In Escalon, this San Joaquin County chapel states that it provides funeral and cremation services, with a history in the town dating to the 20th century. It is one of two Deegan locations, with Ripon, and says it also serves families in Stockton and Modesto.
What to Do When Someone Dies in San Joaquin County, California
How probate works in San Joaquin County: the Superior Court - Probate Division record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
San Joaquin County Superior Court - Probate Division
San Joaquin County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
315 West Elm Street, Lodi, CA 95240
Website
E-filing
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
OptionalProbate documents may be e-filed through the court's eFiling portal or filed on paper at the counter, in the drop box or by mail. While the court works through an e-filing backlog, filings for a hearing within the next 30 days are best filed in person. A proposed order is e-filed as a PDF with form EFS-020 and also emailed in editable word-processing form to probateorders@sjcourts.org.
Filing in person
Walk-ins acceptedThe probate clerk's office in Lodi takes filings Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and the drop box is open the same hours; drop-box filings after 4:00 PM are filed the next court day. From September 7 to October 30, 2026 the clerk's counter and phone are open 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe Probate of Decedent's Estate packet lists the petition, notice, bond waiver, the court's lineal charts, the duties form, order and letters. Originals filed on paper are accompanied by one copy and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCheck, Money order, Credit card.Drop-box filings carry fees by check or money order payable to San Joaquin County Superior Court, or by card with the Drop Box Authorization Form; no cash goes in the drop box.
Hearing schedule
- Probate hearings are in Department L2 at the Lodi courthouse; for remote appearances by Zoom, log in by 8:15 AM for an 8:30 AM hearing.
Self-help center
- 180 East Weber Avenue, Suite 105, Stockton1-209-992-5283 · Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:00 AM-3:30 PM; Wednesday 8:00 AM-11:00 AMThe Self-Help Center gives free legal information and form review to people without lawyers; its probate services cover guardianship and conservatorship of the person. An online workshop covers new guardianship cases.
County forms
- SJPR-302 Lineal Chart A (Decedent has issue)Chart of lineal descent required with a Petition for Probate and other heirship petitions.
- SJPR-303 Lineal Chart B (Decedent has no issue)Chart of lineal descent where the decedent left no issue.
- SJPR-304 Lineal Chart C (Predeceased spouse, no issue)Chart of lineal descent where the decedent had a predeceased spouse and no issue.
Departments
- Probate Court Investigator1-209-992-5696
- Probate proposed orders (editable copies)probateorders@sjcourts.org
- Stockton Courthouse1-209-992-5555 · 180 East Weber Avenue, Stockton, CA 95202
About the court
- The Probate Department sits in Department L2 at the Lodi courthouse, where probate filings are taken; it moved from Stockton on February 3, 2025. Probate examiners review every filing before the hearing and post probate notes online.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in San Joaquin 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 Joaquin County, probate runs through the Superior Court - Probate Division at 315 West Elm Street, Lodi. San Joaquin County runs probate e-filing through appfile.sjcourts.org, 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 San Joaquin County
What probate costs in San Joaquin 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 315 West Elm Street, Lodi.
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 San Joaquin 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 Court Investigator, Probate proposed orders (editable copies), and Stockton Courthouse.
The Self-Help Center gives free legal information and form review to people without lawyers; its probate services cover guardianship and conservatorship of the person. An online workshop covers new guardianship cases.
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 Joaquin County Self-Filing Assessment.
San Joaquin 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
Petitions and all supporting papers are on file 30 calendar days before the hearing; the notice of hearing and proof of service for the initial petition at least ten court days before; proofs of publication at least five court days before.
SourceA petition containing an accounting is accompanied by a courtesy copy marked "Examiner's Copy" in red, delivered with the original or within five court days of e-filing.
SourceDocument Requirements
Any petition that calls for the relationship of heirs or devisees, including a Petition for Probate, a DE-310 petition and a DE-305 affidavit, includes a chart of lineal descent on the court's lineal chart forms, with proof of death for any deceased family member.
SourceA copy of the death certificate, with the Social Security number redacted, is filed with a Petition for Probate, a Petition to Determine Succession to Real Property, a Spousal Property Petition or the lodging of an original will.
SourceWhere a trust is a beneficiary of the estate, a copy of the trust and its amendments is filed separately as a confidential document under the Confidential - Trust Documents Coversheet (SJPR-100).
SourceCourt Appearances
Probate ex parte applications are decided on the papers without an appearance; they are filed and served by 10:00 AM the court day before the ruling date with the Notice of Ex Parte Request (SJPR/MH-008) and the Declaration Re Notice (SJPR/MH-006), and the filing fee is paid before review.
