Required for attorneysLocal Rule 17.22 requires represented parties and every attorney, including consulting and document-preparer attorneys, to e-file in probate matters through an electronic filing service provider. Self-represented parties are exempt. Documents e-filed by 11:59 PM are timely, and a card payment carries a 2.75% processing fee on top of the provider's fee. On paper: Documents filed by self-represented parties; Affidavit re: Real Property of Small Value; Bonds and undertakings; Financial documents submitted by a private professional conservator; Subpoenaed documents; Original wills and codicils, for filing or safekeeping.
Filing in person
Walk-ins acceptedThe Probate Clerk's Office is on the first floor of the Hall of Justice, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM; phones are answered 8:00 AM to noon. The court's probate calendar directs probate ex parte papers not e-filed to the Civil and Family Law Courthouse at 3055 Cleveland Avenue by 10:00 AM.
Self-represented filing
AllowedSelf-represented filers may file on paper or e-file. The court posts local probate forms, including a first and final report of personal representative with a petition for final distribution and a notice of stipulated continuance.
Hearing schedule
Courtroom 63: estates and other probate matters Fridays at 9:30 AM, trusts at 9:31 AM and conservatorships at 9:32 AM; probate ex parte review Monday to Friday at 10:00 AM.
Department 63 (Probate)1-707-521-6722 · Hall of Justice, 625 Administration Drive, 6th FloorHears decedent estates, trusts and conservatorships on the Friday probate calendar.
Probate tentative rulings1-707-521-6607Probate tentative rulings are available after 2:00 PM the day before the hearing, and guardianship rulings after 11:00 AM.
Request to be heard on a tentative ruling1-707-521-6893Leave a message with your name, phone number and the case name and number by 4:00 PM the court day before the hearing.
Probate filings go to the Probate Clerk's Office in the Hall of Justice, where the court moved its probate clerk and courtroom in July 2026. Civil and family law matters remain at the Civil and Family Law Courthouse, 3055 Cleveland Avenue.
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 625 Administration Drive, Santa Rosa. Sonoma County runs probate e-filing through sonoma.courts.ca.gov, 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 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 625 Administration Drive, Santa Rosa.
Procedures at this court that affect cost: A petition for final distribution that holds back a reserve over $2,500 explains the need and estimates the costs and taxes it covers.
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 cases in Sonoma County, California are filed at the Superior Court - Probate Division.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Department 63 (Probate), Probate tentative rulings, Request to be heard on a tentative ruling, and Probate Examiner.
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.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
A stipulated continuance on the regular probate calendar uses local form PR-18 with the continuance fee, filed by noon three court days before the hearing; generally two are allowed per petition, within six months of the first setting.
The court does not require the Confidential Supplement to Duties and Liabilities of Personal Representative, and a petition under a pour-over will names every trustee and beneficiary of the trust at item 8.
The court issues a tentative ruling by about 2:00 PM the court day before each regular probate calendar; a party who accepts it need not appear, and it becomes the ruling unless someone asks to be heard by 4:00 PM that day.
Local Rule 6.2(E). Signed orders on approved matters are usually ready at the Probate Clerk's Office within hours after the hearing.
Same-day ex parte applications are filed before 10:00 AM and decided by 2:00 PM; non-urgent applications captioned "Drop-Off Ex Parte Matter", such as petitions for letters of special administration or final discharge, are decided within five court days.
Attorneys e-file ex parte applications; a party without an attorney may submit one at the clerk's office (Local Rule 6.2(G)).
Probate examiner notes on procedural deficiencies are generally posted on the court's case portal three weeks before the hearing, and 45 days before for Probate Code 850 trust petitions.
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 Coroner in Sonoma County
In California a death is registered locally, and in Sonoma County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Department of Health Services Office of Vital Statistics, Sonoma County as well as by California Department of Public Health - Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
Local Health Department
Sonoma County · Department of Health Services Office of Vital Statistics
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 at 585 Fiscal Drive, Room 103, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. Phone: 1-707-565-3800. Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM; Wednesday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM.
The County Clerk-Recorder charges $14 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 4 more
Office
One Embarcadero, Suite 1200San Francisco, CA 94111
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 PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Law
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 PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 2 more
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.
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.
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.
Enter the estate value to see California attorney fees, executor fees, court costs and the timeline.
Examples:
General information about probate costs, not legal or financial advice. Fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value or net property after debts. Actual costs vary by county, attorney and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney for legal questions.
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See whether you can file probate yourself
Enter the estate value to see whether California lets a self-represented person open probate, what the court requires, and what each route costs.
General information about filing probate without a lawyer, not legal advice. Both routes are priced by the probate cost estimator on the same estate; the attorney fee is the one line that differs. Actual costs vary by county, attorney and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney for legal questions.
