In San Francisco, this firm arranges direct cremation online and has offered web-based cremation arrangements since 2004. It serves the entire San Francisco Bay Area, and its parent company owns the crematory in Emeryville.
What to Do When Someone Dies in San Francisco County, California
How probate works in San Francisco County: the Superior Court - Probate Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
San Francisco County Superior Court - Probate Court
San Francisco County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-4:00 PM
Office
400 McAllister Street, Room 103, San Francisco, CA 94102
Website
E-filing
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
Required for attorneysRepresented parties e-file in decedent estate, trust, guardianship and conservatorship cases; a represented party may apply ex parte to be excused for undue hardship or significant prejudice. Self-represented parties are excluded but may e-file, and a self-represented party who e-files once follows the e-filing rules for the rest of the case and consents to e-service. E-filing questions on probate filings go to Probateclerks@sftc.org. On paper: Original wills and codicils; Certified copy of the death certificate with a Probate Code 13101 affidavit; Certified copy of a birth certificate; Letters, and certified copies of letters required for final distribution; Certified copy of a spousal property order; Surety bonds; Ex parte petitions for final discharge or for approval of a personal representative's creditor's claim (dropped off unfiled at the Room 103 window or mailed).
Filing in person
Walk-ins acceptedProbate filings are taken at Room 103, Windows 23, 24 and 25 of the Civic Center Courthouse, Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, closed from noon to 1:00 PM; a drop box is open during the lunch closure. Hearing dates are assigned by the filing clerk when the petition is filed and are not given by telephone.
Self-represented filing
AllowedA lawyer is not required in the Probate Court. The Wills and Decedents' Estates page links a sample affidavit for collecting personal property without probate and the statewide self-help guide.
Hearing schedule
- Department 204: probate appearance matters other than guardian and conservator appointments Monday to Wednesday at 9:00 AM (sales first); guardianship petitions Tuesdays at 1:30 PM; conservator appointments Thursdays at 9:00 AM; law and motion Wednesday and Thursday afternoons and Fridays. Ex parte appearances at 10:00 and 10:30 AM Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday in Department 202.
Self-help center
- 400 McAllister Street, Room 5091-415-551-0605 · Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 8:00 AM-11:00 AM · Assistance in Spanish in addition to EnglishThe ACCESS Center gives self-represented people in San Francisco cases legal information and referrals, by live helpline, intake form and in person; it does not give legal advice and conversations with it are not confidential. The helpline hours above are its phone hours.
Departments
- Probate Courtroom Clerk (Department 204)1-415-551-3702 · 400 McAllister Street, Department 204Schedules law and motion matters.
- Probate Department1-415-551-3650
- Probate Court Investigators1-415-551-3657
- Probate Section Clerk's Office Supervisor1-415-551-3673
- Tentative rulings and calendar status1-415-551-4000Recorded tentative rulings, posted one to three days before the hearing.
- Probate continuances (Department 204)probcontinue204@sftc.orgFor a Monday to Wednesday morning matter not yet assigned to an examiner, no earlier than 14 days before the hearing.
About the court
- Probate filings are taken in Room 103 of the Civic Center Courthouse and probate matters are heard in Department 204 in the same building. The court provides a court reporter only for mental health hearings; parties arrange a pro tempore reporter for other probate proceedings.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in San Francisco 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 Francisco, probate runs through the Superior Court - Probate Court at 400 McAllister Street, Room 103, San Francisco. Probate e-filing in San Francisco County goes through sf.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 San Francisco County
What probate costs in San Francisco 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 Court at 400 McAllister Street, Room 103, San Francisco.
The Superior Court - Probate Court charges $435Cal. Gov. Code §§ 70650(a), 70602.5, 70602.6Verified Oct 17, 2026View source to open a probate case. 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 Court
Probate cases in San Francisco County, California are filed at the Superior Court - Probate Court.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Probate Courtroom Clerk (Department 204), Probate Department, Probate Court Investigators, and Probate Section Clerk's Office Supervisor.
The ACCESS Center gives self-represented people in San Francisco cases legal information and referrals, by live helpline, intake form and in person; it does not give legal advice and conversations with it are not confidential. The helpline hours above are its phone hours.
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 San Francisco County Self-Filing Assessment.
San Francisco 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
A proposed order accompanies each petition when filed; one not submitted at least ten court days before the hearing may lead to a continuance.
In decedent estate and trust cases the proposed order is e-submitted or a hard copy is delivered to the Probate Window in Room 103.
SourceSupplements and opposition papers are filed at least seven court days before the hearing, with courtesy copies to the examiners or investigators at least five court days before.
SourceA later petition for an estate, trust or protective proceeding is filed in the existing case; a new case opened where one exists is consolidated with it.
SourceIn an intestate estate, bond is required unless the proposed personal representative is the sole heir or all heirs waive it; the court may still require bond.
SourceDocument Requirements
A petition for probate lists every heir even when the decedent left a will, attaches copies of all instruments offered, and a holographic will is accompanied by an exact typewritten copy.
Duties and Liabilities (DE-147) and the confidential DE-147S are on file before appointment, with DE-147S filed separately under a cover page.
SourceConservator petitions include Judicial Council form GC-325 (Confidential Declaration on Medical Ability to Attend Hearing).
