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San Francisco County, CA Probate Information
Quick facts
| Category | Current rules |
|---|---|
| Court | Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco — Probate Court (Department 204) |
| Courthouse | Civic Center Courthouse, 400 McAllister Street, Department 204, San Francisco, CA 94102-4514 |
| Mailing address | Civic Center Courthouse, 400 McAllister Street, Department 204, San Francisco, CA 94102-4514 |
| Phone | Probate filing windows (23/24/25): (415) 551-3892; courtroom clerk / calendaring: (415) 551-3702; probate examiners and investigators: (415) 551-3657; tentative rulings line: (415) 551-4000 |
| Clerk's office hours | Mon–Fri 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM; a drop box is available during the lunch closure) |
| Decedents'-estate hearings | 9:00 AM Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in Department 204; the filing clerk assigns the hearing date when the petition is filed |
| Filing fee (petition for probate) | $450 — statewide $435 first-paper fee plus San Francisco's $50 courthouse-construction surcharge (Cal. Gov. Code §§ 70650(a), 70602.5–70602.6, 70625) |
| Local forms / cover sheets | No local decedents'-estate forms; the blue 'Request for Expedited Review by Probate Court' cover sheet is required only on an ex parte petition seeking expedited review |
| E-filing | Mandatory for attorneys and represented parties (court e-filing program since December 8, 2014); self-represented filers are exempt (Cal. Rules of Court 2.253) but may e-file through an approved provider on the File & ServeXpress e-filing manager |
| Tentative rulings / examiner review | A probate examiner reviews the file and posts a tentative ruling 1–3 days before the hearing, online or by phone at (415) 551-4000 |
| Case lookup | Court 'Case Calendar' search by case type and date (up to 120 days ahead); case information also at webapps.sftc.org/ci/CaseInfo.dll |
| Remote appearance | Zoom available for Departments 204 and 202 (see the court's remote-appearance instructions) |
| Website | https://sf.courts.ca.gov/divisions/probate-court |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
San Francisco assigns the probate hearing date the moment you file, and a probate examiner reviews the file before the hearing and posts a tentative ruling one to three days ahead. A complete, correct petition clears that review; a petition filed before the family understands what is in the estate draws a tentative ruling that continues the matter, pushing the case out by weeks.
Before filing anything, identify every bank account, brokerage, retirement plan, life insurance policy, business interest, and parcel of San Francisco real property, and every debt. Only then can you pick the right path — small-estate affidavit, succession petition, spousal petition, or full IAEA probate. Sunset's asset-discovery work, searching more than 2,300 financial institutions, exists for this step.
Which court handles jurisdiction
San Francisco is a single consolidated city and county, so there is only one place to file: the Probate Court in Department 204 of the Civic Center Courthouse at 400 McAllister Street. That one department hears every probate matter in the county — decedents' estates, succession and spousal property petitions, trusts, conservatorships, and guardianships. Venue is proper in San Francisco when the decedent was domiciled in the city and county at death (Cal. Prob. Code § 7051), or owned San Francisco real property as a non-resident (ancillary administration).
Decedents'-estate appearance matters are calendared at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday; guardianship and conservatorship petitions and law-and-motion matters sit on other days in the same department. The filing clerk assigns your hearing date at the time you file, rather than leaving you to notice a self-selected date.
The jurisdiction process
- Prepare the statewide Judicial Council DE-series forms for your path (DE-111 Petition for Probate and its attachments for a decedent's estate). San Francisco requires no local decedents'-estate forms.
- File the petition. Attorneys and represented parties must e-file through an approved provider on the File & ServeXpress e-filing manager; self-represented filers may e-file or file on paper at the probate filing windows (Room 103, Windows 23/24/25) or by mail to the Civic Center Courthouse, 400 McAllister Street, Department 204, San Francisco, CA 94102-4514.
- Lodge paper-only items in person or by mail: original wills and codicils, surety bonds, and documents filed under seal cannot be e-filed.
- Pay the $450 filing fee (statewide $435 plus San Francisco's $50 courthouse-construction surcharge; Cal. Gov. Code §§ 70650(a), 70625). Fee waivers are available on Judicial Council forms FW-001/FW-003.
