Can You Self-File Probate in Mariposa County, California?

Find out if you can handle probate yourself, see estimated cost savings vs. hiring an attorney, and get a step-by-step filing checklist.

Ready to file? Every probate form, step by step.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Self-filing in Mariposa County works best for straightforward estates with a clear will and few beneficiaries. The estate settlement plan tracks each Mariposa County filing step alongside the estate's accounts and deadlines.

File at the Superior Court, 5088 Bullion Street, Mariposa, CA 95338. Phone: 209-966-2005. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM.

Mariposa County offers e-filing for probate matters. Odyssey eFileCA available but not required ("Although not required, parties are encouraged to participate in electronic filing and service"). As of July 1, 2024 a $1.00 minimum credit-card processing fee applies to e-file transactions.

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.

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·

Sources

Data sourced from Superior Court primary sources (5 pages reviewed). How we research.

Self-File Probate Assessment in Nearby Counties

More tools for settling this estate

Calculators and checklists for navigating probate and estate administration.

Free

Petition for Probate and Letters

Prepare the application to open probate and request Letters Testamentary or of Administration.

Get Started
Free

Notice to Creditors

Prepare the creditor notice for an estate — the official state form or a notice typeset to statute, plus mailed notices for known creditors.

Get Started
Free

Renunciation of Executor

Decline an appointment as executor — the writing filed with the court, drafted to your state's rule, with its deadline and filing office.

Get Started
Free

Affidavit of Heirship

Prepare the sworn statement of a deceased person's family history and heirs for recording in the county land records, composed to your state's statute with its recording instructions.

Get Started
Free

Small Estate Affidavit

Prepare the affidavit that collects a small estate's property without probate — the official state form or an affidavit drafted to statute, plus a presentation letter for each holder.

Get Started
Free

Estate Inventory

Prepare the probate inventory of estate property — every asset at its date-of-death value, composed to your state's statute, with the state's filing or delivery instructions.

Get Started

How Much Does Probate Cost?

Estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and timeline for probating an estate in your state. See if the estate qualifies for simplified probate procedures.

Use Calculator

How Much Can an Executor Charge?

Calculate how much an executor (personal representative) can charge for administering an estate. See if your state has statutory fees or uses reasonable compensation.

Use Calculator

Who Inherits Without a Will?

Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.

Use Calculator

How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?

Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax (12 states + DC), and inheritance tax (5 states) for an estate or trust.

Use Calculator

How Many Death Certificates Do I Need?

Calculate how many certified death certificates you need based on the assets and accounts you need to close. See state-specific ordering information.

Use Calculator

Do I Need Probate?

Answer a few questions to find out if an estate needs full probate, qualifies for simplified probate, or can avoid probate entirely with a small estate affidavit.

Check Now

Hire a Mariposa County County Attorney

Browse vetted attorneys serving Mariposa County County, California.

Browse firms

California Estate Settlement Resources

In-depth guides covering California probate, estate administration, and settling an estate.