What to Do When Someone Dies in San Bernardino County, California
Probate in San Bernardino County runs through the Superior Court - Probate Division: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in San Bernardino County, settling their estate runs through the Superior Court - Probate Division. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Probate Court Record
Superior Court - Probate Division
San Bernardino County
Address
17780 Arrow BoulevardFontana, CA 92335
Phone
Hours
Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Paper filing availableE-filing required for attorneysSelf-filing allowed
Departments
- Probate, Conservatorship, Guardianship Info909-521-3388
- Appeals and Appellate Division909-384-1888
- Family Law Division909-521-3136
Largest county by area in the contiguous United States. Multiple districts: Fontana and Victorville handle probate. General civil phone: 909-708-8678.
Verified June 2, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino, probate runs through the Superior Court - Probate Division at 17780 Arrow Boulevard, Fontana.
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 monthsCal. Prob. Code §§ 10800Verified Jun 19, 2026View source to 18 monthsCal. Prob. Code §§ 10800Verified Jun 19, 2026View source to move through this process. The 4 monthsCal. Prob. Code § 9100 — later of 4 months from letters or 60 days from mailed/personal notice of administrationVerified Jun 19, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What Probate Costs in San Bernardino County
What probate costs in San Bernardino 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 17780 Arrow Boulevard, Fontana.
Probate matters are handled through Probate, Conservatorship, Guardianship Info, Appeals and Appellate Division, and Family Law Division. Filing and payment go through these offices, not the main clerk window.
Local procedures at this court: Probate matters filed and heard at Fontana District (17780 Arrow Boulevard, Fontana, CA 92335) and Victorville District, NOT the main San Bernardino courthouse; Each court has separate policies for ex parte petitions; contact appropriate Probate Clerk for instructions; Mandatory eFiling for attorneys effective June 16, 2025. These are county-specific and not posted on the statewide court site.
California charges $435Cal. Gov. Code §§ 70650(a), 70602.5, 70602.6Verified Jun 19, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys filing at the Superior Court - Probate Division (https://www.odysseyefileca.com/service-providers.htm). Self-represented filers can request a paper-filing exemption.
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.
Executor compensation is also statutory in California. Family executors who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
California requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%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 Jun 19, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in California typically runs 12 monthsCal. Prob. Code §§ 10800Verified Jun 19, 2026View source to 18 monthsCal. Prob. Code §§ 10800Verified Jun 19, 2026View source, and costs accrue throughout. The 4 monthsCal. Prob. Code § 9100 — later of 4 months from letters or 60 days from mailed/personal notice of administrationVerified Jun 19, 2026View source creditor claim window is the single biggest driver of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of estate complexity.
How to File Probate at the Superior Court - Probate Division
If you're handling probate yourself in San Bernardino County, California, you can file at the Superior Court - Probate Division in person or by mail. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys but families filing without one are exempt and can use paper forms.
Filings here are routed through Probate, Conservatorship, Guardianship Info, Appeals and Appellate Division, and Family Law Division. Confirm with the office which intake handles the petition type you're filing.
How to File Your Documents
Paper Filing Available
You can file your probate documents in person or by mail. While attorneys are required to e-file in San Bernardino County, families handling probate themselves are exempt and can file on paper.
E-Filing Also Available
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
View E-Filing InformationCan You File Without an Attorney?
Not every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Superior Court - Probate Division is realistic.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the San Bernardino County Self-Filing Assessment.
San Bernardino 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 matters filed and heard at Fontana District (17780 Arrow Boulevard, Fontana, CA 92335) and Victorville District, NOT the main San Bernardino courthouse.
Other Requirements
Each court has separate policies for ex parte petitions; contact appropriate Probate Clerk for instructions.
Mandatory eFiling for attorneys effective June 16, 2025.
Probate Unit: 909-521-3388 for notes and general inquiries.
What to Bring
To file at the Superior Court - Probate Division you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Transferring Property in San Bernardino County
Clearing title to real estate after a death—recording a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order—happens at the County Recorder-Clerk.
Recording Office Record
County Recorder-Clerk
San Bernardino County · Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk · Josie Gonzales
Address
222 West Hospitality Lane, 1st FloorSan Bernardino, CA 92415
Phone
Hours
Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
E-recording
Available via SECURE / ERDS (administered by Orange County)E-recording info →
Recording fees
| Base recording fee | $15 |
| Per additional page | $3 |
| GC 27388.1 Building Homes and Jobs Act Fee (SB2)Requiredmost_real_estate_instrumentsPer-title fee on most real estate instruments. Maximum $225 per transaction. Exemptions include government agencies, first-time homebuyer programs, and certain affordable housing transfers. Some counties may exempt TOD deeds. | $75 |
| BOE-502-A Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR)Requiredall_deedsRequired with all deeds transferring real property. No separate recording fee, but failure to file results in $20 penalty added to property tax bill. Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code 480.3. | $0 |
Base fee is $15 for first page, $3 per additional page. Non-conforming pages (not 8.5"x11") add $3 surcharge per page (Gov. Code 27361.3). SB2 fee of $75 per title applies to most documents. Total for typical 2-page TOD deed: ~$93 ($15 base + $3 second page + $75 SB2).
