Back to California
Del Norte County, CA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Category | Current rules |
|---|---|
| Court | Superior Court of California, County of Del Norte |
| Courthouse / clerk's office | 450 H Street, Room 209, Crescent City, CA 95531 (civil division; probate filings) |
| Mailing address | 450 H Street, Room 209, Crescent City, CA 95531 |
| Phone | (707) 464-8115 (phone hours 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM) |
| Fax | (707) 465-4005 |
| Clerk's office hours | Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM filing window; lobby drop MAILBOX #31 open 4:30–5:00 PM; external drop box 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (excluding court holidays) |
| Filing fee (petition for probate) | $435 — statewide fee, no Del Norte County surcharge (Cal. Gov. Code § 70650(a)) |
| Local probate forms | None — statewide Judicial Council DE-series only |
| E-filing | Not available in Del Norte County — file in person, by mail, or via the courthouse drop box |
| Online case search | Public case-search portal at cmsportal.dncourt.com searches the court's case management system; copies are obtained from the clerk |
| Remote appearance | By CourtCall with the court's prior approval (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.672); contact CourtCall at courtcall.com or (888) 882-6878 once approved |
| Website | https://www.delnorte.courts.ca.gov/probate |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before filing anything with the Del Norte County clerk, know exactly what is in the estate. The right path — small-estate affidavit, Petition to Determine Succession to Real Property, Spousal or Domestic Partner Property Petition, or full probate — depends entirely on the value and type of the assets. Del Norte is a remote single-courthouse county with no e-filing, so a filing made on the wrong path, or a petition that has to be refiled, costs real time and travel here.
Identify every bank account, retirement plan, brokerage holding, life insurance policy, and parcel of real property — including timber, ranch, and coastal property common in Del Norte 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 Del Norte serves the entire county from one courthouse in Crescent City, including Smith River, Klamath, Gasquet, Fort Dick, and Crescent City itself. Probate filings are taken by the civil division clerk in Room 209 at 450 H Street. Probate is filed here when the decedent was domiciled in Del Norte County at death (Cal. Prob. Code § 7051), or owned Del Norte County real property as a non-resident (ancillary administration).
There is no separate probate department and no branch courthouse; every probate matter — decedents' estates, succession and spousal property petitions, conservatorships, and guardianships — is handled at the Crescent City courthouse. The clerk sets each probate matter on the court's calendar.
The jurisdiction process
- Prepare the statewide Judicial Council DE-series forms for your path. Del Norte County requires no local probate forms or cover sheets.
- File the petition with the civil division clerk: in person at 450 H Street, Room 209, Crescent City (filing window open 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM), by mail to the same address, or through the courthouse drop box — lobby MAILBOX #31 (available 4:30–5:00 PM) or the external drop box (8:00 AM – 4:00 PM). There is no e-filing.
- Pay the $435 filing fee by check or money order (statewide fee; no Del Norte County surcharge). Fee waivers are available on Judicial Council forms FW-001/FW-003 at no charge from the clerk.
- 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 on the court's probate calendar and issues notice of the hearing date.
- To appear remotely, arrange CourtCall with the court's prior approval (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.672); once approved, contact CourtCall at courtcall.com or (888) 882-6878.
- 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 Del Norte County
Del Norte 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 page lists 16 local forms for criminal, civil, and traffic matters, but none for probate, and the probate page directs filers to obtain forms from the Judicial Council website or purchase them at the civil division clerk's office.
By law the clerks cannot provide legal advice, including which forms to use. Del Norte offers no e-filing, so completed DE-series forms are filed on paper — in person, by mail, or through the courthouse drop box.
Local nuance
Del Norte County-specific considerations
Filing window closes before the office does. The clerk's filing window at 450 H Street, Room 209 is open 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. After 4:30 PM, filings go to lobby drop MAILBOX #31 (available 4:30–5:00 PM); an external drop box is available 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Phone hours run 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Remote appearance is by CourtCall, not Zoom. Del Norte uses CourtCall for remote appearances under California Rules of Court, rule 3.672, and requires the court's prior approval before you set one up. Once approved, arrange the appearance through CourtCall at courtcall.com or (888) 882-6878.
Paper court — no e-filing. Del Norte offers no e-filing for any case type. File probate documents in person, by mail, or through the courthouse drop box, with the fee paid by check or money order.
Pay by check or money order. The clerk's filing instructions direct filers to include the proper filing fee by check or money order — plan for that rather than counting on a card at the counter.
Self-help sits in the law library. The court's Self-Help Center is located inside the Law Library at 450 H Street. A Self-Help Assistant is available Tuesday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (closed noon to 1:00 PM), at (707) 465-8634 or [email protected].
