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Lassen County, CA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Category | Current rules |
|---|---|
| Court | Superior Court of California, County of Lassen |
| Courthouse | Hall of Justice, 2610 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 96130 |
| Mailing address | Lassen Superior Court, Probate Department, 2610 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 96130 |
| Phone | (530) 251-8205 (phones answered Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00 PM–4:00 PM) |
| Fax filing | (530) 251-2115 for civil, probate, and family law — $1.00 per page plus filing fees (no wills, codicils, testamentary trusts, or bonds by fax) |
| Clerk's office hours | Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed court holidays) |
| Filing fee (petition for probate) | $435 — statewide fee, no Lassen County surcharge (Cal. Gov. Code § 70650(a)) |
| Local probate forms | None — statewide Judicial Council DE-series only |
| E-filing | Not available — file in person, by mail, or by fax |
| Online case search | Case Index & Calendar Portal at cms.lassencourt.ca.gov (non-confidential cases since 1994; reference only) |
| Remote appearance | Zoom or CourtCall (telephonic) permitted in probate; file Notice of Remote Appearance form RA-010 |
| Website | https://www.lassen.courts.ca.gov/divisions/probate |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before filing anything with the Lassen 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. Lassen is a paper-and-mail court with no e-filing, so a petition filed on the wrong path means a second trip or a second mailing to Susanville.
Identify every bank account, retirement plan, brokerage holding, life insurance policy, and parcel of real property — including ranch and rural acreage common in Lassen 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 Lassen serves the entire county from one courthouse, the Hall of Justice at 2610 Riverside Drive in Susanville, covering Susanville, Janesville, Westwood, Bieber, Herlong, Doyle, and the surrounding communities. Probate is filed here when the decedent was domiciled in Lassen County at death (Cal. Prob. Code § 7051), or owned Lassen 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 Susanville courthouse. There is no separate probate department building; probate hearings are held in the court's Susanville courtrooms, and the court has no published online probate examiner-notes system.
The jurisdiction process
- Prepare the statewide Judicial Council DE-series forms for your path. Lassen County requires no local probate forms or cover sheets.
- File the petition with the clerk: in person at the Hall of Justice, 2610 Riverside Drive, Susanville (Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM), by mail to Lassen Superior Court, Probate Department, 2610 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 96130, or by fax to (530) 251-2115 ($1.00 per page; wills, codicils, testamentary trusts, and bonds cannot be faxed).
- Pay the $435 filing fee (statewide first-paper fee, Cal. Gov. Code § 70650(a); no Lassen 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 and assigns the courtroom; verify your courtroom on the Case Index & Calendar Portal at cms.lassencourt.ca.gov.
- To appear remotely, file a Notice of Remote Appearance (form RA-010) under California Rules of Court 3.672; Lassen permits Zoom and CourtCall (telephonic) appearances in probate, and each courtroom has its own Zoom meeting ID.
- 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 Lassen County
Lassen 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, DE-150 Letters, DE-160 Inventory and Appraisal, and the rest). The court's published local forms list contains no probate category — the local forms cover civil, criminal, family law, jury, juvenile, miscellaneous, and traffic matters only.
The only Lassen-specific paperwork is procedural: the Notice of Remote Appearance (form RA-010) if you will appear by Zoom or CourtCall, and a fax cover sheet with credit-card payment details if you file by fax.
Fees
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Petition for probate (first filing) | $435 | Statewide Civil Fee Schedule; Cal. Gov. Code § 70650(a). No Lassen County surcharge |
| Petition to Determine Succession to Real Property | $435 | Cal. Prob. Code § 13151 petitions carry the same first-paper fee |
| Fax filing | $1.00 per page | Plus applicable filing fees, paid by credit card on the fax cover sheet; (530) 251-2115 |
| Law library copies | $0.50 per page | Case-file copies at the Lassen County Law Library |
Local nuance
Lassen County-specific considerations
One courthouse, paper court. All Lassen County probate is filed and heard at the Hall of Justice, 2610 Riverside Drive, Susanville. The court offers no e-filing for probate; file in person, by mail, or by fax.
Fax filing is available. Lassen accepts fax filings in civil, probate, and family law at (530) 251-2115 for $1.00 per page plus filing fees. Wills, codicils, testamentary trusts, bonds, subpoenaed documents, and sealed documents cannot be faxed, and each faxed document must carry the phrase 'By fax' below its title with a completed cover sheet.
Zoom or CourtCall for hearings. Probate hearings may be attended by Zoom or by CourtCall telephonic appearance in certain circumstances. File a Notice of Remote Appearance (form RA-010) under CRC 3.672; each courtroom has its own Zoom meeting ID, so confirm your assigned courtroom on the case portal first.