Cal. Gov. Code 27361; Cal. Gov. Code 27388.1; Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code 11911
Transfer tax
$1.10 per $1,000 of consideration (Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code 11911) State; Some cities impose additional transfer taxes (e.g., Los Angeles 0.45%, San Francisco 0.68%-3.0%, Oakland 1.0%-2.5%) local. Transfer-on-death deeds are generally exempt (No consideration exchanged at recording. TOD deed is revocable during grantor's lifetime and no property interest transfers until death. Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code 11911.). County documentary transfer tax: $1.10 per $1,000 of consideration. City transfer taxes vary. TOD deeds involve $0 consideration at recording.
Toll-free: (855) 732-2575. Largest county by area in the contiguous United States. Additional offices in Hesperia, Mountains, and Morongo Basin. Appointments recommended for recording (max 5 docs per appointment).
Verified June 3, 2026 · Source
Probate Attorneys Serving San Bernardino County
California uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in San Bernardino County — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.
Probate attorney fees in California are set by statute as a percentage of the estate's value, so every San Bernardino 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.
Southern California Firms
Alden Law
Solo PracticeSolo practice in downtown San Bernardino, a block from the county's Justice Center where Inland Empire probate matters are heard. Mathew Alden handles estate administration through probate, executor and trustee disputes, and will and trust contests, including cases of alleged executor fraud and elder financial abuse.
Location
255 N. D Street, Suite 200San Bernardino, CA 92401
Phone
(909) 414-0797
Service Area
1 county
ProbateEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationTrust Litigation
Free consultationVisit site
Fullerton, Lemann, Schaefer & Dominick, LLP
FirmServes San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange counties from San Bernardino, with Orange County and Palm Desert offices. Handles probate, trust and estate administration, probate and trust litigation, guardianships, and conservatorships. Thomas W. Dominick chairs the trusts and estates department and is a State Bar certified specialist; the firm has practiced since 1948.
Location
1809 S Commercenter WestSan Bernardino, CA 92408
Phone
(909) 963-1542
Established
1948
Service Area
3 counties
Estate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationEstate LitigationGuardianshipConservatorshipElder Abuse
Free consultationVirtual consultationsVisit site
Gaudy Law, Inc.
FirmServes San Bernardino County from Upland, with probate matters routed to the county court in San Bernardino. Handles probate administration, trust administration, conservatorships, and estate and trust litigation, and reports completing thousands of trusts and probates since 2004. Offers a free initial consultation.
Location
267 D StreetUpland, CA 91786
Phone
(909) 982-3199
Established
2004
Service Area
1 county
Estate PlanningProbateTrust AdministrationTrust LitigationConservatorship
Free consultationVirtual consultationsVisit site
Holstrom, Block & Parke, APLC
FirmInland Empire firm with offices in Corona, Riverside, Temecula, Newport Beach, and San Diego. Through its Sandoval Legacy Group division it handles probate, trust administration, conservatorships, and special needs planning across Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, San Diego, and Los Angeles Counties. Offers a free telephonic consultation.
Location
1897 California AveCorona, CA 92881
Phone
(855) 827-6639
Service Area
4 counties
Estate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationSpecial Needs PlanningAppealsElder Law
Free consultationVirtual consultationsVisit site
Jones Legal
FirmAttorney Jennifer Jones providing probate services across Southern California and the Inland Empire. Serves Anaheim, Chino Hills, Claremont, Fullerton, Rancho Cucamonga, Riverside, Santa Ana, and Upland. Offers free consultations, virtual appointments, and remote case management.
Location
4210 Riverwalk Pkwy, Suite 330Riverside, CA 92505
Phone
(951) 742-7213
Service Area
4 counties
Estate AdministrationTrust AdministrationEstate Planning
Free consultationVisit site
Law Offices of Caldwell, Kennedy & Porter, APC
FirmHigh Desert law firm serving Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley, and surrounding San Bernardino County communities since 1986. Assists clients with wills, charitable trusts, revocable living trusts, and contested estate matters.
