Sonora attorney serving Tuolumne County and the Mother Lode with probate, trust administration, and long-term care planning. Tamara Polley is a certified specialist in Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Law designated by the California State Bar's Board of Legal Specialization, and focuses on special needs trusts and Medi-Cal and veterans benefit eligibility.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Tuolumne County, California
How probate works in Tuolumne County: the Superior Court - Probate Division record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Tuolumne County Superior Court - Probate Division
Tuolumne County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM
Office
12855 Justice Center Drive, 1st Floor, Sonora, CA 95370
Website
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
Filing in person
Walk-ins acceptedThe clerk's counter is open Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM and answers the phone 8:00 AM-3:00 PM. Hearing dates are not set by phone or email: the clerk gives a new case its first hearing date when the initiating papers are filed, and a preferred date in an existing case can be reserved by calling ahead.
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe Probate and Conservatorship self-help page lists the Judicial Council forms needed to start a conservatorship, and a packet of them is sold at the probate division.
Hearing schedule
- Probate is heard in Department 5; the current calendars sit on Mondays at 10:00 AM.
Self-help center
- First floor, Justice Center Courthouse1-209-533-6565 · Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-noon and 1:00 PM-3:00 PMThe Self-Help Center serves self-represented parties in family law and civil matters, regardless of income. Its staff give information on rights and procedure, not legal advice.
County forms
- TUO-PR-100 Order Appointing CounselMandatory order appointing counsel for a conservatee under Probate Code 1471 and 2356.5.
- TUO-PR-125 Status Report of AdministrationOptional status report under Probate Code 12201 when an estate is not closed within the statutory time.
- TUO-PR-150 Order Terminating ConservatorshipOptional order ending a conservatorship.
Fax
1-209-533-6616
Departments
- Court Operations Manager1-209-533-6672
- Administration1-209-533-5650
- Tentative Rulings1-209-533-6633
About the court
- Probate and conservatorship matters are processed in the probate department on the first floor of the Justice Center Courthouse in Sonora. Legal Processing takes case questions at the main number and by email.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Tuolumne 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 Tuolumne County, probate runs through the Superior Court - Probate Division at 12855 Justice Center Drive, 1st Floor, Sonora. Unlike most California probate courts, which accept electronic filing, Tuolumne County remains one of 7 counties that file on paper.
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 Tuolumne County
What probate costs in Tuolumne 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 12855 Justice Center Drive, 1st Floor, Sonora.
Procedures at this court that affect cost: Any advance payment of compensation to a fiduciary or attorney needs court authorization, and extraordinary-services fees are ordinarily paid only after the final accounting is approved.
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 Tuolumne County are filed at the Superior Court - Probate Division. File in person during business hours or by mail.
Beside the filing office, the court lists separate lines for Court Operations Manager, Administration, and Tentative Rulings.
The Self-Help Center serves self-represented parties in family law and civil matters, regardless of income. Its staff give information on rights and procedure, not legal advice.
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 Tuolumne County Self-Filing Assessment.
Tuolumne 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
Petitions are filed at least 15 calendar days before the hearing, and trust petitions under Probate Code 17200 at least 30 days before.
SourceProposed orders are submitted by the third court day before the hearing, except for confirmations of sale, contested matters and orders needing information from a government agency.
SourceDocument Requirements
The original will or codicil offered for probate is lodged with the court before or with the petition, with an expert translation and translator's declaration for a will in a foreign language.
SourceA nominated executor who declines to act files a signed declination before the hearing, and each proposed personal representative other than the petitioner files a consent to serve.
SourceA petition for distribution describes the property in detail rather than by reference to the will or inventory, lists every creditor claim with its disposition, and states the separate or community character of the assets.
When the inventory exceeds $400,000 the petition for final distribution gives the names and present addresses of everyone entitled to estate property.
SourceCourt Appearances
Appearances are required on petitions to confirm a sale and on any petition with objections on file.
SourceService Requirements
The petitioner prepares and handles the mailing and publication of notices and submits them when the petition is filed; the clerk does not.
A defective mailing usually continues the hearing for an amended notice, while a defective publication takes the matter off calendar for new notice by publication and mail.
SourceEveryone named in the will or codicils is listed in attachment 8 of the petition and given notice, including the trustee of a living trust that takes under the will.
SourceRecords Access
A research attorney reviews matters in advance and posts Probate Notes on the court's website several days before the hearing. Probate Notes are not tentative rulings, and parties appear unless a note says otherwise, by Zoom where the notes authorize it.
To qualify for recommended-for-approval status, all supporting documents and a proposed order reach the clerk's office at least 10 court days before the hearing.
SourceOther Requirements
Creditors file their claims with the clerk's office and mail a copy to the personal representative; every claim's disposition is reported on form DE-174 before any distribution.
SourceWhat to Bring
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 Tuolumne County
In California a death is registered locally, and in Tuolumne County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Recorder, Tuolumne County as well as by California Department of Public Health - Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
County Recorder
Tuolumne County · Recorder
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-3:30 PM
Office
2 South Green Street, 3rd Floor, Sonora, CA 95370
Website
Certified copies
At the counter
Local rule
- The Recorder is the county's local registrar and issues only vital records created in Tuolumne County. Walk-ins are taken Monday through Friday until 3:30 p.m.
Burial and cremation permits
- Issued byRecorder, Tuolumne County
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $26 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Sheriff-Coroner
Tuolumne County · Sheriff's Office
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
28 North Lower Sunset Drive, Sonora, CA 95370
Website
Mail and offices
Fax
1-209-533-5831
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Tuolumne 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 Tuolumne County are recorded with the County Recorder at 2 South Green Street, 3rd Floor, Sonora, CA 95370. Phone: 1-209-533-5531. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-3:30 PM.
The County Recorder charges $14 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page.
Recording Office Record
County Recorder
Tuolumne County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-3:30 PM
Office
2 South Green Street, 3rd Floor, Sonora, CA 95370
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 Tuolumne 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 Tuolumne 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.
Modesto firm on K Street serving Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Merced, Mariposa, Tuolumne, and Calaveras counties with trust administration and probate alongside wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. Founded in 2009 by Gina Leguria, whose own family spent four and a half years in probate court after her father died, it also handles Medi-Cal and special needs planning.
Murphys firm with offices in Sonora and Modesto, serving Calaveras, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, and Merced Counties with probate and trust administration alongside estate planning. Appears regularly in the Calaveras County Superior Court in San Andreas. Founding partner Jay Pink is an attorney, CFP, and CPA.
Modesto firm serving Stanislaus, Merced, San Joaquin, Tuolumne, Calaveras, and Fresno Counties with probate administration, trust administration, and estate and gift tax planning alongside wills and trusts. Offers a free consultation on all new probate matters.
Roseville firm handling probate and decedent estate administration, including ancillary probate, plus trust administration, conservatorships, and litigation in those areas — will contests and beneficiary disputes. Marlene Sanborn, a retired Air Force flight engineer, opened the firm in 2006 and has practiced law in California since 1998.
Serves San Francisco and the greater Bay Area from downtown San Francisco, and handles probate proceedings in every California county. Guides executors, administrators, and trustees through probate and trust administration alongside estate planning, billing probate work at California Probate Code statutory rates. Founded in 2018.
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
- Tuolumne County Superior Court - Probate Division, official page
- Tuolumne County Recorder, official page
- Tuolumne 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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