In Goleta, this office provides direct cremation and direct burial for families in Ventura and Goleta Counties, with a second office in Ventura. Scattering on a chartered boat or airplane can be arranged.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Santa Barbara County, California
How probate works in Santa Barbara County: the Superior Court - Anacapa Division record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Santa Barbara County Superior Court - Anacapa Division
Santa Barbara County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-3:00 PM
Office
1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Website
E-filing
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
Required for attorneysEvery document in a probate case is e-filed through eFileCA, except originals the law requires on paper; a party may ask for a court-ordered exemption by ex parte application. Self-represented parties are exempt and may e-file, including through the free Odyssey Guide & File service. In e-filings the filer names the North County or South County division. On paper: Wills and codicils, for filing or safekeeping; Letters (probate, guardianship, conservatorship); Affidavits re Real Property of Small Value; Bonds and undertakings; Subpoenaed documents; Documents supporting a court accounting by a guardian or conservator, and Probate Code 2620 financial, care facility and escrow documents; California state vital records forms.
Filing in person
Walk-ins acceptedThe probate clerks at the Anacapa Division in Santa Barbara and the Cook Division in Santa Maria take filings and calls Monday to Friday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM except holidays. A city parking lot on Anacapa Street is free for the first 75 minutes.
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe Probate Legal Process Clerk can help identify the forms a case needs and check available hearing dates, but does not give legal advice. Incomplete forms lead to required amendments or supplements before the court approves the case.
Hearing schedule
- South County: Thursdays at 9:00 AM in Department SB 5, Anacapa Division, Santa Barbara. North County: Mondays at 8:30 AM in Department SM 4, Tuesdays at 9:00 AM in Department SM 2 and Wednesdays at 8:30 AM in Department SM 1, Cook Division, Santa Maria.
Self-help center
- 312 East Cook Street, Building E, 2nd floor, Santa Maria1-805-614-6622 · Assistance in Spanish in addition to EnglishThe Probate Facilitator, a licensed attorney, helps self-represented parties in North County conservatorships and guardianships of the person (not of the estate) with petitions, objections, notice, fee waivers and status reports, at no cost. Spanish-language help is at 805-614-6413.
P.O. Box 21107
Santa Barbara, CA 93121-1107
Fax
1-805-882-4519
Departments
- North County Probate Clerk (Cook Division)1-805-614-6414 · 312 East Cook Street, Building E, Santa Maria, CA 93454 · Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-3:00 PM
- Probate Examiner (South County)probateexaminer@sbcourts.orgFor clarification of a specific posted probate note in a South County case, with the case number and hearing date; no attachments or filings.
- Probate Facilitator (North County), Spanish1-805-614-6413 · 312 East Cook Street, Building E, 2nd Floor, Santa Maria, CA 93454
About the court
- Probate cases are heard in two divisions: South County at the Anacapa Division in Santa Barbara and North County at the Cook Division in Santa Maria. Each division has its own probate clerk, and a case is filed in the division where venue lies.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara, probate runs through the Superior Court - Anacapa Division at 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara. Probate e-filing in Santa Barbara County goes through santabarbara.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 Santa Barbara County
What probate costs in Santa Barbara 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 - Anacapa Division at 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara.
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 - Anacapa Division
Probate cases in Santa Barbara County, California are filed at the Superior Court - Anacapa Division.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for North County Probate Clerk (Cook Division), Probate Examiner (South County), and Probate Facilitator (North County), Spanish.
The Probate Facilitator, a licensed attorney, helps self-represented parties in North County conservatorships and guardianships of the person (not of the estate) with petitions, objections, notice, fee waivers and status reports, at no cost. Spanish-language help is at 805-614-6413.
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 Santa Barbara County Self-Filing Assessment.
Santa Barbara 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 cases are filed in the North County division when North County is a proper venue, and otherwise in South County; each petition states the basis for venue.
SourceVerified supplements or amendments that cure noted defects are submitted by 5:00 PM three court days before the hearing; later filings may not be considered and require an appearance.
SourceProposed orders are submitted by noon at least five court days before the hearing.
SourceCourt Appearances
In an uncontested matter a noticed hearing may be continued by written request, filed at least three court days before the hearing with a proposed order; where publication is complete, the hearing goes ahead and the judge sets the new date.
SourceRoutine ex parte requests, such as a final discharge or a bond increase, are decided without a hearing; a contested ex parte request is set and heard like a civil ex parte application.
An uncontested ex parte petition for special administration marks "Without Hearing" in the DE-111 hearing box and is filed separately from a petition for general letters.
SourceRecords Access
Probate examiners post notes on the Tentative Rulings page about a week before the hearing, often five or more court days ahead; an unopposed matter recommended for approval needs no appearance.
If no objection is made when the case is called, the tentative ruling becomes the final order.
