In Colusa, this funeral service has arranged burials and cremations since 1887, including church, graveside and visitation services for traditional burials. Licensed staff are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Colusa County, California
How probate works in Colusa County: the Superior Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Colusa County Superior Court
Colusa County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Office
547 Market Street, Colusa, CA 95932
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
OptionalE-filing is permissive for initial and subsequent filings in all probate matters, through any electronic filing service provider. Filings are also accepted by mail or in person at the Clerk's Office. On paper: Wills, codicils and testamentary trusts; Bonds or undertakings; Financial institution, care facility and escrow documents under Probate Code Section 2620 submitted by conservators, guardians or trustees of court-supervised trusts; California state vital records forms; Documents lodged provisionally under seal and documents in sealed cases; Documents a judicial officer orders filed at the Clerk's Office.
Self-represented filing
AllowedForms available from the court, the Colusa County Self-Help Center, or the Judicial Council website (courts.ca.gov/forms).
Hearing schedule
- Probate calendar Tuesdays at 9:00 AM in Department 1 (547 Market Street); adoptions, guardianships and conservatorships Tuesdays at 8:45 AM in Department 1.
Self-help center
- 547 Market Street, Courthouse Annex, Colusa, CA 959321-530-458-0598 · self-help@colusa.courts.ca.gov · Monday-Wednesday 8:30 AM-4:30 PMColusa County Self-Help Center; in probate it assists with guardianships only.
Fax
1-530-458-2230
Departments
- Main Courthouse (Department 1)1-530-458-5149 · 547 Market Street
- Courthouse Annex (Department 2)1-530-458-5149 · 532 Oak Street
- Self-Help Center (Guardianships only)1-530-458-0598 · self-help@colusa.courts.ca.gov
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Colusa 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 Colusa, probate runs through the Superior Court at 547 Market Street, Colusa. Colusa County runs probate e-filing through colusa.courts.ca.gov, the only California county on that system.
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 Colusa County
What probate costs in Colusa 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 547 Market Street, Colusa.
Procedures at this court that affect cost: Every probate account, including guardianship, conservatorship and trust accounts, opens with a summary of charges and credits supported by schedules.
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 documents in Colusa County can be filed in person at the Superior Court, by mail, or electronically. Most families handling probate themselves prefer paper filing, though e-filing is available.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Main Courthouse (Department 1), Courthouse Annex (Department 2), and Self-Help Center (Guardianships only).
Colusa County Self-Help Center; in probate it assists with guardianships only.
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 Colusa County Self-Filing Assessment.
Colusa 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
Orders prepared by the moving party and affidavits of publication are filed or lodged with the clerk at least three court days before the hearing.
Local Rule 15.05.
SourceDocument Requirements
A petition caption names every order sought; where any part of the estate is distributed to a trust, the caption says so.
Local Rule 15.01.
SourceA petition for final distribution includes a schedule of creditor claims, the full terms of any testamentary trust, a computation of fees and commissions, and a statement of separate and community property.
Local Rule 15.09.
SourceCourt Appearances
Verified probate petitions may be submitted without an appearance, except petitions to confirm a sale of real property or of personal property over $100 and petitions to appoint a guardian or conservator, where the petitioner or attorney appears.
Local Rule 15.06. Before denying an unattended petition the court continues it two weeks.
SourceOther Requirements
Self-Help Center provides assistance for guardianships only.
SourceWhat to Bring
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 Colusa County
In California a death is registered locally, and in Colusa County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Clerk-Recorder, Colusa County as well as by California Department of Public Health - Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
County Recorder
Colusa County · Clerk-Recorder
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:00 PM
Office
546 Jay Street, Suite 200, Colusa, CA 95932
Website
Certified copies
Issued the same day
Local rule
- Certificates are ready about four weeks after the death, and the office takes no online orders. The Public Health Department holds only the current and previous year.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $26 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Sheriff-Coroner
Colusa County · Sheriff's Department
Mail and offices
Fax
1-530-458-4697
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in Colusa County
1 funeral home or crematory in Colusa 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: Colusa
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in Colusa 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 Clerk-Recorder.
Deeds and other real property documents for Colusa County are recorded with the County Clerk-Recorder at 546 Jay Street, Suite 200, Colusa, CA 95932. Phone: 1-530-458-0500. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:00 PM.
The County Clerk-Recorder charges $15 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page.
Recording Office Record
County Clerk-Recorder
Colusa County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:00 PM
Office
546 Jay Street, Suite 200, Colusa, CA 95932
Website
Fees
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $15 |
| 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 Colusa 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 Colusa 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.
Colusa firm serving the Sacramento Valley with probate and trust administration alongside estate planning. Guides executors, administrators, and trustees from petition and heir and creditor notices through inventories, accountings, and final distribution orders. Erin Steidlmayer now runs the practice her father-in-law opened in Colusa in 1979; Spanish interpretation is available in the office.
Serves Butte County and the northern Sacramento Valley from an office in Chico. Spencer M. Gysin prepares wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives, and handles probate conservatorships for adults who can no longer manage their own affairs. The practice also covers family law and guardianships.
Davis firm serving Yolo, Sacramento, Solano, Placer, Colusa, El Dorado, and Yuba Counties with probate administration and conservatorships alongside estate planning and special needs planning. Keith Banks was previously probate clerk and attorney-unit research assistant at the Yolo Superior Court. Formed in 2019 by the merger of two Yolo County firms.
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.
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.
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
- Colusa Superior Court, official page
- Colusa County Clerk-Recorder, official page
- Colusa 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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