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Calaveras County, CA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Category | Current rules |
|---|---|
| Court | Superior Court of California, County of Calaveras |
| Courthouse | 400 Government Center Drive, San Andreas, CA 95249-9794 |
| Mailing address | 400 Government Center Drive, San Andreas, CA 95249-9794 |
| Phone | (209) 754-9800 |
| Fax | (209) 754-6396 (general court fax; direct fax filing to the clerk is not accepted — see below) |
| Clerk's window hours | Mon–Fri 8:15 AM – 3:00 PM (phones answered Mon–Fri 8:15 AM – 4:00 PM) |
| Filing fee (petition for probate) | $435 — statewide fee, no Calaveras County surcharge (Cal. Gov. Code § 70650(a)) |
| Local probate forms | None — statewide Judicial Council DE-series only |
| E-filing | Available (not mandated) for probate through Odyssey eFileCA; the filer selects an electronic filing service provider |
| Fax filing | Accepted only through a fax-filing agency (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.303); the court does not accept documents faxed directly to the clerk except in exceptional circumstances |
| Online case search | Calaveras online portal (Tyler Technologies) at portal-cacalaveras.tylertech.cloud/Portal — case information and courtroom calendars |
| Remote appearance | Telephonic appearance allowed for some civil and probate motions (Judicial Council form RA-010); settlement conferences and trials require in-person appearance |
| Website | https://www.calaveras.courts.ca.gov |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before filing anything with the Calaveras County clerk, know exactly what is in the estate. The right path — small-estate affidavit, Petition to Determine Succession to Real Property, Spousal Property Petition, or full probate — depends entirely on the value and type of the assets. The public filing window in San Andreas is open only from 8:15 AM to 3:00 PM, so a petition filed on the wrong path, or missing a required attachment, costs a return trip for out-of-area families.
Identify every bank account, retirement plan, brokerage holding, insurance policy, and parcel of real property — including cabins, ranch land, and vacation property common in Calaveras County estates — and every debt, before choosing the path. Sunset's asset-discovery work, searching more than 2,300 financial institutions, exists for this step.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Superior Court of California, County of Calaveras serves the entire county from one courthouse at 400 Government Center Drive in San Andreas, including Angels Camp, Arnold, Copperopolis, Murphys, Valley Springs, West Point, and San Andreas itself. Probate is filed here when the decedent was domiciled in Calaveras County at death (Cal. Prob. Code § 7051), or owned Calaveras County real property as a non-resident (ancillary administration).
All probate matters — decedents' estates, the succession petitions, spousal property petitions, conservatorships, and guardianships — are heard at the San Andreas courthouse. The court runs four courtrooms out of the Government Center; there is no separate probate courthouse or division office.
The jurisdiction process
- Prepare the statewide Judicial Council DE-series forms for your path. Calaveras County requires no local probate forms or cover sheets.
- File the petition with the clerk: e-file through an Odyssey eFileCA service provider, file in person at 400 Government Center Drive, San Andreas (window open 8:15 AM – 3:00 PM), or file by mail to the same address. Direct fax filing to the clerk is not accepted; fax filing is available only through a fax-filing agency.
- Pay the $435 filing fee (statewide fee; no Calaveras County surcharge). Fee waivers are available on Judicial Council forms FW-001/FW-003.
- Complete notice: publish in a newspaper of general circulation and mail notice to heirs and beneficiaries at least 15 days before the hearing (DE-121).
- The clerk sets the hearing before the assigned probate judge; check your hearing date and courtroom calendar on the Calaveras online portal at portal-cacalaveras.tylertech.cloud/Portal.
- To appear by telephone for a probate motion, file Judicial Council form RA-010 (Notice of Remote Appearance) in advance; settlement conferences and trials require appearing in person.
- Attend the hearing. The judge admits the will, appoints the personal representative, and issues Letters (DE-150).
- Administer and close the estate under the statewide process: creditor notice, the 4-month claim period, Inventory and Appraisal (DE-160), and the petition for final distribution.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Calaveras County
Calaveras County has no local probate forms. Every filing uses the statewide Judicial Council DE-series (DE-111 Petition for Probate, DE-121 Notice of Petition to Administer Estate, DE-140 Order for Probate, DE-147 Duties and Liabilities of Personal Representative, DE-150 Letters, DE-160 Inventory and Appraisal, and the rest). The court's local forms are for other case types — there is no mandatory Calaveras probate cover sheet.
