Estate Planning & Probate in Marin County, California
There are two reasons people look up Marin County probate: to keep a family out of it, or to get a loved one's estate through it. This page points you to the right path—planning ahead, or settling an estate at the Superior Court - Probate Division.
Someone died — settling an estate
Filing probate at the Superior Court - Probate Division, what it costs, transferring property, and local attorneys.
What to do when someone dies in Marin County→Planning ahead as a property owner
Keep a Marin County home out of probate with a transfer-on-death deed or a living trust.
Estate planning in Marin County→The Probate Process in Marin 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 Marin County, probate runs through the Superior Court - Probate Division at 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael. Marin County runs probate e-filing through marin.courts.ca.gov, its own system rather than a shared statewide portal.
Full Marin Countyprobate guide: cost, how to file & attorneys →Probate Court Record
Superior Court - Probate Division
Marin County
Address
Phone
Hours
Recording Deeds & Property Documents
Recording Office Record
County Recorder
Marin County · Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk · Shelly Scott
Address
Phone
Hours
$14 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page; a 2-page TOD deed records for $92; TOD deeds are exempt from transfer tax.
Full recording details →Verified July 13, 2026 · Source
Local Procedures at the Superior Court - Probate Division
The court offers a self-help center, open In-person drop-in Tuesday - Thursday 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM; phone Mon-Fri 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 - 3:00 PM, in Civic Center, Hall of Justice, Room C-44, San Rafael, CA 94903. Staff can review paperwork for completeness and explain procedures, though they cannot provide legal advice. Assistance is available in Spanish in addition to English. Call 415-444-7130 for details.
Documents received in the clerk's office after 3:30 PM are time-stamped the following court business day. Probate office located in Hall of Justice, Room 113.
California Estate Planning Articles
Articles about estate planning, probate, and trusts relevant to families in Marin County.
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