- The filing clerk assigns your hearing date — 9:00 a.m. on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday in Department 204 — when the petition is filed.
- Complete notice: publish in a newspaper of general circulation and mail DE-121 notice to heirs and beneficiaries at least 15 days before the hearing (Cal. Prob. Code §§ 8120–8124).
- Read the tentative ruling for your hearing, posted online or available by phone at (415) 551-4000 one to three days before the hearing; the reviewing probate examiner is named on it. Cure any defect it identifies before the hearing, or the matter is continued.
- Appear at the hearing in Department 204, in person or by Zoom. The judge admits the will, appoints the personal representative, and issues Letters (DE-150). Pre-granted orders are available in Room 103, Windows 23/24/25, after 9:30 a.m. on or after the hearing day.
- 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.
Executor duties
The statewide personal-representative duties (creditor notice, the 4-month Inventory and Appraisal, DHCS notice, Notice of Proposed Action under IAEA) apply in San Francisco exactly as described on the California page. San Francisco adds these local obligations:
| San Francisco-specific duty | Timing |
|---|---|
| E-file all documents if represented by counsel (paper-only items excepted) | Throughout the case (mandatory e-filing program since December 8, 2014) |
| Lodge original wills, codicils, and surety bonds on paper | They cannot be e-filed |
| Read the probate examiner's tentative ruling and cure any noted defect | Posted 1–3 days before each hearing; cure before the hearing or it is continued |
| Attach the blue Request for Expedited Review cover sheet to any urgent ex parte petition | With an ex parte petition seeking expedited review for demonstrable urgency |
Forms and documents
Probate forms in San Francisco County
A San Francisco decedent's estate uses the statewide Judicial Council DE-series only — there are no local decedents'-estate petition forms. The one piece of San Francisco-specific paperwork you may need is procedural:
| Form / cover sheet | When required |
|---|---|
| Statewide Judicial Council DE-series (DE-111, DE-121, DE-140, DE-147, DE-150, DE-160, and the rest) | Every decedent's estate — the core petition, notice, order, duties, Letters, and inventory forms |
| Request for Expedited Review by Probate Court (blue cover sheet) | Only on an ex parte petition that seeks expedited review for demonstrable urgency; the court asks that it be printed on blue paper |
| Confidential Statement of Birth Date and Driver's License Number (DE-147S) | Filed with the petition as the confidential supplement to the Duties and Liabilities acknowledgment |
Guardianship and conservatorship matters carry their own mandatory Judicial Council forms (for example GC-325 with a conservatorship petition), but those are separate case types from a decedent's estate.
Fees
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Petition for probate (first-filed petition for letters) | $450 | Statewide $435 first-paper fee plus San Francisco's $50 courthouse-construction surcharge; SF Statewide Civil Fee Schedule effective January 1, 2026, item 124 and surcharge appendix; Cal. Gov. Code §§ 70650(a), 70602.5–70602.6, 70625 |
| Petition to Determine Succession to Real Property | $450 | Same first-paper fee with the San Francisco surcharge (Cal. Prob. Code §§ 13150–13157 petitions) |
| Later-filed or competing petition for letters, or first objection/opposition | $450 | Same first-paper fee (Cal. Gov. Code §§ 70650(b)–(c), 70651) |
| Petition for special letters of administration (without general powers) | $200 | Cal. Gov. Code § 70657.5(a)(3) |
| E-filing service-provider fee | Varies by provider | Charged by the approved e-filing service provider, not the court |
Timeline
- File the petition; the filing clerk assigns the hearing date (9:00 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday in Department 204) at that time.
- Complete newspaper publication and mail DE-121 notice to heirs and beneficiaries at least 15 days before the hearing.
- The probate examiner's tentative ruling posts one to three days before the hearing; cure any noted defect before the hearing or the matter is continued.
- Hearing to Letters (DE-150): pre-granted orders are available in Room 103 after 9:30 a.m. on or after the hearing day for a clean file; continued matters reset to a later Monday–Wednesday calendar.
