Can You Self-File Probate in El Dorado County, California?

File at the Superior Court, 2850 Fairlane Court, Suite 120, Placerville, CA 95667. Phone: 530-621-5047. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM.

El Dorado County requires e-filing for probate matters. Mandatory for attorneys. Self-represented parties may request exemption via form EFS-007.

Yes, you can file probate without a lawyer in California, though the process may require more effort depending on estate complexity.Cal. Prob. Code §§ 10800, 10810 (statutory fee schedule: 4%/3%/2%/1%/0.5%/reasonable, progressive slices, on gross estate value — "without reference to encumbrances"), 13100 (small estate personal property affidavit; 40 days; base $166,250; the ceiling is measured on the gross value of the decedent's REAL AND personal property in this state), 13050 (property excluded from that computation: joint tenancy, terminable interests, § 13500 spousal property, revocable-trust property, multiple-party/P.O.D. accounts, registered vehicles/vessels/manufactured homes, armed-forces pay, and salary up to the § 890-adjusted cap), 13115 (the § 13100 affidavit may not be used to obtain possession or transfer of real property), 13200 (real property affidavit; six months; base $55,425 per § 13200(h)(1)), 13151-13152 (primary residence succession, $750,000; amended by AB 2016, Stats. 2024, ch. 331, eff. Jan 1, 2025), 890 (CPI adjustment: April 1 every 3 years; § 890(d) keys the figure to the date of death). Adjusted thresholds taken from the Judicial Council's published § 890(c) list, "Maximum Amounts for Determining Eligibility for Summary Succession Procedures" (https://courts.ca.gov/system/files/file/probate-code-890-adjusted-amounts.pdf): deaths on/after April 1, 2025 — § 13100 = $208,850, § 13200 = $69,625, §§ 13151-13154 = $750,000; deaths 4/1/2022-3/31/2025 — $184,500 / $61,500; next adjustment April 1, 2028. § 8005-8006 (court hearing admits the will and appoints the PR — no informal/registrar track), § 8480 (bond required before letters), § 8481 (will waiver or all-beneficiary written waiver; court retains good-cause authority), §§ 8900-8904 (appraisal; referee appraises all property not self-appraised by the PR under § 8901), § 8961 (0.1% commission), § 8963 ($75 min, $10K max), § 8120 (publication of notice of petition for administration), §§ 10400, 10500(a), 10501 (IAEA independent administration without court supervision), § 9100 (creditor claims: later of 4 months from letters or 60 days from notice). Re-verified 2026-09-08 against leginfo.legislature.ca.gov (PROB §§ 10800, 10805, 10810, 8480, 8481, 8482, 8961, 8963, 9100, 13100, 13151, 13200, 890) and courts.ca.gov (Judicial Council § 890 adjusted-amounts list; Statewide Civil Fee Schedule eff. Jan. 1, 2026).Verified Sep 8, 2026 Many California courts offer self-help resources and standardized forms.

Court filing fees in California vary by county.Cal. Prob. Code §§ 10800, 10810 (statutory fee schedule: 4%/3%/2%/1%/0.5%/reasonable, progressive slices, on gross estate value — "without reference to encumbrances"), 13100 (small estate personal property affidavit; 40 days; base $166,250; the ceiling is measured on the gross value of the decedent's REAL AND personal property in this state), 13050 (property excluded from that computation: joint tenancy, terminable interests, § 13500 spousal property, revocable-trust property, multiple-party/P.O.D. accounts, registered vehicles/vessels/manufactured homes, armed-forces pay, and salary up to the § 890-adjusted cap), 13115 (the § 13100 affidavit may not be used to obtain possession or transfer of real property), 13200 (real property affidavit; six months; base $55,425 per § 13200(h)(1)), 13151-13152 (primary residence succession, $750,000; amended by AB 2016, Stats. 2024, ch. 331, eff. Jan 1, 2025), 890 (CPI adjustment: April 1 every 3 years; § 890(d) keys the figure to the date of death). Adjusted thresholds taken from the Judicial Council's published § 890(c) list, "Maximum Amounts for Determining Eligibility for Summary Succession Procedures" (https://courts.ca.gov/system/files/file/probate-code-890-adjusted-amounts.pdf): deaths on/after April 1, 2025 — § 13100 = $208,850, § 13200 = $69,625, §§ 13151-13154 = $750,000; deaths 4/1/2022-3/31/2025 — $184,500 / $61,500; next adjustment April 1, 2028. § 8005-8006 (court hearing admits the will and appoints the PR — no informal/registrar track), § 8480 (bond required before letters), § 8481 (will waiver or all-beneficiary written waiver; court retains good-cause authority), §§ 8900-8904 (appraisal; referee appraises all property not self-appraised by the PR under § 8901), § 8961 (0.1% commission), § 8963 ($75 min, $10K max), § 8120 (publication of notice of petition for administration), §§ 10400, 10500(a), 10501 (IAEA independent administration without court supervision), § 9100 (creditor claims: later of 4 months from letters or 60 days from notice). Re-verified 2026-09-08 against leginfo.legislature.ca.gov (PROB §§ 10800, 10805, 10810, 8480, 8481, 8482, 8961, 8963, 9100, 13100, 13151, 13200, 890) and courts.ca.gov (Judicial Council § 890 adjusted-amounts list; Statewide Civil Fee Schedule eff. Jan. 1, 2026).Verified Sep 8, 2026 Self-filing costs typically include the court petition fee, publication costs, and bond premiums. The filing fee is a fraction of total probate costs. See a full breakdown with the California probate calculator.