SourceCourt Appearances
An unopposed matter on the Monday to Wednesday 9:00 AM calendar that the examiner approves is pre-granted and needs no appearance; otherwise the examiner posts the defects in the tentative ruling or sends notes and may continue the matter.
Pre-granted orders are available at Room 103, Windows 23 to 25, after 9:30 AM on or after the hearing day.
SourceDrop-off ex parte petitions not seeking an appearance are left as a courtesy copy with the probate clerk in Room 103; a petition seeking expedited review for urgency carries the blue Request for Expedited Review cover sheet.
SourceParties may appear in person or remotely by video or telephone at any probate proceeding not noticed as an evidentiary hearing or trial, without filing a notice of remote appearance.
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Superior Court - Probate Court: 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 Medical Examiner in San Francisco County
In California a death is registered locally, and in San Francisco County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Department of Public Health, Office of Vital Records, San Francisco County as well as by California Department of Public Health - Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
San Francisco County · Department of Public Health, Office of Vital Records
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, City Hall, Room 160, San Francisco, CA 94102
Website
Also issued by
The county recorder
Local rule
- The office issues certificates for deaths in San Francisco within the last three years. Older deaths, back to 1906, are held by the Office of the County Clerk.
Burial and cremation permits
- Issued byDepartment of Public Health, Office of Vital Records, San Francisco County
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $26 |
Verified November 1, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Medical Examiner
San Francisco County · Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 10:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
1 Newhall Street, San Francisco, CA 94124
Website
Mail and offices
Fax
1-415-641-3650
Verified November 1, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in San Francisco County
6 funeral homes and crematories in San Francisco County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
In San Francisco, the mortuary arranges direct cremation, including collection and care, the filing of paperwork and permits, a private cremation and the ashes returned in a simple container. It states it has assisted families since 1938.
In San Francisco, this family-owned funeral service has served families since 1918 and arranges burial and cremation, in its chapel or off site. It owns its local crematory, assists with VA burial paperwork and handles domestic and international shipping.
In San Francisco, this establishment offers human composting, carried out at the operator's Las Vegas facility, for families now or planning for the future. Arrangements can be managed entirely online. Families choose how much soil is returned, and the remainder is donated to conservation projects.
In San Francisco's Chinatown, Green Street Mortuary specializes in Chinese funeral services and traditions, and its staff speak Cantonese, Mandarin and Toisan. The home arranges cremations and graveside services with partner cemeteries and has its own marching band for processions.
McAvoy O'Hara Company operates Evergreen Mortuary on Geary Boulevard in San Francisco, and its site states the company has operated since 1850. The mortuary answers its telephone line 24 hours a day for immediate assistance.
Funeral homes by city: San Francisco
Cremation Services in San Francisco County
4 listings
Pre-Need Funeral Plans in San Francisco County
2 listings
Burial Services in San Francisco County
1 listing
Veterans Funeral Services in San Francisco County
1 listing
Funeral Transport in San Francisco County
1 listing
Human Composting in San Francisco County
1 listing
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in San Francisco 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 Recorder.
Deeds and other real property documents for San Francisco County are recorded with the County Recorder at 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 190, San Francisco, CA 94102. Phone: 1-628-652-8100. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.
The County Recorder charges $14 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page.
San Francisco County accepts electronic recording.
Recording Office Record
County Recorder
San Francisco County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 190, San Francisco, CA 94102
Website
E-recording
available
Fax
1-415-554-7915
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $14 |
| 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 San Francisco 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 San Francisco County attorney charges the same schedule. Price isn't the variable — experience with the Superior Court - Probate Court and responsiveness are.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Superior Court - Probate Court, 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.
Serves San Francisco, San Mateo, and the surrounding Bay Area from downtown San Francisco. Handles probate and trust administration through asset distribution and title transfers, plus conservatorships and trust and estate litigation. Principal Sheila Robello holds an LLM in taxation and is a State Bar certified specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law.
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.
Serves Bay Area families from downtown San Francisco, with probate filed in the San Francisco, Alameda, and San Mateo County Superior Courts. Handles probate from the petition through inventory, creditor claims, and final distribution, alongside Medi-Cal and elder law planning and asset protection. Founder Jay Greene is both a licensed attorney and a CPA.
Bay Area trusts and estates practice serving San Francisco and the North Bay from offices in San Francisco and Sonoma. Attorney Amy Harrington handles trust and probate administration, conservatorships, and will and trust contests, and is frequently appointed to serve as administrator, trustee, partition referee, and receiver.
Represents executors, trustees, and beneficiaries across San Mateo, San Francisco, and Santa Clara counties from a downtown Redwood City office near the courthouse, handling probate and trust administration, probate and trust litigation, and estate and gift tax questions. Michael E. Pitts has practiced in San Mateo County for more than 30 years and offers a free half-hour consultation.
Serves the Bay Area from offices in Pleasanton, San Francisco, and Cupertino. Guides trustees and personal representatives through non-contested probate, trust administration, non-trust assets, and gift and estate tax returns, and represents beneficiaries denied funds or information. Connie Yi is a State Bar certified specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, Estate and Probate Law and a CPA.
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
- San Francisco Superior Court - Probate Court, official page
- San Francisco County Recorder, official page
- San Francisco 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
Hire a California Probate Attorney
Browse vetted California attorneys handling probate matters.
Browse firms
Notify Banks & Financial Institutions
Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
