A family-owned funeral home and crematory in Carmichael since 1964. It runs its own crematorium, so a loved one remains in its care for the duration of services, and families meet with a member of the owning family.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Sacramento County, California
How probate works in Sacramento County: the Superior Court - Probate Division record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Sacramento County Superior Court - Probate Division
Sacramento County
Phone
1-916-875-3400 (option 2)
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:00 PM
Office
3341 Power Inn Road, Sacramento, CA 95826
Website
E-filing
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
OptionalProbate cases are e-filed through an approved electronic filing service provider. Each document goes in as its own PDF with one lead document per filing, the case type and category must match the document, and electronic signatures are accepted on e-filed documents. Questions on how to e-file go to the provider; questions about a filed case go to the Probate Division. On paper: Affidavit re Real Property of Small Value; Wills and codicils; Security bonds; Ex parte applications; Exhibits; Settlement conference statements; Appeal documents.
Filing in person
Walk-ins acceptedThe Probate Unit is in Room 214 on the second floor of the William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse. A drop box at the courthouse entrance takes filings and records requests during building hours, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe Probate page links the statewide self-help guides on wills, estates and probate, conservatorships and guardianships, with Judicial Council forms for the filing itself. Every pleading for a pending hearing shows the hearing date, time and department under the case number, and amended pleadings state what is deleted and added and receive a new hearing date.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCash, Check, Credit card.Probate filing fees payable by cash, check, or credit card. Credit card not accepted for Reporters Transcript deposit, Court Reporter fees, Subpoena Witness fees, or court-ordered payment plans. Checks returned NSF void the filing unless paid by cash or certified funds.
Hearing schedule
- Probate matters are assigned by the last digit of the case number: Department 126 for odd digits and Department 129 for even digits. Ex parte applications are considered Monday through Friday at 8:30 AM, and at 10:00 AM for guardianships.
Self-help center
- William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse, 3341 Power Inn Road, Third Floor, Room 314Monday-Thursday 8:30 AM-4:00 PM; Friday 8:30 AM-noonThe Family Law and Probate Self-Help Center serves people without an attorney in family law, child support, domestic violence, elder abuse, guardianship, stepparent adoption and limited conservatorship cases; decedent estates are not among them. Help is in person on a walk-in basis or by online appointment, and remotely through e-Correspondence, the Virtual Front Counter and Zoom workshops.
Departments
- Probate Unit and records (Room 214)1-916-875-3400 · (option 2)Public kiosks for probate case records; no service ticket is needed to use them.
- Probate Division email (questions about a filed case)sacramentocourtassistance@saccourt.ca.gov
About the court
- The William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse houses the Probate and Family Law Divisions. Attorneys and parties subscribe to their case on the court's Public Portal, where probate calendar notes are posted.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Sacramento 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 Sacramento, probate runs through the Superior Court - Probate Division at 3341 Power Inn Road, Sacramento. Sacramento County runs probate e-filing through saccourt.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 Sacramento County
What probate costs in Sacramento 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 3341 Power Inn Road, Sacramento.
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 documents in Sacramento County can be filed in person at the Superior Court - Probate Division, 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 Probate Unit and records (Room 214) and Probate Division email (questions about a filed case).
The Family Law and Probate Self-Help Center serves people without an attorney in family law, child support, domestic violence, elder abuse, guardianship, stepparent adoption and limited conservatorship cases; decedent estates are not among them. Help is in person on a walk-in basis or by online appointment, and remotely through e-Correspondence, the Virtual Front Counter and Zoom workshops.
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 Sacramento County Self-Filing Assessment.
Sacramento 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
All amendments, supplements and documents for a calendared probate matter are filed at least five court days before the hearing, and the proposed formal order is presented five court days ahead in person or eight court days ahead by mail.
SourceA noticed probate hearing cannot be advanced, and a stipulated request to drop or continue a hearing in a decedent's estate or trust matter is made on local form PR/E-CT-209 at least ten business days ahead, subject to the probate judge's approval.
SourceA personal representative who does not live in California posts bond unless the beneficiaries waive it, or the will waives it and shows the testator knew the nominee lived outside California.
SourceA petition for special letters of administration is filed separately from the petition for general letters.
SourceDocument Requirements
Wills are presented as the unaltered signed original with one copy, with proof of death (a death certificate, an obituary or a declaration of the date of death).
A will or codicil with deletions or interlineations is offered with a request to determine their validity, and the petition and supporting papers are mailed at least 15 days before the hearing to those entitled to notice.
SourceUnder independent administration, each Notice of Proposed Action is filed with its proof of service and any objection, consent or waiver.
SourceCourt Appearances
Service Requirements
Every living person named in a petition for letters receives notice, and every petition lists each person entitled to notice with the reason (heir, beneficiary, request for special notice).
SourceRecords Access
Probate calendar notes identifying deficiencies are posted on the court's Public Portal 10 to 12 court days before the hearing and updated four court days before it.
