San Bernardino County
Probate Court

Handled by

Superior Court (Probate Division)In California, probate cases are heard by the Probate Division of the County Superior Court. California enforces strict statutory rules regarding attorney and executor fees, probate referee appraisals, and formal notices.

Probate office

San Bernardino Superior Court - Fontana District (Probate) 17780 Arrow Blvd, Fontana, CA 92335 (909) 350-9322 Checked on the court's website, Sept 2026 · sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov

County building

San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk 222 West Hospitality Lane, San Bernardino, CA 92415 OpenStreetMap · view the map entry

Phone

(909) 350-9322court website

Opening hours

Not published in an open source. Check the court or county website before you go.

County website

main.sbcounty.govWikidata

Court website

sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov/divisions/probate

State courts & e-filing

courts.ca.govCase search: California Superior Court Online Case Access (County Specific Odyssey/Tyler)

1. 01

   Secure the original will

   Find the original signed will and order certified death certificates. California deadline: Must lodge original will with County Clerk within 30 days of knowledge of death (Prob Code § 8200).

2. 02

   Pick the right track

   If the probate estate is under $208,850, a small-estate procedure (Cal. Prob. Code § 13100 (personal property); § 13200 (small-value real property); § 13151 (primary residence petition, AB 2016)) may avoid full administration.

3. 03

   Petition the court

   File the petition with the Superior Court (Probate Division) for San Bernardino County. The court appoints the executor or administrator and issues letters.

4. 04

   Inventory the estate

   Open an estate bank account (the IRS issues the EIN), list assets at date-of-death values and file the inventory if the court requires it.

5. 05

   Notify creditors

   Publish or send notice to creditors. Window: 4 months after letters issued or 60 days after notice, whichever is later (absolute 1-year bar under CCP § 366.2).

6. 06

   Account and distribute

   Pay debts, taxes and fees (Cal. Prob. Code § 10800 & § 10810 (Attorneys receive identical statutory compensation)), file the final account if required, distribute to heirs and ask to close the estate.

Small estates

$208,850 personal property affidavit (§ 13100, deaths on/after Apr 1, 2025); real property of small value affidavit up to $69,625 (§ 13200, 6 months after death); primary residence up to $750,000 via court petition (§ 13151, AB 2016, not an affidavit)Cal. Prob. Code § 13100 (personal property); § 13200 (small-value real property); § 13151 (primary residence petition, AB 2016) · wait 40 days

Filing the will

Must lodge original will with County Clerk within 30 days of knowledge of death (Prob Code § 8200)

Creditor claims

4 months after letters issued or 60 days after notice, whichever is later (absolute 1-year bar under CCP § 366.2)Cal. Prob. Code § 9100 & CCP § 366.2

Executor fees

Mandatory Statutory Scale: 4% first $100k, 3% next $100k, 2% next $800k, 1% next $9M, 0.5% next $15M, reasonable amount above $25M (Prob Code § 10800)Cal. Prob. Code § 10800 & § 10810 (Attorneys receive identical statutory compensation) · estimate the fee

Handwritten wills

Recognized. California recognizes holographic wills if the signature and material provisions are in the handwriting of the testator, regardless of whether witnesses signed (Cal. Prob. Code § 6111).

Estate tax

No state estate tax.California has no state estate tax (prohibited by Proposition 6 in 1982).

Inheritance tax

No.No inheritance tax in California.

Typical duration

9 to 18 monthsA lawyer is not required by statute, though most formal estates use one.

Rules re-checked Sept 2026 against: mullinlaw.com (statute) · law.justia.com (statute)