SourceParties may appear by Zoom for general hearings, law and motion, ex parte hearings and orders to show cause without notice; evidentiary hearings, settlement conferences and trials are in person unless the judicial officer authorizes otherwise in writing.
SourceA tentative ruling on each law and motion matter is posted the court day before the hearing and becomes the ruling unless a party gives notice of intent to argue by 4:00 PM that day.
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 Medical Examiner in San Joaquin County
In California a death is registered locally, and in San Joaquin County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Public Health Services, Vital Records, San Joaquin County as well as by California Department of Public Health - Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
San Joaquin County · Public Health Services, Vital Records
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
1601 East Hazelton Avenue, Stockton, CA 95205
Website
Also issued by
The county recorder
Public Health Services - Vital Records
P.O. Box 2009
Stockton, CA 95201
Local rule
- The office holds San Joaquin County deaths from the current and past calendar year only. Older deaths are held by the County Recorder's Office, Vital Records, in Stockton.
Burial and cremation permits
- Issued byPublic Health Services, Vital Records, San Joaquin County
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $26 |
Verified November 1, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Medical Examiner
San Joaquin County · Office of the Medical Examiner
Mail and offices
Fax
1-209-751-0035
Verified November 1, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in San Joaquin County
18 funeral homes and crematories in San Joaquin County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
In Lodi, this cemetery and funeral home offers ground burial and cremation, with a crematory located on-site, and planning ahead before the need arises. It is a non-profit serving the San Joaquin Valley since 1940.
At its memorial park in Lodi, Cherokee Memorial operates a crematory located on-site and has offered cremations since 1951. Cremated remains may be placed in its cremation gardens, mausoleums or streamside scattering garden.
In Lodi, this family owned and operated funeral home serves Lodi, Lockeford, Clements, Galt, Stockton and surrounding communities. It traces to an undertaking business begun in 1869 and took its present name in January 2019, and its general list is posted on the site.
In Lodi, the funeral home offers traditional Islamic funeral and burial service to all Muslims, with ghusl washing and kafan shrouding at its own facility. Licensed female staff care for deceased women, and the home ships remains to other states or foreign countries.
In Lodi since 1932, this funeral home arranges traditional funerals and burials, cremation services, graveside services and inbound and outbound transportation. It serves Lodi, Stockton, Galt, Elk Grove, Lockeford and nearby communities.
Funeral homes by city: Escalon, Lodi, Ripon, Stockton, Tracy
Cremation Services in San Joaquin County
6 listings
Pre-Need Funeral Plans in San Joaquin County
7 listings
Burial Services in San Joaquin County
3 listings
Funeral Transport in San Joaquin County
3 listings
Spanish-Speaking Funeral Homes in San Joaquin County
1 listing
Muslim Funeral Homes in San Joaquin County
1 listing
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in San Joaquin 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 San Joaquin County are recorded with the County Clerk-Recorder at 44 North San Joaquin Street, Suite 260, Stockton, CA 95202. Phone: 1-209-468-3939. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM.
The County Clerk-Recorder charges $16 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page.
Recording Office Record
County Clerk-Recorder
San Joaquin County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
44 North San Joaquin Street, Suite 260, Stockton, CA 95202
Website
Fees
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $16 |
| 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 Joaquin 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 Joaquin 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.
Stockton firm serving San Joaquin County families since 1985, with estate planning and probate among its practice areas. On the settlement side it handles trust administration, carrying out distributions to beneficiaries under a revocable or irrevocable trust and accounting to them where required, alongside probate of a decedent's estate.
Serves San Joaquin County from Stockton, including Lodi, Manteca, and Tracy. Handles probate and trust administration alongside estate planning, covering executor and personal representative duties, debts after death, and death-tax questions. Clarence Chan has practiced in California since 1997 and is fluent in Cantonese and proficient in Mandarin.
Stockton firm serving San Joaquin County and the Central Valley with estate planning: revocable living trusts, wills, and durable powers of attorney for health care and finances. Attorney Douglas J. Rishwain has over 32 years of legal experience. Free consultation.
Serves Merced, Mariposa, and Stanislaus counties from Merced, with offices in San Jose, Modesto, and Mariposa. Represents trustees and executors on full and summary probate, sub-trust funding, fiduciary accountings, estate tax returns, and post-death tax planning, and handles probate, trust, and estate litigation. One of the few firms with a Mariposa County office.
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.
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.
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 Joaquin County Superior Court - Probate Division, official page
- San Joaquin County Clerk-Recorder, official page
- San Joaquin 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.
