Sacramento firm with additional offices in Folsom and Roseville, covering estate planning, trust administration, probate, conservatorships, and trust and estate litigation. Founder Daniel Hunt is a State Bar of California Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law. Offers no-cost initial consultations by phone, video, or in person.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Yolo County, California
How probate works in Yolo County: the Superior Court - Probate Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Yolo County Superior Court - Probate Court
Yolo County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
1000 Main Street, Woodland, CA 95695
Website
E-filing
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
E-filing
Required for attorneysLocal Rule 7 requires represented parties to file and serve every probate document electronically through an approved electronic filing service provider, except where personal service is required and for ex parte applications. Self-represented parties are exempt and may use the court's File @ Home tool; an attorney may ask to be excused for undue hardship on form EFS-007. A document filed with the wrong fee is returned unfiled. On paper: Wills and codicils; Bonds and undertakings; Subpoenaed documents; Deposits of cash, check or credit card; Sealed documents; Financial institution, care facility and escrow documents under Probate Code 2620; California vital records forms; Ex parte applications (outside the mandate).
Filing in person
Walk-ins acceptedThe Civil Division window and phones at the main courthouse in Woodland are open Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM, excluding holidays.
Self-represented filing
AllowedThe probate page lists the Judicial Council forms that start an estate, conservatorship or guardianship case; the forms are also sold at the main courthouse. TurboCourt offers guided preparation of guardianship papers.
Self-help center
- 1000 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Woodland1-530-406-6794 · Tuesday, Thursday 8:30 AM-2:30 PM (walk-in)The Self-Help Center helps self-represented parties with probate guardianships and conservatorships among other case types. Help is offered at walk-in hours, by appointment, by phone on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, by live chat and by email.
Departments
- Courthouse main line1-530-406-6700
About the court
- Probate is handled by the Civil Division at the main courthouse at 1000 Main Street in Woodland. Case information and calendars are on the court's online portal.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Yolo 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 Yolo County, probate runs through the Superior Court - Probate Court at 1000 Main Street, Woodland. Yolo County runs probate e-filing through yolo.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 Yolo County
What probate costs in Yolo 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 1000 Main Street, Woodland.
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 cases in Yolo County, California are filed at the Superior Court - Probate Court.
Beside the filing office, the court lists a separate line for Courthouse main line.
The Self-Help Center helps self-represented parties with probate guardianships and conservatorships among other case types. Help is offered at walk-in hours, by appointment, by phone on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, by live chat and by email.
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 Yolo County Self-Filing Assessment.
Yolo 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
Whoever holds a decedent's will files it with the court of the county where the decedent lived within 30 days after the death.
SourceThe clerk sets a guardianship of the person about 60 days after filing to allow for the investigator's report, and the minor and proposed guardian attend the hearing unless excused.
SourceCourt Appearances
An uncontested petition for letters of special administration can be heard and granted ex parte; ex parte hearings are requested from the department the case is assigned to.
SourceOfficial court reporters are normally not provided for probate matters other than LPS conservatorships; a party who wants one requests it in writing through Courtroom Support five court days ahead and pays any fee in advance.
SourceRecords Access
Probate Notes recommend an outcome for each petition, but unlike tentative rulings they do not become the court's order on their own.
SourceCopies by mail are requested by letter with the case number, the documents wanted, a check payable to Yolo Superior Court marked "not to exceed" an amount, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
SourceOther Requirements
Appointment of an executor or administrator usually takes four to six weeks after the petition is filed, and no distribution or closing can happen until at least four months after the notice to creditors is published.
SourceA court investigator interviews the proposed conservatee before the first hearing and later reports on the conservatee's care and estate.
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 Yolo County
In California a death is registered locally, and in Yolo County certified copies of the death certificate are issued by Clerk-Recorder, Yolo County as well as by California Department of Public Health - Vital Records.
Vital Records Office Record
County Recorder
Yolo County · Clerk-Recorder
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
625 Court Street, Room B-01, Woodland, CA 95695
Website
Certified copies
Issued the same day
Order online
P.O. Box 1130
Woodland, CA 95695
Local rule
- For an in-person order, submit the online application first, then sign, pay and receive the certificate at the counter. The office provides records only for events in Yolo County.
Burial and cremation permits
- Issued byClerk-Recorder, Yolo County
- After-hours permit line1-530-668-5292
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $26 |
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Sheriff-Coroner
Yolo County · Sheriff's Office Coroner's Section
Verified November 2, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Yolo 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 Yolo County are recorded with the County Clerk-Recorder at 625 Court Street, Room B-01, Woodland, CA 95695. Phone: 1-530-666-8130. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 1130, Woodland, CA 95695.
The County Clerk-Recorder charges $15 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page.
Yolo County accepts electronic recording through CeRTNA (CSC, ePN, Indecomm, Nationwide Title Clearing, Simplifile and ValueCheck).
Recording Office Record
County Clerk-Recorder
Yolo County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
625 Court Street, Room B-01, Woodland, CA 95695
Website
P.O. Box 1130
Woodland, CA 95695
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $15 |
| Each additional page | $3 |
| GC 27388.1 Building Homes and Jobs Act Fee (SB 2)Applies to a TOD deed | $75 |
| GC 27388.2 Restrictive Covenant Modification Fee (AB 1466)Applies to a TOD deed | $2 |
| 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 Yolo 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 Yolo 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.
Davis attorney serving Yolo, Sacramento, and Solano Counties with probate and trust administration alongside estate planning. Represents people appointed — or seeking appointment — as personal representatives, executors, trustees, and administrators. Marissa Sirota is a California-certified mediator and a former civil litigation trial lawyer.
Sacramento and Roseville firm serving Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, Yolo, Nevada, and Yuba-Sutter Counties with trust administration, probate, Medi-Cal planning, and long-term care planning since 1987. Founder Timothy Murphy is accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist veterans with benefits claims. Offers a free initial telephone call.
Davis firm serving Yolo, Sacramento, Solano, Placer, Colusa, El Dorado, and Yuba Counties with probate administration and conservatorships alongside estate planning and special needs planning. Keith Banks was previously probate clerk and attorney-unit research assistant at the Yolo Superior Court. Formed in 2019 by the merger of two Yolo County firms.
Woodland firm with a second Fairfield office serving Yolo and Solano Counties — Davis, Dixon, Vacaville, Rio Vista, and Vallejo — with probate, trust administration, conservatorships, and special needs trusts alongside estate planning and long-term-care planning. Barbara Sonin is a certified specialist in estates, trusts, and probate. Meetings are available by Zoom.
Serves Solano County from Fairfield, taking estates through the county's probate court. Works with executors on probate administration and the duties and personal liability that come with the role, and with successor trustees on trust administration after a death; also handles conservatorships and guardianships. Meetings are available in person or by video.
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
- Yolo County Superior Court - Probate Court, official page
- Yolo County Clerk-Recorder, official page
- Yolo 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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