- Creditor claim period and Inventory and Appraisal deadline: 4 months from Letters (statewide).
- Petition for final distribution follows the same weekly calendar; a cooperative-family IAEA administration commonly runs about a year, longer if tentative rulings recur or the estate is contested.
Local nuance
San Francisco County-specific considerations
One department for everything. San Francisco is a consolidated city and county with a single probate department — Department 204 at the Civic Center Courthouse. Every decedent's estate, spousal petition, trust, conservatorship, and guardianship is heard there; there are no branch probate courts.
The clerk sets your hearing date. Unlike counties where you notice a self-selected date, San Francisco's filing clerk assigns the hearing date when you file. Decedents'-estate appearance matters sit at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in Department 204.
Tentative rulings drive the outcome. A probate examiner reviews the file and posts a tentative ruling one to three days before the hearing (online or by phone at (415) 551-4000); the examiner is named on the ruling. A defect noted in the tentative ruling continues the matter, so cure it before the hearing.
The blue cover sheet is for urgent ex parte only. An ex parte petition seeking expedited review for demonstrable urgency must attach the court's 'Request for Expedited Review by Probate Court,' which the court asks be printed on blue paper. Routine drop-off ex parte matters are left with the probate clerk in Room 103.
Mandatory e-filing, with a surcharge on the fee. Represented parties must e-file (the court's mandatory e-filing program has run since December 8, 2014); self-represented filers are exempt but may e-file. And because San Francisco is one of only three counties with a local courthouse-construction surcharge, the first-paper probate fee is $450 rather than the statewide $435.
Pre-granted orders at the window. For a clean file, signed orders are available in Room 103, Windows 23/24/25, after 9:30 a.m. on or after the hearing day.
Recent updates
| Date | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | San Francisco Statewide Civil Fee Schedule reissued; the decedents'-estate first-paper fee is $450 — the statewide $435 plus San Francisco's $50 courthouse-construction surcharge | SF Statewide Civil Fee Schedule (eff. 1/1/2026), item 124 and surcharge appendix |
| July 1, 2024 | The court expanded its mandatory e-filing program to probate guardianship and conservatorship cases | SF Superior Court e-filing news release (6/25/24) |
| June 3, 2024 | The court moved to the File & ServeXpress e-filing manager, expanding the choice of approved e-filing service providers | SF Superior Court e-filing news release (5/21/24) |
| December 8, 2014 | San Francisco began mandatory electronic filing and service under CCP § 1010.6, Cal. Rules of Court 2.253, and Local Rule 2.11 | SF Superior Court e-filing page |
Page last reviewed: July 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely path in San Francisco County | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse, co-owned home | Spousal/Domestic Partner Property Petition filed in Department 204, heard at 9:00 a.m. on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, often by Zoom. The court signs DE-226; record it with the San Francisco Assessor-Recorder to complete the title transfer. Given San Francisco real estate values, confirm the home is community property before choosing this path over full probate. | 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) goes directly to the banks — no San Francisco filing. A primary residence up to $750,000 uses the §§ 13150–13157 succession petition in Department 204, with the hearing date set at filing and a Zoom appearance available. | Asset discovery to confirm the estate fits the caps. Packet generation. Online notarization so the child does not need to travel to San Francisco. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Full IAEA probate in Department 204 with DE-111 requesting full authority. Clear the probate examiner's tentative ruling before the hearing. The personal representative sells the home under IAEA authority with a Notice of Proposed Action (DE-165). Represented parties must e-file; original wills and bonds are lodged on paper. | Asset discovery for the child's assets. Packet generation for DE-111 with IAEA full authority requested. Help curing tentative-ruling defects. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it offers |
|---|---|
| San Francisco Superior Court ACCESS Center (Self-Help Center) | The court's self-help center for self-represented litigants; general procedural help |
| San Francisco Probate Pro Bono Mediation Program | Volunteer mediators who help resolve estate, trust, conservatorship, and guardianship disputes without charge — a genuinely San Francisco-specific offering |
| San Francisco Law Library — 1145 Market Street, 4th Floor, (415) 554-1772 | Free access to probate practice guides and research help, one block from the Civic Center Courthouse (open Mon–Fri) |
| 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) | Directory of free and low-cost legal aid programs serving San Francisco |
When to hire an attorney
A San Francisco attorney is advisable when the estate exceeds $1 million (and city real estate pushes many estates past that line), when a will contest or heir dispute is likely, when the estate holds business interests or out-of-state property, when ancillary administration is needed for a non-resident decedent, or when tentative rulings keep flagging defects the family cannot cure. San Francisco's Probate Pro Bono Mediation Program can help settle a dispute short of full litigation, but it is not a substitute for counsel in a contested matter. Sunset can connect families to a vetted San Francisco probate attorney when the situation requires counsel.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and San Francisco County public records to surface bank accounts, retirement plans, brokerage holdings, life insurance, real estate (with community-property characterization), business interests, and unclaimed property.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset assembles the statewide Judicial Council DE-series forms for your estate settlement path, the forms San Francisco requires for a decedent's estate, ready for e-filing or filing at the Department 204 windows.
