court supervision)
- Cal. Prob. Code §§ 8000-8577 (appointment & letters); §§ 8002, 10450 (petition contents)
- Cal. Prob. Code §§ 8005 (hearing on the petition), 8006 (court admits the will and appoints the personal representative); no registrar or clerk informal probate track
- Cal. Prob. Code §§ 9050-9054, 9100-9104, 9150, 9153, 9256, 9353, 11420; CCP § 366.2
- Cal. Gov. Code 27361; Cal. Gov. Code 27388; Cal. Gov. Code 27388.1; Cal. Gov. Code 27388.2; Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code 11911; Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code 11930
- Amador County Superior Court - Probate Division, official page
- Amador County Recorder-Clerk, official page
- Amador County vital records and death investigation offices, official page
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.
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