Orange /self-help/self-help-probate

Source: https://www.occourts.org/self-help/self-help-probate

Self-Help Probate

Probate: General Information

Our Probate Self Help pages help you handle property transfers at death, plan for estate management, and much more. Probate cases can be about:

Children – guardianship, emancipation and minor’s compromise cases

Adults who can't represent themselves (conservatorship cases)

Handling the estates of people who have died (property transfer)

Planning for your old age and death (trusts and power of attorney)

Probate cases are heard at the Costa Mesa Justice Complex in Costa Mesa. See Probate cases online at the Online Case Access.

Probate Cases

Guardianship

About Guardianships

Becoming a Guardian

Guardianship Duties

How to End a Guardianship

Probate Help for Children (Minors)

Emancipation

Minor's Compromise

Conservatorship

About Conservatorship

LPS (Mental Health) Conservatorship

Limited Conservatorships (for Developmentally Disabled Adults)

Probate Wills and Trusts (Property Transfers)

About Probate - Probate a Decedent's Estate

Preparing the Petition for Probate

Simplified Probate Procedures

Administering the Probate

Closing and Distributing the Probate

Trusts

Decedent's Estate - Clearing Your Probate Notes (Farsi; Korean; Mandarin; Spanish; Vietnamese;)

Medical/Financial/End of Life

Health Care Decisions

Living Trusts

Medi-Cal

Power of Attorney

More Probate Help & Information

Probate Court Location

Probate Forms

Additional Resources

Assistance In-Person

Self-Help Services Hours of Operation

| Courthouse | Location | Clerk's Office Hours | Self-Help Services Hours | Self-Help Document

Review Hours

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Central Justice Center

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700 Civic Center Drive West

Santa Ana, CA 92701

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Monday-Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

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In-person Self-Help

Monday-Thursday:

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

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In-person Review

Monday-Thursday:

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

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Lamoreaux Justice Center

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341 The City Drive South

Orange, CA 92868-3205

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Monday-Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

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In-person Self-Help

Monday-Thursday:

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

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In-person Review

Monday-Thursday:

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

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Costa Mesa Justice Complex

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3390 Harbor Blvd.

Costa Mesa, CA 92626-1554

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Monday-Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

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Live Self-Help Kiosk

Monday-Thursday:

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

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Live Self-Help Kiosk Review

Monday-Thursday:

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

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West Justice Center (Westminster)

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8141 13th Street

Westminster, CA 92683

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Monday-Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

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Live Self-Help Kiosk

Monday-Thursday:

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

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Live Self-Help Kiosk Review

Monday-Thursday:

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

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North Justice Center (Fullerton)

| 1275 N Berkeley Ave

Fullerton, CA 92832

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Monday-Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

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Live Self-Help Kiosk

Monday-Thursday:

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

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Live Self-Help Kiosk Review

Monday-Thursday:

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

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Harbor Justice Center (Newport Beach)

| 4601 Jamboree Rd

Newport Beach, CA 92660

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Monday-Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

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Live Self-Help Kiosk

Monday-Thursday:

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

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Live Self-Help Kiosk Review

Monday-Thursday:

8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Friday:

8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Probate Court Location

Probate Court is at Costa Mesa Justice Complex (CMJC) 3390 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626. The Probate Clerk’s Office is on the First Floor of the Costa Mesa Justice Complex courthouse.

There are several people in the probate department who can give you information:

| Staff | Type of Service | Probate Examiners/Probate Notes | The probate examiners review petitions and supporting documents for matters set for hearings in the probate court, to make sure they are complete and agree with California law, local court rules, and other requirements (like publication and notice).

The probate examiners review the petitions three to four weeks before the hearing and prepare a written summary called probate notes. The probate notes set forth any deficiencies or additional information required by the court. The notes will often also tell the party additional document(s) needed by the court for the probate judge and parties on the case.

| Probate staff attorney | The probate research attorney helps the judge review cases set for hearing. | Viewing Probate Notes | The probate notes may be viewed by parties three to four weeks before the hearing online, under Online Services/Probate Notes.

Remember: Probate cases are complicated. You will need to learn new words. Visit the Probate Glossary page with Probate Terms . You will need to learn about the Court’s rules and procedures. Refer to the local Probate rules.

If you need more help, talk to a lawyer. You can get a referral to a lawyer from a lawyer referral service.

Workshops and Clinics

Clearing Your Probate Notes Workshop (English) (Spanish) (Vietnamese)

Public Law Center – Guardianship of the Person (English) (Spanish)

Orientation for New Conservators

Additional Resources

Conservatorships (California Courts website)

Guardianships (California Courts website)

Wills, Estates, and Probate (California Courts website)

Elder Abuse (Superior Court of Orange County Self-Help Services website)

Probate/Mental Health (Superior Court of Orange County website)

Do I Need a Will? (State of California website)

Do I Need Estate Planning? (State Bar of California)

Seniors and the Law-A Guide for Maturing Californians (State Bar of California)

Forms

Links to State, Local, and Interactive fillable forms

You may also find the appropriate forms and get help filling out the forms you need using the tutorial form programs and eFilng options on the Self-Help Centers’ “Create Court Forms” page.

Laws

Probate Code

Code of Civil Procedure

California Rules of Court

Superior Court of Orange County Local Rules of Court

Probate Videos

Click here to go to the Probate Videos, Free Clinics & Other Legal Resources page. This page offers information regarding resources and legal assistance for probate matters.