In Antioch, this office at 5169 Lone Tree Way sees families by appointment only, one of the firm's locations with Concord and Pinole. It handles cremation and burial services and helps families contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs about headstones and burial in a national cemetery.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Contra Costa County, California
How probate works in Contra Costa County: the Superior Court - Probate Division record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Contra Costa County Superior Court - Probate Division
Contra Costa County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
725 Court Street, Martinez, CA 94553
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
Required for attorneysProbate is a Designated Case for mandatory e-filing by represented parties under Local Rule 2.87 and the Ninth Amended Standing Order re E-Filing (February 2, 2026). Self-represented parties are exempt and may e-file if they choose; any party may request exemption on form EFS-007 with EFS-008. E-filings are processed 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on court days. On paper: Ex parte motions and oppositions; Affidavit re Real Property of Small Value; Bonds; Estate planning documents; Wills and codicils; Subpoenas; Letters of Administration, Testamentary, Conservatorship and Guardianship.
Self-represented filing
AllowedDownloadable decedent's-estate Probate Forms Packet (DE-111) and Conservatorship form packets posted; guardianship via LawHelp Interactive. Probate Facilitator assists self-represented parties with limited conservatorship/guardianship of the person only (no estate matters).
Departments
- Wakefield Taylor Courthouse1-925-608-1000 · 725 Court StreetAll probate, guardianship and conservatorship documents are filed and heard here. Phones answered 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
- Probate Examiners (ex parte)725 Court Street, Room 210Ex parte matters presented 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM; sign in 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM.
- Court Records725 Court Street, Room 103 · Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
- A.F. Bray Courthouse1-925-608-1000 · 1020 Ward Street
- Probate Facilitator1-925-608-2066 · probfac@contracosta.courts.ca.govVoicemail and email only.
About the court
- Wakefield Taylor Courthouse (725 Court Street, Martinez) is where all probate, guardianship, and conservatorship documents are filed and heard. LawHelp Interactive available for free guardianship form completion.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Contra Costa 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 Contra Costa County, probate runs through the Superior Court - Probate Division at 725 Court Street, Martinez. Contra Costa County runs probate e-filing through contracosta.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 Contra Costa County
What probate costs in Contra Costa 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 725 Court Street, Martinez.
Procedures at this court that affect cost: The court does not favor waiver of the probate referee's appraisal absent exceptional circumstances.
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 cases in Contra Costa County, California are filed at the Superior Court - Probate Division.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Wakefield Taylor Courthouse, Probate Examiners (ex parte), Court Records, and A.F. Bray Courthouse.
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 Contra Costa County Self-Filing Assessment.
Contra Costa 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
Probate Examiners review every petition and publish calendar notes listing deficiencies, ordinarily 6 to 8 days before the hearing on the court's public portal; a "NEEDED" item is answered by an amended or supplemental pleading before the hearing.
The calendar-notes page states pleadings are filed five days before the hearing to be considered; Local Rule 7.55 sets responses to tentative rulings at close of business two court days before the hearing, with endorsed copies delivered to the Probate Examiner.
SourceProposed orders, other than orders confirming sales, are submitted to the Probate Division at least three court days before the hearing, prepared as if the petition is granted including requested fees.
Local Rule 7.54. Orders submitted later are processed after the hearing.
SourceThe first hearing may be continued by telephone request to the clerk to cure defects noted in the tentative ruling; later continuances need a filed declaration or an appearance.
Local Rule 7.56.
SourceCourt Appearances
Ex parte applications are presented to the Probate Examiners in Room 210 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, with sign-in from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM; all ex parte matters are decided on submission and the filer is contacted for pick-up.
SourceAppearances at the first hearing on uncontested matters are not normally required unless a person was cited or the tentative ruling states "Appearances required".
Local Rule 7.52.
SourceService Requirements
Guardianship cases require service upon certain family members per Form GC-54.
SourceOther Requirements
Conservators must complete Conservatorship Workshop (register at Public Law Library: 925-655-4627). Professional fiduciaries exempt.
SourceProbate Facilitator assists self-represented parties with limited conservatorships and guardianships (no estate matters).
SourceA nominated executor who lives outside California is required to post bond as though the will had not waived it; where all beneficiaries waive bond the court considers reducing it to no less than $20,000.
Local Rule 7.154.