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Superior Court - Anacapa 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 Santa Barbara County
In California a death is registered locally, and in Santa Barbara County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by County Health Office of Vital Records, Santa Barbara County as well as by California Department of Public Health - Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Santa Barbara County · County Health Office of Vital Records
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-11:30 AM and 1:00 PM-4:30 PM
Office
345 Camino Del Remedio, Building 4, 1st Floor, Santa Barbara, CA 93110
Website
Order online
Also issued by
The county recorder
Fax
1-805-681-5141
Local rule
- The office holds only the current year and one year prior. Older deaths are held by the Clerk-Recorder, in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria.
Burial and cremation permits
- Issued byCounty Health Office of Vital Records, Santa Barbara County
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $26 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Sheriff-Coroner
Santa Barbara County · Sheriff's Office Coroner's Bureau
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
66A South San Antonio Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93110
Website
Mail and offices
Fax
1-805-681-4308
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in Santa Barbara County
8 funeral homes and crematories in Santa Barbara County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
In Santa Barbara, this office arranges simple cremation by phone, fax and e-mail, and also serves Goleta, Carpinteria, Hope Ranch, Summerland, Mission Canyon, Montecito and Isla Vista. It takes pre-planning arrangements and offers scattering of cremated remains by plane or private yacht charter.
In Santa Maria, this establishment provides direct cremation for Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and surrounding communities. Its one package covers collection and care, the paperwork, a private cremation and the ashes returned in a simple urn.
In Santa Maria, the mortuary, crematory and Memory Gardens occupy about 2.5 acres on East Stowell Road, with three visitation rooms and a chapel that seats 200. The Memory Gardens, built in 1978, hold a landscaped cemetery for cremated remains, outdoor crypt niche banks and two indoor glass-front niche rooms.
A family-owned mortuary in Santa Maria serving Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. It arranges Catholic funerals, memorial services, graveside ceremonies and cremation, and ships remains to Mexico, handling consulate and health department documents.
In Santa Maria, this mortuary arranges funerals, cremations and preplanned arrangements. It also offers burial at sea and the option of planning a memorial at sea.
Funeral homes by city: Goleta, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria
Cremation Services in Santa Barbara County
7 listings
Pre-Need Funeral Plans in Santa Barbara County
5 listings
Burial Services in Santa Barbara County
4 listings
Veterans Funeral Services in Santa Barbara County
1 listing
Funeral Transport in Santa Barbara County
3 listings
Catholic Funeral Homes in Santa Barbara County
1 listing
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara County are recorded with the County Clerk-Recorder at 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Phone: 1-805-568-2250. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 159, Santa Barbara, CA 93102.
The County Clerk-Recorder charges $14 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page.
Santa Barbara County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile and CSC.
Recording Office Record
County Clerk-Recorder
Santa Barbara County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Website
E-recording
available via Simplifile and CSC
P.O. Box 159
Santa Barbara, CA 93102
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 Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara County attorney charges the same schedule. Price isn't the variable — experience with the Superior Court - Anacapa Division and responsiveness are.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Superior Court - Anacapa 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.
Serves Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Kern, and Los Angeles counties, with six Central Coast and Southern California offices. Handles probate and trust administration, conservatorships, guardianships, and will and trust disputes, alongside estate planning and Medi-Cal planning. Christopher Botti is a State Bar board certified specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law.
Santa Barbara firm handling probate, trust administration, and trust litigation across Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo Counties. Guides executors and administrators through probate in approximately 9-10 months. Veteran-owned, with in-person, phone, and virtual consultations and a free initial consultation.
Santa Barbara firm serving the Central Coast and Los Angeles area since 1973, representing individuals, families, and fiduciaries in probate and trust administration and in will and trust contests across Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, and Los Angeles Counties. Over 160 years of combined trust and estate administration experience.
Serves Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties from Ventura, with a second office in Westlake Village. The estate group files probate petitions, handles post-death trust administration and trust divisions, and represents heirs, beneficiaries, and fiduciaries in trust and estate litigation. Founded in 1982; John M. Andersen is a State Bar certified specialist.
Represents executors and successor trustees through probate and trust administration across Los Angeles, Ventura, and Kern Counties, from offices in Oxnard, Valencia, Bakersfield, and West Los Angeles. It litigates will contests, trust disputes, and financial elder abuse, and handles Medi-Cal planning. Its principal attorney is a State Bar certified specialist in probate and trust law.
Bakersfield firm serving Kern County and the San Joaquin Valley since 1953, with offices in Fresno, Pasadena, Encinitas, and Santa Barbara. Handles probate and estate administration, including for personal representatives living outside California, plus trust administration and probate and trust disputes. Practice group leader Nancy L. Oehler is a certified specialist in trust and probate law.
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
- Santa Barbara Superior Court - Anacapa Division, official page
- Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder, official page
- Santa Barbara 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.
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