In Yreka, this funeral chapel has served families for over 80 years. Its chapel stands at 202 S. Oregon St., and the office is open from 8am to 5pm.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Siskiyou County, California
How probate works in Siskiyou County: the Superior Court - Civil Division record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Siskiyou County Superior Court - Civil Division
Siskiyou County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-4:00 PM
Office
411 Fourth Street, Yreka, CA 96097
Website
E-filing
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
OptionalLocal Rule 2.23 makes e-filing optional in probate cases through an authorized electronic filing service provider, and paper filings are still taken at the clerk's windows. The court takes no probate filings by email or fax. Documents received electronically by 11:59 PM on a court day are filed that day, and provider fees are waived for parties with an active fee waiver. On paper: Original wills and codicils; Bonds and undertakings; Exhibits to be lodged for hearings or trials; Subpoenaed documents; Copy requests; Any document the court orders submitted on paper.
Filing in person
Walk-ins acceptedProbate papers are filed at the clerk's service windows of the courthouse in Yreka or by mail. The court's phones are answered 8:00 AM to noon and 1:00 to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
Self-represented filing
AllowedSelf-represented parties may e-file or file on paper. The Civil page links the statewide self-help guides for estates, wills and probate, conservatorships and guardianships, and the court posts an optional local Probate Summary of Account form.
Hearing schedule
- Civil limited, conservatorship and probate matters Thursdays at 8:30 AM; guardianships Wednesdays at 11:00 AM.
Self-help center
- 411 Fourth Street, Yrekafacilitator@siskiyou.courts.ca.gov · Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-5:00 PMThe Self-Help Center and Family Law Facilitator assist with family law, small claims and other civil matters by mail or email. Probate and decedent estates are not among its listed topics.
County forms
- SC-PB-1 Probate Summary of AccountOptional summary of account for a probate accounting.
Fax
1-530-572-4014
Departments
- Probate Division1-530-842-8182
- Civil, Family Law, Juvenile1-530-842-8238
About the court
- Probate, conservatorship and juvenile matters are handled by the Civil Division at the courthouse in Yreka. Calls to the main line reach each division through its directory.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Siskiyou 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 Siskiyou County, probate runs through the Superior Court - Civil Division at 411 Fourth Street, Yreka. Probate e-filing in Siskiyou County goes through siskiyou.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 Siskiyou County
What probate costs in Siskiyou 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 - Civil Division at 411 Fourth Street, Yreka.
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 - Civil Division
Probate documents in Siskiyou County can be filed in person at the Superior Court - Civil 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 Division and Civil, Family Law, Juvenile.
The Self-Help Center and Family Law Facilitator assist with family law, small claims and other civil matters by mail or email. Probate and decedent estates are not among its listed topics.
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 Siskiyou County Self-Filing Assessment.
Siskiyou 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
Supporting documents, including affidavits of publication, waivers of account, receipts, inventories and proposed orders, are filed at least five court days before the hearing.
Local Rules 9.03 and 9.06(A)(3).
SourceDocument Requirements
A copy of each will and codicil offered for probate is attached to the petition as an exhibit, with a typewritten copy of any handwritten will; a will whose attestation clause is not signed under penalty of perjury is proved on form DE-131.
Local Rule 9.07(E).
SourceCourt Appearances
Every pleading that needs a hearing is set on the regular probate calendar when it is filed, and the filer may pick the first hearing date as long as it leaves time for notice.
Local Rule 9.02. A matter not ready by the hearing is continued; by a second continuance it may be taken off calendar or denied without prejudice.
SourceVerified probate petitions are deemed submitted without an appearance, except a petition to confirm a sale of real property or of personal property worth more than $100, and the hearing on appointment of a guardian or conservator.
Local Rule 9.08. Before denying a petition with no required appearance, the court may continue it once so the petitioner can appear.
SourceService Requirements
The petitioner, not the clerk, gives the notice the Probate Code requires and files the proof of service; noticed hearings are not shortened below ten days.
Local Rule 9.05. Notice to the Public Administrator is given where it may have priority to serve (Local Rule 9.07(B)).
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Superior Court - Civil 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 Siskiyou County
In California a death is registered locally, and in Siskiyou County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Assessor-Recorder, Siskiyou County as well as by California Department of Public Health - Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
County Recorder
Siskiyou County · Assessor-Recorder
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-5:00 PM (closed for lunch)
Office
311 Fourth Street, Room 108, Yreka, CA 96097
Website
Order online
Local rule
- The Assessor-Recorder is the county's local registrar, and its Recorder Division maintains the county's death certificates.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $26 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Sheriff-Coroner
Siskiyou County · Sheriff's Office Coroner's Office
Phone
Hours
Monday-Thursday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
305 Butte Street, Yreka, CA 96097
Website
Release of remains
1-530-841-2900 · Monitored line for the Coroner's Office · 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in Siskiyou County
1 funeral home or crematory in Siskiyou County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
Funeral homes by city: Yreka
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in Siskiyou 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 Siskiyou County are recorded with the County Recorder at 311 Fourth Street, Room 108, Yreka, CA 96097. Phone: 1-530-842-8065. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-5:00 PM (closed for lunch).
The County Recorder charges $14 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page.
Recording Office Record
County Recorder
Siskiyou County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-5:00 PM (closed for lunch)
Office
311 Fourth Street, Room 108, Yreka, CA 96097
Website
Fees
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 Siskiyou 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 Siskiyou County attorney charges the same schedule. Price isn't the variable — experience with the Superior Court - Civil Division and responsiveness are.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Superior Court - Civil 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.
Yreka attorney serving Yreka, Mount Shasta, Weed, and the rest of Siskiyou County with probate court proceedings and trust administration alongside estate planning, real estate, and business formation. Jennifer Shelton clerked for the Siskiyou County Superior Court for more than a decade before practicing. In-person and remote consultations; the first is free.
Mount Shasta firm serving Siskiyou County, including Mt. Shasta, Weed, and Yreka, with a second office by appointment near the Yreka courthouse. Attorney Adam Sanders handles estate planning, trust administration, probate, guardianships, and limited and general conservatorships. Siskiyou County's oldest law firm, with over five decades of service; some staff are fluent in Spanish.
General practice attorney in Yreka with over 25 years of experience serving Siskiyou County. Estate planning services include wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, succession planning, estate tax minimization, probate, and transfer on death deeds.
Redding practice on Eureka Way handling Shasta County probate — the collection, management, and distribution of a decedent's estate through the court — plus living trusts, wills, and business law, with a second California office in Costa Mesa and a Middle Tennessee office in Brentwood. Attorney Douglas A. Wright publishes his fees, including flat-fee small-estate probate.
Chico practice serving Butte, Plumas, Placer, Sacramento, Lassen, and Glenn counties, with satellite offices in Rocklin, Sacramento, and Lake Almanor. Handles probate for personal representatives, making the court appearances and preparing the pleadings an estate requires, and resolves probate and trust litigation. Daniel Alexander has practiced in these areas since 1996.
General-practice law firm with offices in Chico and Red Bluff serving Butte, Glenn, Tehama, and Yuba Counties. Estate practice covers wills, trusts, and probate — assisting testators, administrators, and beneficiaries — alongside family law and personal injury matters.
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
- Siskiyou County Superior Court - Civil Division, official page
- Siskiyou County Recorder, official page
- Siskiyou 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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