2026 state court fee data · California

Probate in California

Recorded at $465–$1,000 - among the costlier civil filings in California, and one of 10 states where we price this filing.

Filing steps ↓ About this data

Fee rank is not wait rank

Signature reading for Probate in California: $465–$1,000 on max-fee among states for this filing. On this filing's state cohort, California sits in the upper third of recorded max fees ($465–$1,000). The published step list sits near the 7-step median for this filing (8 steps). Civil Lawsuit is largest of 2 at $1,435 among 12 civil filings in California; that is not the longest wait: Divorce records 180 days on a $435 ceiling.

Probate figures for California are compiled schedule reference, not legal advice - verify with the clerk where you intend to file.

In-state wait inventory

Waiting periods among California civil filings

Exclusive split of all 12 tracked filings in California - orthogonal to in-state fee placement below.

Compare a state record

Compare probate with another state

Start with California, then inspect another published court-schedule record without leaving this page.

Focus the comparison by published maximum fee

This only narrows the same court-schedule records; it does not estimate a total filing cost.

In-state placement

Where probate sits among California filings

Of the 12 civil filings we track in California, probate ranks 3 by recorded maximum fee: among the costlier civil filings in California. Neighbours: Property Dispute at $1,435 and Court Mediation at $500.

Same-state corpus only, not a national ranking. How we place filings

0 of 10 states publishing a waiting-period field for this filing impose one; California publishes a field and records none.

The California row lists 8 procedural steps against a 7-step median for this filing: a reading of published detail, not difficulty.

Filing Fee Details

Probate Court filing $465. Probate referee fees ~0.1% of estate.

California's high-band fee among states

California sits in the upper third of this filing's state cohort at $465–$1,000 (rank #2 of 10 by max fee).

Source: state court filing-fee schedules (upper-bound fee per state). Verify current amounts with the relevant court. How we calculate this ranking →

Key Requirements

  • Death certificate and original Will
  • Petition for Probate
  • Notice to creditors and heirs
  • Inventory and appraisal
  • Final accounting and distribution

Step-by-Step Process

  1. 1

    File Petition for Probate with death certificate and Will

  2. 2

    Court appoints Personal Representative

  3. 3

    Notice published to creditors (4-month claim period)

  4. 4

    Inventory and appraisal of assets

  5. 5

    Pay debts, taxes, expenses

  6. 6

    File inventory and accounting

  7. 7

    Distribute assets to heirs

  8. 8

    Close estate

Grounds / Eligibility

Estate administration upon death of asset owner

Quick Reference

Fee stamp
CEILING schedule band
Wait stamp
OPEN clock band
Filing Fee
$465–$1,000
Residency
File in county where decedent lived
Waiting Period
None required
Typical Timeline
9-18 months typical

Official Resources

California Court Website

Nearest fee-schedule peers in California

Ordered by ABS(filing_fee_max) to this row's CEILING stamp - not an A-Z process catalog.

Civil Lawsuit
CEILING
$435–$1,435
12-36 months
Property Dispute
CEILING
$435–$1,435
6-24 months
Court Mediation
HEAVY
$0–$500
1-3 sessions, each 3-8 hours
Guardianship
HEAVY
$465
3-6 months
Eviction
STANDARD
$240–$450
Uncontested: 3-5 weeks. Contested: 2-3 months.
Divorce
STANDARD
$435
6 months minimum, 12-18+ months if contested

Take this with you

What to do with probate in California's numbers, next.

Filing fees and requirements change; verify current figures with your local court before filing.

According to published California court materials compiled in the PlainCivil state-process database. See our methodology for source categories and vintage. Schedule row for Probate in California: max fee $465–$1,000, wait None, vintage 2026-09-01.