In Corning, this mortuary has provided funeral service since 1952. It offers assistance and information on a pre-need, at-need and aftercare basis to families whether they prefer burial or cremation.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Tehama County, California
How probate works in Tehama County: the Superior Court - Probate Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Tehama County Superior Court - Probate Court
Tehama County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Office
1740 Walnut Street, Red Bluff, CA 96080
Website
E-filing
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
OptionalLocal Rule 7 permits e-filing in probate through an Odyssey eFileCA service provider but does not require it; self-represented parties are exempt from mandatory e-filing. Each e-filed envelope carries a $3.50 court e-filing fee on top of the provider's charges, and card payments add a processing fee. Documents e-filed on the day of the hearing may not reach the judge in time. On paper: Wills and codicils; Bonds; Subpoenas and subpoenaed documents; Exhibits; Copy requests; Writs and abstracts.
Filing in person
Walk-ins acceptedPapers are filed at the Civil Clerk's window during office hours, and a document drop box takes filings Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, deemed filed the same day once reviewed for completeness. Papers for a matter on calendar within the hour may be handed up in court.
Self-represented filing
AllowedGuardianship forms, including the court's local forms, are available at the Civil Clerk's Office, and the Judicial Council probate forms can be downloaded from the state forms site. The court's notice to guardians, conservators and personal representatives states that failing to act on time in these cases can carry serious legal consequences.
Accepted payment
- At the counterCash, Check, Money order, Credit card.The Civil Division takes cash, check, credit card or money order for copies and certifications. E-filed fees are paid by Visa, Mastercard, Discover or eCheck through the service provider.
Hearing schedule
- Civil and probate law and motion Tuesdays at 8:30 AM in Department 5; conservatorships Mondays at 3:30 PM in Department 3.
Self-help center
- 1740 Walnut Street, Red Bluff1-530-527-8649 · Monday, Thursday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:00 PM · Assistance in Spanish in addition to EnglishThe Self-Help Assistance and Referral Program (SHARP) helps self-represented people prepare guardianship and guardianship-termination papers, through workshops and individual appointments booked by phone. Decedent estates are not among its listed case types.
Departments
- Courthouse main line1-530-527-3484
- Court Investigator1-530-529-6104Investigates conservatorships and guardianships for the court; most investigations carry a fee.
About the court
- Probate, guardianships and conservatorships are handled by the Civil and Family Law Division at the courthouse in Red Bluff. Department 1 is on the first floor and Departments 2 through 5 are on the second; parking is free in the lots around the building.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Tehama 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 Tehama County, probate runs through the Superior Court - Probate Court at 1740 Walnut Street, Red Bluff. Probate e-filing in Tehama County goes through tehama.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 Tehama County
What probate costs in Tehama 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 Court at 1740 Walnut Street, Red Bluff.
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 Court
Probate documents in Tehama County can be filed in person at the Superior Court - Probate Court, 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 Courthouse main line and Court Investigator.
The Self-Help Assistance and Referral Program (SHARP) helps self-represented people prepare guardianship and guardianship-termination papers, through workshops and individual appointments booked by phone. Decedent estates are not among its listed case types.
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 Tehama County Self-Filing Assessment.
Tehama County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Document Requirements
Court Appearances
Civil and probate law and motion matters may be attended in person or by WebEx; a remote appearance on the conservatorship calendar requires the court's prior approval.
SourceRecords Access
Orders that need a judge's signature are picked up at the clerk's office, or mailed back when the request includes a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment for the copies.
SourceCopy requests by mail state the case number and the documents wanted and include payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope; turnaround is usually one to two days.
SourceOther Requirements
A court investigator interviews the persons involved in a conservatorship or guardianship petition before the first hearing; most investigations carry a fee.
SourceWhat to Bring
Filed with the opening petition at the Superior Court - Probate Court: 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 Tehama County
In California a death is registered locally, and in Tehama County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Clerk and Recorder, Tehama County as well as by California Department of Public Health - Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
County Recorder
Tehama County · Clerk and Recorder
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Office
633 Washington Street, Room 11, Red Bluff, CA 96080
Website
Certified copies
Issued the same day
P.O. Box 250
Red Bluff, CA 96080
Fax
1-530-527-1745
Local rule
- The Recorder's Office holds only deaths that occurred in Tehama County. An in-person certificate is prepared at the visit, after the application and payment.
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $26 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Sheriff-Coroner
Tehama County · Sheriff's Office Coroner Division
Mail and offices
P.O. Box 729
Red Bluff, CA 96080
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Funeral Homes in Tehama County
3 funeral homes and crematories in Tehama County, each listed with the services it offers, the faiths it serves, the languages its staff speak, its address and its phone.
In Red Bluff, this family-owned office on Main Street arranges funeral, cremation, burial and pre-planning services, with cremation at the operator's own crematory in Redding. Staff help veterans' families navigate benefits eligibility and planning.
In Red Bluff, this funeral home on the corner of Jackson and Walnut streets has served families for over a century, with an on-site crematorium and a chapel with stained-glass windows by a local artist. Its staff is knowledgeable in the benefits available to veterans and their families.
Funeral homes by city: Corning, Red Bluff
Cremation Services in Tehama County
2 listings
Pre-Need Funeral Plans in Tehama County
2 listings
Burial Services in Tehama County
1 listing
Veterans Funeral Services in Tehama County
2 listings
Listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any funeral home or crematory.
Transferring Property in Tehama 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 Tehama County are recorded with the County Clerk-Recorder at 633 Washington Street, Room 11, Red Bluff, CA 96080. Phone: 1-530-527-3350. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-5:00 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 250, Red Bluff, CA 96080.
The County Clerk-Recorder charges $14 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page.
Recording Office Record
County Clerk-Recorder
Tehama County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Office
633 Washington Street, Room 11, Red Bluff, CA 96080
Website
P.O. Box 250
Red Bluff, CA 96080
Fax
1-530-527-1745
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 Tehama 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 Tehama County attorney charges the same schedule. Price isn't the variable — experience with the Superior Court - Probate Court and responsiveness are.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Superior Court - Probate Court, 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.
Red Bluff general practice serving Tehama County, with an estate practice covering trusts, wills, trust administration, and probate. Planning work is aimed at keeping health care and end-of-life decisions on record and minimizing conflicts among heirs. Dennis Albright has practiced in Tehama County since 1973 and formed the partnership with Nathan Jones in 2015.
Red Bluff and Redding offices serving Shasta and Tehama County executors and successor trustees, through court probate and through trust administration outside of probate, including disputes that arise in the probate process. The practice also handles wills, powers of attorney, and planning to limit estate taxes.
Red Bluff firm focused on estate planning, probate, and trust administration in Tehama County. Handles probate, small-estate administration, and trust administration after a death, and prepares trusts, wills, durable financial powers of attorney, and advance health care directives. Cheryl A. Forbes established the practice in 2011 and has been an attorney for 30 years; consultations are free.
Red Bluff firm serving Tehama and Shasta Counties since 1976, originally Hedlund & McCarthy. Handles trust administration, probate, and decedent's estate administration for estates of all sizes, from smaller estates eligible for expedited administration to large, complex estates requiring litigation.
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.
Solo Chico practice serving Butte County and nearby Oroville, Paradise, Willows, and Red Bluff. Brett A. Gilman has been in private practice since 1993 and now focuses entirely on probate, wills, trusts, and estate planning, handling every client file himself. Document preparation is billed at $250 per hour.
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
- Tehama County Superior Court - Probate Court, official page
- Tehama County Clerk-Recorder, official page
- Tehama 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.
