What to Do When Someone Dies in Sonoma County, California

Probate in Sonoma 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.

What probate costsHow to fileTransferring propertyLocal attorneys

When someone dies in Sonoma 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

Sonoma County

Address

3055 Cleveland AvenueSanta Rosa, CA 95403

Hours

Office: 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM; Phone: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM; Court: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Monday - Friday)
Visit court website →
Paper filing availableE-filing required for attorneysWalk-ins accepted

Departments

  • Probate Court Investigators707-521-6586
  • Tentative Rulings (after 2 PM day before)707-521-6607

Civil and Family Law Courthouse. Hearings in Courtroom 23. Mailing: Hall of Justice, 600 Administration Drive, Santa Rosa CA 95403. Filing at Probate Window opposite Courtroom 18.

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Verified July 3, 2026 · Source

How Probate Works in Sonoma 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 Sonoma County, probate runs through the Superior Court - Probate Division at 3055 Cleveland Avenue, Santa Rosa. Sonoma County runs probate e-filing through sonoma.courts.ca.gov, its own system rather than a shared statewide portal.

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. The 4 monthsCal. Prob. Code § 9100 — later of 4 months from letters or 60 days from mailed/personal notice of administrationVerified Sep 8, 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 Sonoma County

What probate costs in Sonoma 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 3055 Cleveland Avenue, Santa Rosa.

Probate matters are handled through Probate Court Investigators and Tentative Rulings (after 2 PM day before). Filing and payment go through these offices, not the main clerk window.

California charges $435Cal. Gov. Code §§ 70650(a), 70602.5, 70602.6Verified Sep 8, 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://sonoma.courts.ca.gov/online-services/e-filing). 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 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

If you're handling probate yourself in Sonoma 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 Court Investigators and Tentative Rulings (after 2 PM day before). 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 Sonoma 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 Information

Can 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 Sonoma County Self-Filing Assessment.

Sonoma 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

E-filing mandatory for represented parties and attorneys effective January 1, 2026 per Local Rule 17.22 and CCP § 1010.6.

Court Appearances

Ex Parte applications for conservatorship, estate, and trust matters must be e-filed if submitted by attorneys. Self-represented parties may submit in person at clerk's office.

Emergency applications must be submitted before 10:00 AM. Non-emergency "Drop-Off Ex Parte" applications receive orders not later than five (5) court days after submission.

Other Requirements

Probate Examiner reviews routine matters for statutory compliance. Probate Notes identify procedural deficiencies and are available three weeks before hearings via online case portal.

Tentative Rulings: Contact 707-521-6607 day before hearings after 2:00 PM (11:00 AM for guardianship cases).

Before You Go

Walk-ins accepted

You can file in person without an appointment. Self-represented probate filers file at the Probate Window in the Civil and Family Courthouse, opposite Courtroom 18. Office hours Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM.

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 Sonoma 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 Sonoma County are recorded with the County Clerk-Recorder, led by Clerk-Recorder-Assessor-Registrar of Voters Deva Marie Proto, at 585 Fiscal Drive, Room 103, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. Phone: (707) 565-3800. Hours: Monday - Tuesday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Wednesday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM; Thursday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (no fee transactions or document processing within 30 minutes of closing); phone lines staffed 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

The County Clerk-Recorder charges $14 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page.

Recording Office Record

County Clerk-Recorder

Sonoma County · Clerk-Recorder-Assessor-Registrar of Voters · Deva Marie Proto

Address

585 Fiscal Drive, Room 103Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Hours

Monday - Tuesday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Wednesday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM; Thursday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (no fee transactions or document processing within 30 minutes of closing); phone lines staffed 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Visit recorder website →

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 deedExempt

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

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Verified September 4, 2026 · Source

Probate Attorneys Serving Sonoma County

California uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Sonoma 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 Sonoma 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.

Solo PracticeSanta Rosa, CA

Brockway Law

Serves 1 county

Santa Rosa boutique trust and estate firm serving Sonoma County. Represents trustees, personal representatives, and beneficiaries through probate and trust administration, including accountings and asset disclosures, and litigates trust and estate disputes when they arise. Also drafts revocable trusts, pour-over wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 2 more

Office
415 Russell Ave, Suite ASanta Rosa, CA 95403

Solo PracticeNapa, CA

Celaya Law

Serves 16 counties

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.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 2 more

Office
960 School St.Napa, CA 94559
Free consultationVirtual consultations

FirmSan Francisco, CA

Harrington Law, P.C.

Since 2009 · Serves 5 counties

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.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 5 more

Office
One Embarcadero, Suite 1200San Francisco, CA 94111

Solo PracticeSebastopol, CA

Kenneth S. Jacobs, Attorney at Law

Serves 2 counties

Sebastopol solo practitioner serving Sonoma County since 1992, and a State Bar of California Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law since 1998. Handles probate and trust administration after a death alongside living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and elder law. Offers a free initial consultation and video appointments.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateElder Law

Office
117 N. Main StreetSebastopol, CA 95472
Free consultationVirtual consultations

Solo PracticeSanta Rosa, CA

Law Office of Adams & Rafferty, P.C.

Serves 3 counties

Santa Rosa trusts, estates, and elder law practice serving Sonoma County, with offices in Huntington Beach and San Diego. Handles probate, trust administration, and disputed estate and trust matters, including family conflict after a death. Barry Adams is a State Bar certified specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law and founded the Elder Law Clinic at Empire Law School.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 3 more

Office
532 Mendocino Ave, Suite 104Santa Rosa, CA 95401

Solo PracticePetaluma, CA

Law Office of Andrew Kern

Serves 3 counties

Petaluma solo practice serving Sonoma, Marin, and Napa Counties with probate representation, trust administration, and estate planning, alongside bankruptcy and tax debt work. Andrew Kern has over 30 years of California legal experience, quotes a flat fee after a free initial consultation, and answers his own phone.

PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateBankruptcy

Office
755 Baywood Drive, Floor 2Petaluma, CA 94954
Free consultation
See all 42 firms serving Sonoma County→

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.

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Legal Sources

Data sourced from California statutes and official state code. How we research.

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