Inyo County, CA Probate Information

Before filing anything with the Inyo 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. Inyo hears decedents'-estate probate only on designated Friday calendars in Independence, so a petition filed on the wrong path can add weeks before the next hearing date.

Identify every bank account, retirement plan, brokerage holding, life insurance policy, and parcel of real property — including recreation and ranch property common in Owens Valley estates — and every debt, before choosing the path. Sunset's asset-discovery work, searching more than 2,300 financial institutions, exists for this step.

The Superior Court of California, County of Inyo serves the entire county from two courthouses: the Historic Courthouse at 168 North Edwards Street in Independence (Departments 1 and 3) and the Bishop Courthouse at 301 West Line Street in Bishop (Department 4). Communities served include Bishop, Big Pine, Independence, Lone Pine, Olancha, Tecopa, and the unincorporated Owens Valley. Probate is filed here when the decedent was domiciled in Inyo County at death (Cal. Prob. Code § 7051), or owned Inyo County real property as a non-resident (ancillary administration).

Decedents'-estate probate — petitions for probate, the succession and spousal property petitions — is heard in Department 1 at the Independence courthouse on the court's Friday 9:00 AM probate calendar. Probate conservatorship and guardianship matters are also calendared in Department 4 at Bishop on designated Thursdays. Mailed filings and records requests go to the Independence clerk at P.O. Drawer U.

Two courthouses, one probate calendar. The court operates the Historic Courthouse in Independence (Departments 1 and 3) and the Bishop Courthouse (Department 4). Decedents'-estate probate is heard in Department 1 at Independence; probate conservatorship and guardianship matters are also calendared in Department 4 at Bishop. Mailed filings and record requests go to the Independence clerk at P.O. Drawer U.

Friday probate calendar, roughly twice a month. Department 1 hears probate, guardianship, adoption, and small claims on designated Fridays at 9:00 AM — typically two Fridays a month, not every week (per the court's 2026 Master Calendar). Confirm the next available hearing date with the calendar clerk before relying on it.

Phones answered afternoons. The clerk's counter is open 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM (closed noon to 1:00 PM), but the Independence courthouse answers telephone calls only from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. Plan calls for the afternoon.

E-filing is optional, not mandatory. Inyo launched e-filing for probate on July 28, 2025 through certified electronic filing service providers, and even self-represented parties are encouraged to use it — but it is not required for anyone. Paper filing by mail or at the counter remains fully available.

Records by mail only. There is no online case portal. Probate estate record searches are handled only by mailed written request to the Independence clerk (Attn: Probate Search, P.O. Drawer U) — $15 per name for a 10-year search, with the decedent's name and date of birth and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The court will not conduct probate searches by phone or email.

Zoom link on the court calendar. Rather than emailing invitations, Inyo posts each hearing's Zoom meeting link on its online Court Calendar the Saturday before the hearing date. No Zoom account or fee is needed, and participants without a camera can appear by phone.

Most cooperative-family Inyo County probates — spousal petitions, small-estate paths, and uncontested IAEA administration — are completed without an attorney, and the court's Zoom-friendly posture makes that practical even for families who live far from Independence. 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 Inyo County real property. Because the court's self-help center does not cover decedents'-estate probate, self-represented families rely on the statewide forms and the Judicial Council's self-help guide. Sunset can connect families to a vetted California probate attorney serving Inyo County.

Find the accounts and assets. During estate settlement, Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and California public records to surface bank accounts, retirement plans, brokerage holdings, life insurance, Inyo County real estate, and unclaimed property.

Generate the probate packet. Sunset assembles the statewide Judicial Council DE-series forms for your path, the only forms Inyo County requires, ready for signature and filing by mail, at the counter, or through an e-filing service provider.

Find a local probate attorney. When the situation calls for counsel, Sunset connects families to a vetted California probate attorney serving Inyo 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).