California, County Probate Books - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of county probate books. The records include bonds, calendars, inventories, journals, letters of administration and testamentary, minutes, orders and decrees, proceedings, registers of actions and wills, etc. Counties currently included in the collection are:


 * Alpine
 * Amador
 * Butte
 * Calaveras
 * Colusa
 * Glenn
 * Kern
 * Lake


 * Lassen
 * Los Angeles
 * Mendocino
 * Sacramento
 * San Benito
 * San Diego
 * San Francisco
 * Santa Clara


 * Solano
 * Stanislaus
 * Sutter
 * Yolo
 * Yuba

Probate records fall into two general categories: wills and estate papers. The records include petitions, inventories, accounts, decrees, oaths of executors, forms about guardians and other court documents. Probate records may not give an exact death date, but a death most often occurred within a few months of the date of probate.

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. The spouse mentioned may not be the parent of the children mentioned.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The records may include:
 * The name of testator or deceased
 * The event year
 * The event place
 * The names of heirs such as spouse, children, and other relatives or friends

How Do I Search the Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the deceased
 * The place of residence at the time of death
 * The approximate death or probate date

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select the County
 * 2) Select the Record Type, Year Range and Volume Number or Letter 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. Keep track of your research in a research log.

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

 * Use a probate record to identify adoptions, guardians, heirs and relatives
 * Use a probate record to approximate a death date, then search for a death 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 county or vital records such as birth, baptism, and marriage, records
 * Use the information found in the record to find additional family members in census records
 * 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, or even initials

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of California.
 * California Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1905 | 1905-Present

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