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 Contra Costa County
In California a death is registered locally, and in Contra Costa County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Contra Costa Health, Vital Registration as well as by California Department of Public Health - Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Contra Costa County · Contra Costa Health, Vital Registration
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
10 Douglas Drive, Suite 220, Martinez, CA 94553
Website
Order online
Also issued by
The county recorder
Local rule
- The office issues certificates for deaths in Contra Costa County this year and last year. Older deaths are held by the Recorder/County Clerk, whose records begin in 1905.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $30 |
Verified November 1, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Sheriff-Coroner
Contra Costa County · Sheriff's Office Coroner's Division
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-11:30 AM and 1:30 PM-4:00 PM
Office
1960 Muir Road, 1st Floor, Martinez, CA 94553
Website
Mail and offices
Fax
1-925-313-2886
Verified November 1, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in Contra Costa County
16 funeral homes and crematories in Contra Costa County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
Higgins Chapel is a funeral chapel at 1310 A Street in Antioch. Its office is listed as open 24 hours, Monday to Sunday, and families can reach it by telephone, fax or email.
Holy Cross Cemetery & Funeral Center in Antioch provides funeral and cremation services beside ground burial, cremation niches, mausoleum crypts and family estates on fifty-five acres. The Diocese of Oakland runs it for the regional Catholic community, and a memorial Mass is held on the first Saturday of each month.
In Brentwood, this Bay Area Cremation Society location provides cremation services and pre-need planning to families throughout Contra Costa County. Spanish-language funeral advisors are available. The Brentwood location opened in 2012.
In Brentwood, this funeral home conducts burial and cremation services at 839 First Street, the house where a funeral parlor opened in 1905. A renovation completed in 2015 added space for memorial services, catered events and receptions.
In Concord, this office handles cremation and burial services, including immediate burial and the scattering of cremated remains. The Concord funeral home has 2 arrangement rooms and a viewing room, and it offers live video streaming of funerals and viewings.
Funeral homes by city: Antioch, Brentwood, Concord, Danville, Pinole, Richmond, San Ramon, Walnut Creek
Cremation Services in Contra Costa County
14 listings
Pre-Need Funeral Plans in Contra Costa County
9 listings
Burial Services in Contra Costa County
10 listings
Veterans Funeral Services in Contra Costa County
4 listings
Funeral Transport in Contra Costa County
4 listings
Spanish-Speaking Funeral Homes in Contra Costa County
1 listing
Catholic Funeral Homes in Contra Costa County
1 listing
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in Contra Costa 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 Contra Costa County are recorded with the County Clerk-Recorder at 555 Escobar Street, Martinez, CA 94553. Phone: 1-925-335-7900. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM (open through the noon hour).
The County Clerk-Recorder charges $14 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page.
Contra Costa County accepts electronic recording.
Recording Office Record
County Clerk-Recorder
Contra Costa County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM (open through the noon hour)
Office
555 Escobar Street, Martinez, CA 94553
Website
E-recording
available
Fees
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $14 |
| 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 Contra Costa 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 Contra Costa 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.
Fairfield firm serving Solano and Contra Costa counties. Guides families through the California probate process in the Solano County court, advises trustees and beneficiaries during trust administration, and represents parties in contested will and trust proceedings. The practice also covers estate planning, guardianships, elder abuse, and family law.
Serves San Francisco, San Mateo, and the surrounding Bay Area from downtown San Francisco. Handles probate and trust administration through asset distribution and title transfers, plus conservatorships and trust and estate litigation. Principal Sheila Robello holds an LLM in taxation and is a State Bar certified specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law.
Boutique Uptown Oakland practice serving Alameda County executors and successor trustees. Settles a decedent's estate whether or not a court proceeding is required, advises beneficiaries of estates and trusts, and represents fiduciaries appointed to administer estates, trusts, and conservatorships. The practice traces to a firm founded in Oakland in 1948.
Walnut Creek firm serving Contra Costa and Alameda counties. Probate work covers court filings and hearings, creditors' claims, inventory and appraisals, court accountings, and distribution, alongside trust administration, conservatorship petitions, and special needs trusts. Represents trustees, personal representatives, beneficiaries, and heirs in will contests and trust disputes.
Napa estate planning and elder law practice led by Anthony Celaya, with offices across California from Santa Rosa and Sacramento to Los Angeles and San Diego. Handles probate and estate administration and Medi-Cal planning alongside trusts, wills, and incapacity planning. Clients are served in person or through virtual consultations, and the initial consultation is free.
Serves executors, heirs, and trustees in Oakland and across Alameda County from Harrison Street downtown. A boutique built around the probate process and trust administration, with estate planning, Medi-Cal planning, and first-party special needs trusts alongside. Founder Mike Broad has practiced in the East Bay since 1986.
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
- Contra Costa County Superior Court - Probate Division, official page
- Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder, official page
- Contra Costa 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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