Chapel by the Sea plans funerals, memorials, burial and cremation in Fort Bragg, near the Pacific coast. It states it has been in business since 1896.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Mendocino County, California
How probate works in Mendocino County: the Superior Court - Probate Division record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Mendocino County Superior Court - Probate Division
Mendocino County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-3:30 PM
Office
100 North State Street, Room 107, Ukiah, CA 95482
Website
E-filing
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
Required for attorneysElectronic filing is mandatory for most civil, family law, probate and juvenile case types. Self-represented litigants are not required to e-file, although e-filing is strongly encouraged. Civil, family law and probate documents are e-filed no later than two full business days before the hearing; matters needing judicial attention within one business day are filed in person. On paper: Original wills and original codicils; Documents lodged under Probate Code section 2620; Letters of administration, letters testamentary, and letters of conservatorship or guardianship (including temporary); Certified copies of death certificates; Ex parte applications and other ex parte filings; Stipulations and proposed orders, and orders after hearing; Bonds and undertakings.
Filing in person
Walk-ins acceptedProbate clerk, Room 107 of the Ukiah courthouse, public counter and telephone 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday except judicial holidays. Self-represented filers may use the Ukiah drop box on the main floor during the business day (time-stamp documents on the drop box; checks or money orders attached, no cash); the Ten Mile Branch drop box takes filings during the 12:00-1:00 PM closure.
Self-represented filing
AllowedLocal probate forms on the Local Forms page are conservatorship forms (MPB-180 to MPB-210); no decedent-estate packet.
Hearing schedule
- Probate calendar (conservatorships, estates and trusts) Fridays at 9:00 AM in Courtroom E; guardianship matters Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:30 AM in Courtroom C
Self-help center
- Self Help Center, 100 North State Street, Room 304, Ukiah, CA 954821-707-468-2020 · Monday-Thursday 9:00 AM-11:30 AM and 1:00 PM-4:00 PM (in person at Ukiah) · Assistance in Spanish in addition to EnglishPhone line is recorded information only. Listed case types: CARE Act, divorce and legal separation, custody and visitation, child support, parentage, restraining orders, small claims, guardianship of the person, name change and gender recognition; decedent estates are not listed. Fort Bragg drop-in help is by Zoom from the Ten Mile courthouse on Mondays from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM.
County forms
- Petition to Remove Conservator (MPB-180)Petitioning to remove a conservator.
- Petition to Transfer Venue of Conservator (MPB-190)Petitioning to transfer a conservatorship to another county.
- Order re: Transfer Venue of Conservator (MPB-191)Order on a conservatorship venue transfer.
- Petition for Termination of Conservatorship (MPB-200)Petitioning to end a conservatorship.
- Petition to Resign as Conservator (MPB-210)Petitioning to resign as conservator.
Departments
- Probate Court Investigations (Room 212)1-707-468-2066 · 100 North State Street, Room 212Call first to see the investigator.
- Guardianships1-707-463-4484 · 100 North State Street, Room 212
- Fort Bragg Branch (Ten Mile)700 South Franklin Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437Clerk's office public counter and telephone 8:30 AM-12:00 PM and 1:00-3:30 PM.
- Tentative Ruling Oral Argument Noticestr@mendocino.courts.ca.gov
About the court
- Probate Division in Room 107. Probate Court Investigations in Room 212. General court: 707-463-4664.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Mendocino 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 Mendocino County, probate runs through the Superior Court - Probate Division at 100 North State Street, Room 107, Ukiah. Probate e-filing in Mendocino County goes through mendocino.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 Mendocino County
What probate costs in Mendocino 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 100 North State Street, Room 107, Ukiah.
Procedures at this court that affect cost: A request for extraordinary compensation is considered only when the petition title and notice of hearing refer to it and the prayer states the specific amount; Court investigation fees: conservatorship $600 initial and $300 for each subsequent investigation; guardianship $500 per investigation. Waiver or deferral may be requested on financial hardship.
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 Mendocino County, California are filed at the Superior Court - Probate Division.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Probate Court Investigations (Room 212), Guardianships, Fort Bragg Branch (Ten Mile), and Tentative Ruling Oral Argument Notices.
Phone line is recorded information only. Listed case types: CARE Act, divorce and legal separation, custody and visitation, child support, parentage, restraining orders, small claims, guardianship of the person, name change and gender recognition; decedent estates are not listed. Fort Bragg drop-in help is by Zoom from the Ten Mile courthouse on Mondays from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM.
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 Mendocino County Self-Filing Assessment.