Location
15476 W. Sand StreetVictorville, CA 92392
Phone
(760) 245-1637
Established
1986
Service Area
1 county
Estate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateEstate Administration
Free consultationVisit site
Price Law Firm, APC
Solo PracticeRedlands boutique serving San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, focused on probate administration, trust administration, and estate planning. R. Sam Price is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law by the California Board of Legal Specialization. Free phone consultation.
Location
454 Cajon StRedlands, CA 92373
Phone
(909) 328-7000
Service Area
2 counties
Estate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateEstate AdministrationElder LawMedicaid Planning
Free consultationVisit site
Robbins & Holdaway, APC
FirmServes San Bernardino County families from Ontario, handling matters filed in the county probate court in San Bernardino. The firm handles probate administration, trust administration, and the wills and trusts that precede them, with more than 45 years of combined experience in the western Inland Empire. Offers a free initial consultation.
Location
201 West F StreetOntario, CA 91762
Phone
(909) 391-9000
Service Area
1 county
Estate PlanningProbateTrust Administration
Free consultationVisit site
Schlecht, Shevlin & Shoenberger, A Law Corporation
FirmPalm Springs firm serving the Coachella Valley, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties since 1951 with probate, trust administration, and conservatorships alongside estate planning. Led by a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law. Over 170 years of combined attorney experience.
Location
801 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 100Palm Springs, CA 92262
Phone
(760) 320-7161
Established
1951
Service Area
2 counties
Estate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationEstate LitigationTrust Litigation
Visit site
The Estate Lawyers, APC
FirmServes Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Diego from Irvine, focusing on probate, trust, and elder-law disputes. Handles trust and will contests, trustee misconduct and accounting disputes, conservatorship fights, and elder financial abuse claims, with trust and estate administration support. Three attorneys are State Bar certified specialists in Estate Planning, Trusts and Probate Law.
Location
18400 Von Karman Ave, Suite 550Irvine, CA 92612
Phone
(866) 330-0578
Established
2005
Service Area
5 counties
Estate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateTrust LitigationTax PlanningConservatorshipElder Abuse
Visit site
The Law Offices of Priscilla Solario
Solo PracticeRancho Cucamonga office serving San Bernardino and Riverside Counties with probate and estate planning since 2008. Priscilla Solario offers bilingual (English and Spanish) services and flat-fee living trusts. Free initial consultation.
Location
9431 Haven Avenue, Suite 108Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
Phone
(909) 529-1011
Established
2008
Service Area
2 counties
Estate PlanningProbateEstate AdministrationTrust Administration
Free consultationVisit site
The Legacy Lawyers
FirmTrusted probate attorneys serving California since 1998. Founded by Phil Lemmons with a mission to protect both inheritances and relationships. Offices throughout Southern California and statewide. Handles estate planning, trust administration, probate, conservatorship, guardianship, elder abuse, and trust litigation matters.
Location
10221 Slater Ave, Ste 106Fountain Valley, CA 92708
Phone
(800) 840-1998
Established
1998
Service Area
7 counties
Estate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbate LitigationTrust LitigationConservatorshipElder Law
Free consultationVisit site
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
- Cal. Gov. Code §§ 70650(a), 70602.5, 70602.6
- Cal. Prob. Code § 9100 — later of 4 months from letters or 60 days from mailed/personal notice of administration
- Cal. Prob. Code §§ 10800
- 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)
Data sourced from California statutes and official state code. How we research.
Frequently Asked Questions
You open probate by filing a petition with the Superior Court - Probate Division in San Bernardino County, attaching the original will (if any), the death certificate, and the filing fee ($435). Once the court issues letters, the personal representative can act.
Total probate costs usually run 3–8% of the estate value. For San Bernardino County, that means filing fees ($435 to open), attorney fees, executor compensation, publication costs, and possibly a bond. The calculator on this page runs the math for your estate size.
Yes. The Superior Court - Probate Division in San Bernardino County accepts e-filing through the state portal. In-person filing at the courthouse is still available for those without digital access.
Not every estate needs one. Simple estates, small estates under the affidavit threshold, and states with informal probate can often be handled without counsel. Contested wills, out-of-state property, and business interests usually need an attorney. The California self-filing assessment scores whether this estate can be handled without one.
A simple California probate typically closes in 9–12 months; average estates run 12–18 months. The mandatory creditor-claim period accounts for much of that, so even uncontested estates rarely close quickly.
A revocable living trust skips probate entirely — no filing fee, no attorney schedule, no executor commission. The cost of setting up the trust is typically recovered many times over compared to what probate would cost the estate. Create a revocable trust online and keep the estate out of San Bernardino County probate.
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