Sacramento County, California Probate Court Records

The Probate Division of the Sacramento County Superior Court handles a variety of case types, including overseeing the management of the affairs of deceased persons and protective proceedings for the rights of minors, incapacitated adults, and other vulnerable persons. Probate court records are a collection of documents filed with the court during these cases, which record these processes for transparency and accountability.

Probate matters in the Sacramento County Superior Court generate various documents that detail the steps taken during the case. These include wills, petitions, notices, court orders, letters, asset inventories or appraisals, guardianship/conservatorship orders, creditor claims, and final accounting of the estate.

Understanding the Parties Involved in Probate Cases

Identifying who appears in probate court records is essential for accurately interpreting filings, documentation, case timelines, and legal authorities reflected in probate cases. In most cases, a probate case is role-driven, and each named individual or organization has a specific legal function that explains who filed a document, why it was filed, and the legal actions authorized by these filings.

The following individuals are typically involved in probate matters and are named in the documentation.

• The Decedent/Deceased: This is the person who died, and administering their estate, assets, and legal obligations is typically the subject of the probate case. The records would contain the deceased's full legal name, residence, date, and place of death.
• Beneficiaries: These are persons or entities named by a will or trust to receive part of an estate or specific items. Probate records will contain the names of beneficiaries and their relationship to the deceased, and whatever assets or gifts they are entitled to.
• The Heirs: These are the individuals who stand to inherit from an estate under California law when there is no valid will or when a will fails to specify the disposition of certain assets. These include spouses, domestic partners, parents, siblings, children, and descendants. Heirs and beneficiaries may differ when a valid will exists in a case.
• Personal Representatives: These are court-appointed administrators of an estate. This includes Executors when a will exists and Administrators when there is no will or no executor was named in a will. Records will include their name and address, court approval in writing, and any reports or accounting they submit. Records may also show the scope of their authority, list their duties, and show compliance with court requirements.
• Attorneys: Probate records will identify attorneys representing beneficiaries and heirs in contested cases or guardians and conservators, when applicable.
• Creditors: These are people or entities asserting claims or rights against the deceased’s estate for debts owed. Probate records may include creditor claims forms, objections to claims, and court rulings either permitting or rejecting the claims. Creditors typically include lenders, medical providers, government agencies, or credit card companies.

Recognizing these parties allows users to clarify authority and explain the different filings in a case. It also helps record seekers trace inheritance paths, identify disputes, and conduct accurate research.

Legal Purpose and Importance of Probate Court Records in Sacramento County

Probate records exist to create an official and legal record of how an individual’s legal and financial affairs were handled after their death or during any vulnerability or incapacity. They form legal documents of the formal means by which a court oversees the administration of estates, the transfer of assets, debt repayment, and the legal protection of vulnerable persons, such as incapacitated adults and minors.

Some uses of probate court records include the following.

• Probate records are used to document the legal transfer of assets and property after death. The probate courts establish the death and identify the estate and its assets. It also establishes the legal requirement for wills to be validated and records how property is shared.
• The documentation from such cases establishes a clear and legally recognized chain of title for assets, including real estate, financial accounts, and other property.
• Probate cases and records protect any heirs and beneficiaries by providing them with notice of the estate, providing avenues for objections or disputes, and documenting court orders that settle any conflict.
• Probate court records also protect the rights of creditors by establishing deadlines for creditor claims, recording all claims submitted against the estate, and documenting whether they were paid or rejected. Probate cases are designed to balance the interests of creditors with the rights of heirs, preventing fraudulent debts and informal or hidden settlements.
• During guardianship and conservatorship cases, probate records detail findings of minority or incapacity, record petitions, appointments, and limits of authority. They also track ongoing requirements and court supervision. Such records are essential for ensuring that individuals who are unable to manage their affairs and assets are protected under court supervision.

Probate records generally serve several legal functions, including providing a public record of court-supervised decisions, showing final court judgments, and orders to offer legal closure and end property or title disputes. Probate court records can be relied on as evidence during due diligence by third parties such as banks, government agencies, or title companies. They can also be used to preserve any legally important events during genealogical or historical research.

Differences Between Wills, Estates, and Other Probate Filings in Sacramento County

Probate court files do not contain a single type of record; they are a collection of various documents generated at different stages of the case, serving different purposes. Understanding these documents helps to determine their authority, legal significance, and how they fit into the complete probate process.

