Sutter County Probate Guide
Superior Court of California, County of Sutter · Updated January 2026
Filing & Fees
Complete Fee Schedule
Source ↗Probate Filing Fees
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
Petition for Probate Standard probate filing fee | $435 |
Small Estate Affidavit For estates under threshold (no court filing needed) | $0 |
Spousal Property Petition Transfer community property to surviving spouse | $435 |
Real Property Petition Transfer real property without full probate | $435 |
Accepted Payment: Cash, Check, Money Order, Cashier's Check, ATM/Debit Card
Note: Fees set by California Uniform Civil Fee Schedule effective January 1, 2024.
Document Fees
Fees set by California Uniform Civil Fee Schedule effective January 1, 2024.
Required Documents
- Death Certificate
Certified copy required. Order 10-15 copies.
- Original Will (if exists)
Original will must be filed with court
- Death Certificate
Certified copy required. Order 10-15 copies.
- Original Will (if exists)
Original will must be filed with court. Cannot be filed electronically.
E-Filing & Filing Methods
Timelines & Proceedings
Deadlines & Creditor Claims
Key Deadlines
- Will Deposit
- 30 days
- Creditor Claims
- 4 months
- Known Creditor Notice
- 30 days
Creditor Claims
- Period Starts
- date of first publication of notice to creditors
- Statute
- California Probate Code sections 9100-9103
Publication Requirements
Notice to Creditors
- Newspaper
- General circulation newspaper in Sutter County
- Duration
- Once a week for 3 successive weeks
- Deadline
- Within 30 days after letters issued
- Est. Cost
- Varies by newspaper and county - typically $150-$400
Notice of Petition/Administration
Must be sent within 15 days to:
- All heirs named in will
- All intestate heirs (if no will)
- Spouse or domestic partner
Related Proceedings
Property Recording
Source ↗Recording Fees
- First Page
- $25.00
- Additional Pages
- $3.00
Guardianship
A guardianship is a court ordered transfer of legal responsibility to a specific adult for the physical care and protection of a minor and/or the estate of a minor.
Filing Fees
- Person Only
- $225
- Property/Estate
- $435
guardianship of person
Guardian makes decisions about child's care, welfare, and education
guardianship of estate
Guardian manages child's property and finances
temporary guardianship
For emergency situations - covers period between filing and hearing date
Sources (19)
- https://www.sutter.courts.ca.gov/
- https://www.sutter.courts.ca.gov/divisions/probate
- https://www.sutter.courts.ca.gov/divisions/probate/conservatorships
- https://www.sutter.courts.ca.gov/divisions/probate/guardianships
- https://www.sutter.courts.ca.gov/divisions/civil
- https://www.sutter.courts.ca.gov/divisions/family-court-services
- https://www.sutter.courts.ca.gov/divisions/family-court-services/conservatorship-investigations
- https://www.sutter.courts.ca.gov/divisions/family-court-services/guardianship-investigations
- https://www.sutter.courts.ca.gov/online-services/e-file
- https://www.sutter.courts.ca.gov/online-services/tentative-rulings
- https://www.sutter.courts.ca.gov/self-help
- https://www.sutter.courts.ca.gov/self-help/care-act-petition
- https://www.sutter.courts.ca.gov/self-help/probate-guardianships
- https://www.sutter.courts.ca.gov/forms-filing/fee-schedule
- https://www.sutter.courts.ca.gov/forms-filing/local-forms
- https://www.sutter.courts.ca.gov/general-information/location-contact-info
- https://www.sutter.courts.ca.gov/remote-appearances
- https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/probate
- https://www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm?filter=DE