The court sells pre-assembled form packets at the filing clerk's window for $5.00, though a packet may not include every form your specific matter needs. The only county-specific paperwork for probate is procedural: Judicial Council form RA-010 (Notice of Remote Appearance) if you will appear by telephone for a qualifying motion.
Fees
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Petition for probate (first filing) | $435 | Statewide Civil Fee Schedule; Cal. Gov. Code § 70650(a). No Calaveras County surcharge |
| Petition to Determine Succession to Real Property | $435 | Cal. Prob. Code § 13151 petitions carry the same first-paper fee |
| Court form packet (at the clerk's window) | $5.00 | Optional pre-assembled packet; may not include every form your matter needs |
| Copies | $0.50 per page | Calaveras Superior Court fee schedule |
| Certification | $40.00 plus $0.50 per page | Per certified document (except judgment of dissolution) |
Local nuance
Calaveras County-specific considerations
Short counter window. The public filing window in San Andreas is open only Monday through Friday, 8:15 AM to 3:00 PM — one of the shorter counter windows in the state. The court's phones are answered a little later, until 4:00 PM. Plan in-person filing trips accordingly, or e-file to avoid the drive.
E-filing is available, not required. Attorneys and self-represented litigants may e-file probate documents through an Odyssey eFileCA service provider. The court does not publish a local mandate forcing attorneys to e-file, but e-filing is the most practical option for out-of-area families. Original wills and other lodged originals are handled on paper.
No direct fax filing. Unlike some rural counties, Calaveras does not accept documents faxed directly to the clerk (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.304) except in exceptional circumstances. Fax filing is available only through a third-party fax-filing agency under rule 2.303. The (209) 754-6396 number is the court's general fax, not a filing line.
Telephonic appearance for some probate motions. Calaveras allows appearance by telephone for case management conferences, trial setting conferences, and some civil and probate motions, using Judicial Council form RA-010. Settlement conferences, small claims, family law motions, and trials require appearing in person.
No probate self-help. The court's Self-Help Legal Center, (209) 754-1443, covers family law, guardianship, small claims, and related matters — but not decedent's-estate probate. Estate filers rely on the statewide DE-series instructions and the resources below rather than an in-house probate facilitator.
Case lookup on the county portal. Case information and courtroom calendars are posted on the Calaveras online portal, hosted by Tyler Technologies at portal-cacalaveras.tylertech.cloud/Portal. Tentative rulings on the court's website cover the case-management and civil law-and-motion calendars, not probate.
Recent updates
| Date | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Statewide civil fee schedule in effect; the probate first-paper fee remains $435 and Calaveras adds no county surcharge | Cal. Gov. Code § 70650(a); Calaveras Superior Court fee & bail schedules |
| 2026 | Case information and courtroom calendars available on the Calaveras online portal hosted by Tyler Technologies (portal-cacalaveras.tylertech.cloud) | Calaveras Superior Court Online Services |
| Ongoing | E-filing through Odyssey eFileCA accepted for probate and other civil case types; the filer selects an electronic filing service provider | Calaveras Superior Court eFiling Information |
Page last reviewed: July 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely path in Calaveras County | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse, co-owned home | Spousal/Domestic Partner Property Petition heard at the San Andreas courthouse. The court signs DE-226; record it with the Calaveras County Recorder to complete the title transfer. A qualifying motion can often be attended by telephone using form RA-010. | Asset discovery to confirm community vs. separate property. Packet generation for DE-221, DE-226, MC-025. Title-transfer guidance. |
| Out-of-state adult child, small estate | Small Estate Affidavit under Cal. Prob. Code § 13100 (personal property up to $208,850 for deaths on or after April 1, 2025) needs no Calaveras filing at all — it goes directly to the banks. A parcel of Calaveras real property up to $69,625 can pass by the § 13200 affidavit (DE-305) filed with the clerk; a primary residence up to $750,000 uses the §§ 13150–13157 succession petition. | Asset discovery to confirm the estate fits the caps. Packet generation. Online notarization so nobody has to travel to San Andreas. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Full IAEA probate at the San Andreas courthouse, filed by e-filing or mail with DE-111 requesting full authority. The personal representative sells the property under IAEA authority with a Notice of Proposed Action (DE-165). | Asset discovery for the child's assets. Packet generation for DE-111 with IAEA full authority requested. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it offers |
