California Probate Estate Files - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in the Collection?
Probate records are used to legally dispose of a person’s estate after his or her death. The probate process transfers the legal responsibility for payment of taxes, care and custody of dependent family members, liquidation of debts, and transfer of property title. The transfer is to an executor or executrix if the deceased had made a will, to an administrator or administratrix if the deceased had not made a will, or to a guardian or conservator if the deceased had heirs under the age of twenty-one or if heirs were incompetent due to disease or disability.

Probate records fall into two general categories: wills and estate papers. Most records mention the names of heirs and frequently specify how those heirs are related. Names of children may be given, as well as married names of daughters. Probate records may not give an exact death date, but a death most often occurred within a few months of the date of probate. The exact contents of probate records vary greatly depending on the prevailing law and the personality of the record keeper.

The collection consists of estate files of the Probate and Superior Courts in the following counties:


 * Alpine
 * Amador
 * Butte
 * Calaveras
 * Colusa
 * Glenn
 * Lassen
 * Napa
 * San Benito
 * Sacramento
 * Solano

The date ranges of the files will vary.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
Probate estate files may include:
 * Name of testator or deceased
 * Names of heirs such as spouse, children, and other relatives or friends
 * Names of witnesses
 * Residence of testator
 * Lists of belongings, property, and so forth
 * Document and recording dates (Sometimes the date of death will be given. Recording dates are also used to approximate event dates, i.e. a letter of administration was usually written shortly after the time of death.)

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before using this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The approximate date and or location of the event

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select the County
 * 2) Select the Case File Number and Year Range to view the images.

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use a probate record to identify guardians, heirs and relatives
 * Use a probate record to approximate a death date
 * Search for a death record or certificate
 * For earlier years, use the probate record or will to substitute for civil birth and death records
 * Use the age or estimated birth date to find vital records such as birth, baptism, or marriage
 * Use the information found in the record to find additional family members in the census
 * Use the information found in the record to find land records
 * Search for death or burial information in BillionGraves Index
 * If applicable, search for immigration and naturalization records as well

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching a nearby locality
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names. Try searching for these names as well

Record Finder
Consult the California Research Tips and Strategies and its Record Finder to search other records

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying you sources helps others find the records you used.


 * Collection Citation:"California Probate Estate Files, 1833-1991." Images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 14 June 2016. County clerk offices, county courthouses, and historical records commissions, California.

Top of Page