Mendocino 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 filings that set a hearing are filed by 1:30 PM four court days before the hearing; filings presented after 1:30 PM are set on a later probate calendar, and moving papers setting a hearing less than four days out need a signed order shortening time.
SourceDocument Requirements
The clerk conforms three copies of a document at filing; conformed copies from the drop box are left in the pick-up basket in Room 107 or mailed when a self-addressed stamped envelope is supplied.
SourceCourt Appearances
Tentative rulings on certain probate matters are posted to the case on re:SearchCA after 3:00 PM the court day before the hearing. Oral argument is heard only if the party notifies the court (tr@mendocino.courts.ca.gov) and all other parties by 4:00 PM the court day before; otherwise the tentative ruling becomes the order of the court.
SourceA matter that may be decided on declarations or a verified pleading is submitted without appearance when all papers, including proposed orders bearing the originally noticed hearing date, are delivered to the clerk on time.
SourceThe court's decision on a probate ex parte request is available at 1:30 PM on the day of the court's review.
SourceOther Requirements
Public counter hours and telephone hours: 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM.
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 Mendocino County
In California a death is registered locally, and in Mendocino County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Public Health Vital Statistics, Mendocino County as well as by California Department of Public Health - Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Mendocino County · Public Health Vital Statistics
Phone
Office
1120 South Dora Street, Ukiah, CA 95482
Website
Also issued by
The county recorder
Local rule
- Records for all years, including the current year, can also be purchased from the County Assessor Clerk Recorder.
Burial and cremation permits
- Issued byPublic Health Vital Statistics, Mendocino County
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $26 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Sheriff-Coroner
Mendocino County · Sheriff's Office Coroner's Division
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in Mendocino County
3 funeral homes and crematories in Mendocino County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
In Ukiah, this funeral home helps families arrange burial or cremation. The business started in 2000, and its office on S Orchard Ave is open Monday through Friday.
In Ukiah, Eversole Mortuary states it has served the community since 1893 and also serves Willits and Boonville. It offers traditional services in two chapels, has an onsite crematory, and helps families with Veterans Affairs paperwork and pre-planning.
Funeral homes by city: Fort Bragg, Ukiah
Cremation Services in Mendocino County
3 listings
Pre-Need Funeral Plans in Mendocino County
1 listing
Burial Services in Mendocino County
2 listings
Veterans Funeral Services in Mendocino County
1 listing
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in Mendocino 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 Mendocino County are recorded with the County Clerk-Recorder at 501 Low Gap Road, Room 1020, Ukiah, CA 95482. Phone: 1-707-234-6822. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.
The County Clerk-Recorder charges $13 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page.
Recording Office Record
County Clerk-Recorder
Mendocino County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
501 Low Gap Road, Room 1020, Ukiah, CA 95482
Website
Fees
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $13 |
| 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 Mendocino 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 Mendocino 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.
Ukiah firm with a second Willits office, serving Mendocino County. Carries clients through probate proceedings and trust administrations, and handles trust contests within its civil litigation practice, alongside estate planning, real estate, and business matters. Counting its predecessor firm, it is the oldest law firm in Mendocino County.
Ukiah firm serving Mendocino County, with an estate planning practice covering wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives alongside its insurance, real estate, business, employment, and family law work. Partners Duncan M. James and Donald J. McMullen have practiced in Ukiah since 1967 and 2002. Free consultation offered.
Ukiah solo practice serving Mendocino County with probate and estate administration, trust administration, and trust litigation, plus elder law and real estate matters. David M. Kindopp has served the Ukiah area for more than 25 years and represents beneficiaries of unplanned estates through the probate process.
Law Offices of Caren Callahan
Serves Mendocino County from Ukiah, handling probate and trust and estate administration alongside estate planning. Caren Callahan has practiced since 1990 and is a State Bar certified specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, with trusts and estates as her reported practice area.
Chico firm serving Butte, Tehama, Glenn, Lassen, Plumas, Modoc, Lake, Mendocino, and Shasta Counties, representing the executor or trustee in administering a decedent's estate from initial probate through final accounting. Also handles Medi-Cal and long-term-care planning, special needs trusts, and veterans benefits. Partners Neil A. Harris and Nicole R. Plottel are Certified Elder Law Attorneys.
Serves Humboldt, Del Norte, Mendocino, and Trinity counties from Eureka in wills, trusts, probate, and estate administration, including numerous will and trust contests and other complex probate litigation. James D. Poovey is certified as a specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California and is one of only several attorneys so certified in Humboldt County.
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
- Mendocino County Superior Court - Probate Division, official page
- Mendocino County Clerk-Recorder, official page
- Mendocino 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.
Get the Answer
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