Deficiencies are cleared at least five court days before the hearing with a verified "Response to Calendar Notes"; uncleared matters may be taken off calendar and continued or dismissed without prejudice.
SourceProbate records are viewed on the court's public portal or at the kiosks in Room 214 with valid photo identification; copies by mail or drop box use the Request for Copies of Probate Records form, paid by check or money order.
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 Sacramento County
In California a death is registered locally, and in Sacramento County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Department of Health Services, Sacramento County Vital Records as well as by California Department of Public Health - Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Sacramento County · Department of Health Services, Sacramento County Vital Records
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
7001-A East Parkway, Suite 650, Sacramento, CA 95823
Website
Order online
Also issued by
The county recorder
Local rule
- The office issues certificates for deaths in Sacramento County in the past two years. The County Clerk/Recorder holds Sacramento County deaths back to 1850, about four weeks after the death.
Burial and cremation permits
- Issued byDepartment of Health Services, Sacramento County Vital Records
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $26 |
Verified November 1, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Coroner
Sacramento County · Sacramento County Coroner's Office
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Office
4800 Broadway, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95820
Website
Mail and offices
Fax
1-916-874-9257
Verified November 1, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in Sacramento County
24 funeral homes and crematories in Sacramento County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
In Citrus Heights, this Catholic cemetery and funeral center on Verner Avenue was dedicated in 1953 and serves the greater Sacramento area's Catholic and Christian communities. It offers immediate and advance funeral planning and ground and above-ground burial, including family mausoleums, crypts and niche columbarium.
In Elk Grove, this East Lawn mortuary sits on a memorial park of more than 100 acres founded in 1963, with a chapel, indoor mausoleums and outdoor urn niches. It arranges funerals, memorials, burial and pre-planning, with cremation at the East Lawn crematory in East Sacramento.
In Elk Grove, this family owned funeral chapel was founded in 1931 and is now in its third generation of service. It serves families in Elk Grove and the surrounding communities, guides families through the cemetery process and arranges National Cemetery burial for veterans.
In Folsom, Green Valley Mortuary & Cemetery arranges funerals, memorial services and cremation, from personalized ceremonies to simple cremation. Complimentary advance planning consultations are available, and the Green Valley cemetery in Rescue offers burial plots, mausoleums and scattering gardens.
In Folsom, this funeral home states it was founded in 1869 and is one of the oldest family owned and operated funeral homes in California. It also owns and operates Lakeside Memorial Lawn, Folsom's only active historic cemetery.
Funeral homes by city: Carmichael, Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, Galt, Rancho Cordova, Sacramento
Cremation Services in Sacramento County
17 listings
Pre-Need Funeral Plans in Sacramento County
13 listings
Burial Services in Sacramento County
15 listings
Veterans Funeral Services in Sacramento County
7 listings
Funeral Transport in Sacramento County
7 listings
Catholic Funeral Homes in Sacramento County
1 listing
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in Sacramento 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 Sacramento County are recorded with the County Clerk-Recorder at 3636 American River Drive, Suite 110, Sacramento, CA 95864. Phone: 1-916-874-6334. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.
The County Clerk-Recorder charges $20 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page.
Sacramento County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile and CSC.
Recording Office Record
County Clerk-Recorder
Sacramento County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
3636 American River Drive, Suite 110, Sacramento, CA 95864
Website
E-recording
available via Simplifile and CSC
Fees
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $20 |
| 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 Sacramento 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 Sacramento 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.
Elk Grove and Sacramento trust and estate practice representing executors, trustees, and beneficiaries through probate and trust administration and in probate litigation, trust and will contests, and financial elder abuse claims. Founder Jonathan Huber has been a State Bar of California certified specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law since 2013. No-cost initial consultation.
Sacramento firm with additional offices in Folsom and Roseville, covering estate planning, trust administration, probate, conservatorships, and trust and estate litigation. Founder Daniel Hunt is a State Bar of California Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law. Offers no-cost initial consultations by phone, video, or in person.
Davis attorney serving Yolo, Sacramento, and Solano Counties with probate and trust administration alongside estate planning. Represents people appointed — or seeking appointment — as personal representatives, executors, trustees, and administrators. Marissa Sirota is a California-certified mediator and a former civil litigation trial lawyer.
Sacramento and Roseville firm serving Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, Yolo, Nevada, and Yuba-Sutter Counties with trust administration, probate, Medi-Cal planning, and long-term care planning since 1987. Founder Timothy Murphy is accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist veterans with benefits claims. Offers a free initial telephone call.
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.
Roseville firm handling probate and decedent estate administration, including ancillary probate, plus trust administration, conservatorships, and litigation in those areas — will contests and beneficiary disputes. Marlene Sanborn, a retired Air Force flight engineer, opened the firm in 2006 and has practiced law in California since 1998.
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
- Sacramento Superior Court - Probate Division, official page
- Sacramento County Clerk-Recorder, official page
- Sacramento 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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