Phones close for lunch. The clerk's phone line at (530) 251-8205 is answered Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to noon and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The building is open 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Self-help does not cover probate. The Lassen Self-Help Center and its Family Law Facilitator assist with family law, unlawful detainer, and related matters — not decedent's estates. There is no probate facilitator; probate filers rely on the county law library and the statewide self-help guide.
Recent updates
| Date | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Statewide Civil Fee Schedule remains in effect; the probate first-paper fee is $435 and Lassen adds no county surcharge | Lassen Superior Court civil fee schedule page |
| 2026 | Zoom and CourtCall remote appearances confirmed for probate; each courtroom (A, B, C, and Hearing Room D) has its own Zoom meeting ID, verified via the Case Index & Calendar Portal | Lassen Superior Court Zoom-appearance page |
Page last reviewed: July 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely path in Lassen County | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse, co-owned home | Spousal/Domestic Partner Property Petition filed at the Susanville courthouse, with the hearing attended by Zoom or CourtCall. The court signs DE-226; record it with the Lassen County Recorder to complete the title transfer. | 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 Lassen filing at all — it goes directly to the banks. Lassen real property up to $69,625 can pass by the § 13200 affidavit (DE-305) filed by mail; a primary residence up to $750,000 uses the §§ 13150–13157 petition, with the hearing attended remotely. | Asset discovery to confirm the estate fits the caps. Packet generation. Online notarization so nobody has to travel to Susanville. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Full IAEA probate at the Susanville courthouse. With no e-filing, file by mail or fax and appear by Zoom or CourtCall. 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 |
|---|---|
| Lassen County Law Library — (530) 251-8244, first floor of the Hall of Justice, 2610 Riverside Drive, Susanville | Free public legal-research collection with LexisNexis patron-access computers; open Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Lassen Self-Help Center — (530) 251-3935 | Court self-help for family law, unlawful detainer, and related matters; it does NOT cover probate or decedent's estates, and there is no probate facilitator |
| California Courts Self-Help Guide — Probate (selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/probate) | The Judicial Council's official plain-language guide to every California probate path |
| LawHelpCA (lawhelpca.org) | Statewide directory of free and low-cost legal aid programs |
When to hire an attorney
Many cooperative-family Lassen County probates — spousal petitions, small-estate paths, and uncontested IAEA administration — are completed without an attorney, and the court's Zoom and CourtCall options make that practical even for out-of-area families. Because the Lassen Self-Help Center does not cover probate, self-represented filers lean on the county law library and the statewide self-help guide. 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 Lassen County real property. Sunset can connect families to a vetted California probate attorney serving Lassen 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, Lassen 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 Lassen County requires, ready for signature and filing by mail or fax.
Find a local probate attorney. When the situation calls for counsel, Sunset connects families to a vetted California probate attorney serving Lassen 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 Lassen County?
At the Superior Court of California, County of Lassen, in the Hall of Justice at 2610 Riverside Drive, Susanville: in person during clerk hours (Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM), by mail to Lassen Superior Court, Probate Department, 2610 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 96130, or by fax to (530) 251-2115.
Can I e-file probate documents in Lassen County?
No. Lassen Superior Court does not offer e-filing for probate. File in person, by mail, or by fax at (530) 251-2115 ($1.00 per page). Wills, codicils, testamentary trusts, and bonds cannot be faxed and must be filed in person or by mail.
Can I appear at a Lassen County probate hearing remotely?
Yes. Zoom and CourtCall (telephonic) appearances are permitted in probate cases in certain circumstances. File a Notice of Remote Appearance (Judicial Council form RA-010) under California Rules of Court 3.672. Each courtroom has its own Zoom meeting ID, so confirm your assigned courtroom on the case portal first.
Can I check my Lassen County probate case status online?
Yes. The court's Case Index & Calendar Portal at cms.lassencourt.ca.gov lets the public search non-confidential probate cases filed since about 1994 by party name or case number. The portal is for reference only and is not an official court record.
Does Lassen County have local probate forms?
No. Lassen requires only the statewide Judicial Council DE-series forms. The court's published local forms list has no probate category — it covers civil, criminal, family law, jury, juvenile, miscellaneous, and traffic matters only.
How much does it cost to file for probate in Lassen County?
$435 for the first petition (Cal. Gov. Code § 70650(a), Statewide Civil Fee Schedule). Lassen adds no county surcharge. Fee waivers are available on Judicial Council forms FW-001/FW-003.
Is there a probate self-help office in Lassen County?
No. The Lassen Self-Help Center and its Family Law Facilitator assist with family law and related matters, not decedent's estates, and there is no probate facilitator. Probate filers can use the Lassen County Law Library on the first floor of the Hall of Justice, (530) 251-8244.
Do I have to travel to Susanville to settle an estate in Lassen County?
Often not. Petitions can be filed by mail or fax, hearings can be attended by Zoom or 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.