|---|---|
| Calaveras Superior Court Self-Help Legal Center — (209) 754-1443 | Free help for self-represented litigants; note it covers family law, guardianship, small claims, and related matters, NOT decedent's-estate probate |
| California Courts Self-Help Guide — Probate (selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/probate) | The Judicial Council's official plain-language guide to every California probate path |
| Calaveras County Law Library — (209) 754-6314 | The county law library for probate practice guides and legal research |
| LawHelpCA (lawhelpca.org) | Statewide directory of free and low-cost legal aid programs serving Calaveras County |
When to hire an attorney
Most cooperative-family Calaveras County probates — spousal petitions, small-estate paths, and uncontested IAEA administration — can be completed without an attorney, though the court offers no probate self-help facilitator, so self-represented families rely on the statewide DE-series instructions. Consider counsel when the estate exceeds $1 million, a will contest or heir dispute is likely, the estate holds business interests or out-of-state property, or ancillary administration is needed for a non-resident who owned Calaveras County real property. Sunset can connect families to a vetted California probate attorney serving Calaveras County.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and California public records to surface bank accounts, retirement plans, brokerage holdings, life insurance, Calaveras County real estate, and unclaimed property during estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset assembles the statewide Judicial Council DE-series forms for your path, the only forms Calaveras County requires, ready for signature and filing by e-file or mail.
Find a local probate attorney. When the situation calls for counsel, Sunset connects families to a vetted California probate attorney serving Calaveras County.
Sunset is free for families. Revenue comes from bank partners that pay Sunset while estate funds sit in an FDIC-insured estate account ($3M coverage).
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file a probate case in Calaveras County?
At the Superior Court of California, County of Calaveras, 400 Government Center Drive, San Andreas, CA 95249-9794. You can e-file through an Odyssey eFileCA service provider, file in person at the clerk's window (open 8:15 AM – 3:00 PM), or file by mail to the same address.
Can I e-file probate documents in Calaveras County?
Yes. The court accepts electronic filing for probate through Odyssey eFileCA; you select an electronic filing service provider to submit your documents. The court's own site describes e-filing as available to both attorneys and self-represented litigants rather than imposing a local mandate.
What are the clerk's hours in Calaveras County?
The public filing window is open Monday through Friday from 8:15 AM to 3:00 PM. The court's phones are answered slightly longer, from 8:15 AM to 4:00 PM.
Does Calaveras County have local probate forms?
No. Calaveras requires only the statewide Judicial Council DE-series forms. The court sells pre-assembled form packets at the window for $5.00, but there is no mandatory Calaveras probate cover sheet.
Can I appear at a Calaveras County probate hearing by phone?
For some probate motions, yes. The court allows telephonic appearances for case management conferences, trial setting conferences, and some civil and probate motions using Judicial Council form RA-010. Settlement conferences, family law motions, and trials require appearing in person.
Can I look up my Calaveras County probate case online?
Yes. Case information and courtroom calendars are posted on the Calaveras online portal, hosted by Tyler Technologies at portal-cacalaveras.tylertech.cloud/Portal.
How much does it cost to file for probate in Calaveras County?
$435 for the first petition (Cal. Gov. Code § 70650(a), statewide Civil Fee Schedule). Calaveras adds no county surcharge. Fee waivers are available on Judicial Council forms FW-001/FW-003.
Can I fax my probate documents to the Calaveras court?
Not directly. The court does not accept documents faxed straight to the clerk except in exceptional circumstances (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.304). Fax filing is available only through a third-party fax-filing agency under rule 2.303.
Is there probate self-help in Calaveras County?
The court's Self-Help Legal Center, (209) 754-1443, is free but covers family law, guardianship, small claims, and related matters — not decedent's-estate probate. Estate filers use the statewide probate self-help guide at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/probate and the county law library.
Do I have to travel to San Andreas to settle an estate in Calaveras County?
Often not. Petitions can be e-filed or mailed, some probate motions can be heard by telephone, and the small-estate affidavit under Cal. Prob. Code § 13100 never touches the court at all — it is presented directly to banks and asset holders.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.