Required for attorneysMandatory for probate, initial and subsequent filings, under Local Rule 2.18, through an electronic filing service provider listed on the court's page (the court's e-filing manager is Journal Technologies). Self-represented parties are exempt. Documents over 15 pages or with multiple exhibits are bookmarked and text-searchable.
Self-represented filing
AllowedSelf-represented parties are exempt from mandatory e-filing.
Hearing schedule
Probate matters heard Fridays at 8:30 AM in the assigned probate department; LPS conservatorships on Mondays.
Self-help center
El Centro Courthouse, 939 West Main Street (Family Law), El Centro, CA 922431-760-482-2233 · Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM (except court holidays) · Assistance in Spanish in addition to EnglishAccess Center services listed: divorce, paternity, child and spousal support, guardianship, conservatorship and requests for orders; decedent estates are not listed. Guardianship and conservatorship workshops Wednesdays.
County forms
Objection (PR-05)Objection by a conservatee, beneficiary, heir, parent or other person in a conservatorship, guardianship, trust or estate case.
Departments
Probate Department1-760-482-2200 · El Centro Courthouse, 939 West Main Street, 1st FloorClerk live chat Mon-Fri 8:00 AM-4:00 PM from the court's Contact the Court page.
Winterhaven Court1-760-336-3500 · 2124 Winterhaven Drive, Winterhaven, CA 92283
About the court
Downtown El Centro Courthouse. The Probate Division handles decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, trust cases and other protective proceedings.
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 Imperial County, probate runs through the Superior Court - Probate Division at 939 West Main Street, El Centro. Imperial County runs probate e-filing through imperial.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 Imperial County
What probate costs in Imperial 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 939 West Main Street, El Centro.
Procedures at this court that affect cost: An account or petition for distribution states the personal representative's commissions and the attorney's fees with the basis of calculation, and reports every act taken under independent administration with whether notice of proposed action was given.
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 Imperial County, California are filed at the Superior Court - Probate Division.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Probate Department, Criminal Courthouse, and Winterhaven Court.
Access Center services listed: divorce, paternity, child and spousal support, guardianship, conservatorship and requests for orders; decedent estates are not listed. Guardianship and conservatorship workshops Wednesdays.
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.
Exhibits other than accounting schedules over ten pages in total are lodged with a notice of lodgment, not attached, with a self-addressed stamped envelope or attorney service pick-up slip for their return.
Appearances are required on conservator and guardian appointments, confirmations of sale and contested petitions; other petitions may be preapproved by the probate examiner with no appearance if the order reaches the court before the hearing. The court mails no notice of a continued date.
Probate examiner's notes are posted on the court's Public Portal (free account, "Probate Note Search" by case number); counsel and self-represented parties contact the assigned examiner to clear defects.
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 Imperial County
In California a death is registered locally, and in Imperial County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Public Health Department Vital Statistics Office, Imperial County as well as by California Department of Public Health - Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Imperial County · Public Health Department Vital Statistics Office
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 Imperial County are recorded with the County Clerk-Recorder at 940 West Main Street, Suite 202, El Centro, CA 92243. Phone: 1-442-265-1077. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM.
The County Clerk-Recorder charges $14 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page.
Imperial County accepts electronic recording through CSC.
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 Imperial 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.
El Centro firm working the Imperial County probate court since 1990, with more than three decades of probate and estate planning practice. Handles the transfer of a decedent's assets through probate, plus wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives, and serves Calexico, Brawley, Holtville, Heber, Calipatria, and Westmorland.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateBusiness LawCivil LitigationFamily Law
Handles estate planning and probate for families across Imperial County from its El Centro office, including wills, trusts, estate administration, and the title and real-property questions that arise in settling an estate. Attorney Patrick M. Pace has practiced probate and real estate law in the county for more than 40 years.
El Centro firm practicing exclusively in Imperial County, handling estate planning and real property law alongside civil litigation, family law, business formation, and criminal defense. Partners Drew D. Williams and Raj P. Singh draw on local knowledge of Imperial County courts and procedures.
Serves Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Kern, and Los Angeles counties, with six Central Coast and Southern California offices. Handles probate and trust administration, conservatorships, guardianships, and will and trust disputes, alongside estate planning and Medi-Cal planning. Christopher Botti is a State Bar board certified specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 6 more
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.
Corona-headquartered firm with offices in San Diego, Newport Beach, Glendale, and San Francisco, plus satellite offices in Riverside, Temecula, Vista, and Roseville. Through its Sandoval Legacy Group division it handles probate and trust administration, conservatorships, will contests and fiduciary disputes, elder law, and special needs planning. Offers a free phone consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 7 more
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.
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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.