Find a local probate attorney. When the situation calls for counsel, Sunset connects families to a vetted San Francisco probate attorney.
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 San Francisco?
In the Probate Court, Department 204 of the Civic Center Courthouse, 400 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA 94102-4514. San Francisco is a consolidated city and county with one probate department, so every decedent's estate files there — in person at the Room 103 windows, by mail, or by e-filing.
How much does it cost to file for probate in San Francisco?
$450 for the first petition — the statewide $435 first-paper fee plus San Francisco's $50 courthouse-construction surcharge (Cal. Gov. Code §§ 70650(a), 70625; SF Statewide Civil Fee Schedule effective January 1, 2026). San Francisco is one of only three California counties, with Riverside and San Bernardino, that add this surcharge. Fee waivers are available on forms FW-001/FW-003.
Do I have to e-file probate documents in San Francisco?
Attorneys and represented parties must e-file through an approved provider on the File & ServeXpress e-filing manager; the court's mandatory e-filing program has run since December 8, 2014. Self-represented filers are exempt (Cal. Rules of Court 2.253) but may e-file. Original wills, codicils, surety bonds, and sealed documents are always filed on paper.
When are probate hearings held in San Francisco?
Decedents'-estate appearance matters are heard at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in Department 204. The filing clerk assigns your specific hearing date when you file the petition.
What is a probate tentative ruling in San Francisco, and where do I find it?
A probate examiner reviews your file before the hearing and posts a tentative ruling one to three days ahead — online or by phone at (415) 551-4000. The reviewing examiner is named on the ruling. If it flags a defect, cure the problem before the hearing or the matter will be continued.
Can I appear at a San Francisco probate hearing by Zoom?
Yes. The court provides Zoom access for Department 204 (and for ex parte matters in Department 202). Check the court's remote-appearance instructions on the probate division page for the current meeting link and log-in details before your hearing.
What is the blue cover sheet in San Francisco probate?
It is the 'Request for Expedited Review by Probate Court.' You attach it — printed on blue paper — only to an ex parte petition that seeks expedited review for demonstrable urgency. A routine decedent's-estate petition does not need it.
Can I check my San Francisco probate case online?
Yes. Use the court's Case Calendar search by case type and date (up to 120 days ahead), and the case-information portal at webapps.sftc.org/ci/CaseInfo.dll. Tentative rulings for upcoming hearings are also available online or at (415) 551-4000.
Does San Francisco have local probate forms?
For a decedent's estate, no — you use the statewide Judicial Council DE-series. The only San Francisco-specific sheet is the blue Request for Expedited Review, and only for urgent ex parte requests. Conservatorship and guardianship cases have their own mandatory Judicial Council forms.
Do I have to travel to San Francisco to settle an estate here?
Often not. Represented parties e-file, self-represented filers may file by mail or e-file, hearings in Department 204 can be attended by Zoom, and the small-estate affidavit under Cal. Prob. Code § 13100 never touches the court — 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.