Recent updates
| Date | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Statewide Civil Fee Schedule in effect; the probate first-paper fee remains $435 and Del Norte adds no county surcharge | Judicial Council Statewide Civil Fee Schedule; delnorte.courts.ca.gov probate page |
| Current | E-filing remains unavailable in Del Norte County; probate is filed in person, by mail, or via the courthouse drop box, and remote appearance is by CourtCall with prior court approval | delnorte.courts.ca.gov forms-filing, online-services, and general-information pages |
| November 1, 2021 | Filing windows set to 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, with lobby drop MAILBOX #31 available 4:30–5:00 PM and an external drop box available 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM | delnorte.courts.ca.gov forms-filing page |
Page last reviewed: July 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely path in Del Norte County | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse, co-owned home | Spousal or Domestic Partner Property Petition filed with the civil division clerk at 450 H Street, Room 209. The court signs DE-226; record it with the Del Norte County Recorder to complete the title transfer. Appear in person or arrange a CourtCall appearance with prior court approval. | 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 Del Norte filing at all — it goes directly to the banks. Del Norte real property up to $69,625 can pass by the § 13200 affidavit (DE-305) filed with the clerk by mail; 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 Crescent City. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Full probate with full authority under the Independent Administration of Estates Act, filed by mail or drop box with the Crescent City clerk. The personal representative sells the property under IAEA authority with a Notice of Proposed Action (DE-165). Arrange a CourtCall appearance where an appearance is required. | Asset discovery for the child's assets. Packet generation for DE-111 with IAEA full authority requested and the Notice of Proposed Action. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it offers |
|---|---|
| Del Norte Superior Court Self-Help Center — 450 H Street (in the Law Library); (707) 465-8634; [email protected]; Tue–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed noon–1:00 PM) | The court's self-help assistant helps self-represented filers gather information and identify the right Judicial Council forms; clerks cannot give legal advice |
| California Courts Self-Help Guide — Probate (selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/probate) | The Judicial Council's official plain-language guide to every California probate path |
| Del Norte County Law Library — 450 H Street, Crescent City | Probate practice guides, form books, and research help for self-represented filers; the court's Self-Help Center is located here |
| LawHelpCA (lawhelpca.org) | Statewide directory of free and low-cost legal aid programs serving Del Norte County |
When to hire an attorney
Many cooperative-family Del Norte County probates — spousal petitions, small-estate paths, and uncontested IAEA administration — are completed without an attorney, and filing by mail or drop box plus a CourtCall appearance makes that practical even for out-of-area families. 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, a court-confirmed sale of real property is required, or ancillary administration is needed for a non-resident who owned Del Norte County real property. Sunset can connect families to a vetted California probate attorney serving Del Norte 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, Del Norte County real estate, and unclaimed property.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset assembles the statewide Judicial Council DE-series forms for your estate settlement, the only forms Del Norte County requires, ready for signature and filing by mail or drop box.
Find a local probate attorney. When the situation calls for counsel, Sunset connects families to a vetted California probate attorney serving Del Norte 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 Del Norte County?
With the civil division clerk at the Superior Court of California, County of Del Norte, 450 H Street, Room 209, Crescent City, CA 95531 — in person at the filing window (8:00 AM – 4:30 PM), by mail to the same address, or through the courthouse drop box. All Del Norte County probate files in Crescent City.
Can I e-file probate documents in Del Norte County?
No. E-filing is not available in Del Norte County for any case type. File probate documents in person, by mail, or through the courthouse drop box, with the fee paid by check or money order.
Can I appear at a Del Norte County probate hearing remotely?
Yes, by CourtCall, but you need the court's prior approval before setting it up (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.672). Once approved, arrange the remote appearance through CourtCall at courtcall.com or (888) 882-6878.
What are the clerk's office hours in Del Norte County?
The filing window at 450 H Street, Room 209 is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. After 4:30 PM, use lobby drop MAILBOX #31 (open 4:30–5:00 PM); an external drop box is available 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Phone hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Does Del Norte County have local probate forms?
No. Del Norte requires only the statewide Judicial Council DE-series forms. Its 16 local forms cover criminal, civil, and traffic matters — none apply to probate.
How much does it cost to file for probate in Del Norte County?
$435 for the first petition (Cal. Gov. Code § 70650(a), statewide Civil Fee Schedule). Del Norte adds no county surcharge, and the fee is paid by check or money order. Fee waivers are available on Judicial Council forms FW-001/FW-003 at no charge.
Can I look up a Del Norte County probate case online?
The court runs a public case-search portal at cmsportal.dncourt.com that searches its case management system. Copies of documents are obtained from the clerk's office at 450 H Street.
Does the Del Norte court help with probate forms?
The court's Self-Help Center, located in the Law Library at 450 H Street, helps self-represented filers gather information and identify Judicial Council forms (Tue–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, closed noon–1:00 PM; (707) 465-8634). By law, clerks and self-help staff cannot give legal advice, including which forms to use.
Do I have to travel to Crescent City to settle an estate in Del Norte County?
Usually not. Petitions can be filed by mail or drop box, approved appearances can be made by CourtCall, 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.