• Sacramento Wills: These are also known as the deceased’s last will and testament. This is considered a foundational probate document and can be an original document lodged with the court or a copy admitted during probate. They are important because they express the deceased’s legal instructions or intentions concerning the appointment of an executor, distribution of assets, and the conditions of inheritance or creation of trusts.
• Estate Inventories and Accountings: Inventories and accountings are financial disclosures prepared by the Personal Representative (Executor or Administrator) and filed with the court. An estate inventory lists the assets that belonged to the deceased at their death and includes real estate, personal property, financial investments, and bank accounts. Accountings are for tracking income, expenses, and balancing accounts during estate administration. These records establish the contents and values of the estate, show compliance with fiduciary duties, and allow relevant parties, such as heirs and beneficiaries, to see how assets are managed. Such records are critical in identifying and preventing mismanagement, settling disputes, and supporting final decisions when distributing assets.
• Guardianship and Conservatorship Records: These records involve court-appointed overseers of the care and finances of vulnerable persons, such as minors and incapacitated adults. These records contain petitions requesting the appointment, medical or psychological evaluations, or declarations, court orders defining given authority, and periodic reports. In these cases, records would document why the appointment was necessary, who was appointed, what authority they possess, and ongoing court supervision that protects the vulnerable person’s interests. Typically, guardianships and conservatorships carry continuous legal authority and may remain active long after the probate case ends.

Probate court records also include petitions and motions filed during the case proceedings. These are typically considered procedural filings that request that the court take specific actions during the case. These include petitions to open probate, petitions to appoint a personal representative, motions to approve distribution, motions to sell property, and requests or objections to court instructions.

Public Access to Probate Court Records in Sacramento County

According to the California Public Records Act, probate records and other court records are generally considered public information and are open to public access. Unless a record is specifically exempt from disclosure by statute or court order, it is generally open to be viewed or copied by anyone who goes through the request process. Examples of probate court records exempted from public access include the following.

• Confidential information of minors or incapacitated adults from guardianship and conservatorship cases.
• Information from adoption cases
• Medical or psychological evaluations
• Sealed information, such as sensitive proprietary information, confidential settlement details, or personal information
• Confidential financial information, including account and routing numbers, tax identification numbers, and social security details.

Sealed or confidential probate court records may still be accessed by obtaining a court order authorizing access from the superior court of the appropriate jurisdiction.

Methods for Searching Sacramento County Probate Court Records

The Sacramento County Superior Court offers the public several options for accessing and copying probate court records. Although general search methods may be similar across the state, online portals, access tools, delivery formats, and other request procedures may vary by court or jurisdiction. In Sacramento County, probate court records may be accessed in person, online, or by mail. For a search to be carried out, record seekers are generally required to provide any search or copy fees and search criteria such as the party names, case numbers, and filing date.

How to Find Sacramento County Probate Cases Online for Free

Record seekers may find Sacramento County probate court records online using the Superior Court Records Portal. Record seekers are required to create a free account on the portal to access its resources. All documents filed in probate cases from after February 2007, as well as probate notes and minute orders from hearings, are available on the online portal.

Parties to the case will be able to register on the portal by filing a Probate Case Participant Enrollment Form, along with a copy of a government-issued identification, with the court before registering online. After filing the form, a confirmation email will be sent. Follow the instructions in the email to complete the registration process. Users who are not parties to a case will be able to see the documents that were filed, but will be unable to open and view the records. Online searches can be made using search criteria such as party names, case numbers, and filing dates.

Accessing Sacramento County Probate Court Records in Person

Record seekers may access Sacramento County probate court records at the county courthouse located at:

Court records can be viewed in person using the self-help kiosks within the building. Although viewing the records on the kiosk may be free, any copies requested will incur additional fees for copying and certification of the records. Requesters will be required to provide adequate information for the records to be found, such as party names, case numbers, and filing data. Record seekers who require a record search by staff will be charged an additional search fee for any search that takes over 10 minutes.

Requesting Sacramento County Probate Court Records by Mail

To request a record by mail, record seekers may complete the Request for Copies of Probate Records form and mail it to or drop it in the dropbox at the office, addressed to:

The form should be filled out accurately, including search criteria such as case number, case name, and filing date. Mailed requests must be accompanied by a copy of a valid state or federally issued photo identification, the fees, or a copy of a fee waiver. Fees for mailed requests can be paid by check or money order, which should be included with the request.

Sacramento County Probate Court Record Access Methods

Applicable Fees for Sacramento County Probate Court Record Requests

Applicable fees for requesting Sacramento County probate court records may include the following.

• A $15 search fee will be charged if adequate search criteria are not provided and a staff search takes over 10 minutes.
• Standard copies cost $0.50 per page.
• Certification of a document or file costs $40 per document plus any standard copy fees.
• Exemplified copies cost $50 per case plus standard copy fees for the record.

Payment is expected at the time the request is made, in the form of checks or money orders payable to the Sacramento Superior Court, for the exact amount. Cash must not be mailed as part of the request.