Tuolumne County Probate Guide
Probate Division - Superior Court of California, County of Tuolumne · 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, Credit Card, Money Order
Note: Fees set by California Uniform Civil Fee Schedule.
Document Fees
Fees set by California Uniform Civil Fee Schedule.
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.
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
- Adjudicated newspaper in Tuolumne County
- Duration
- Once a week for 3 successive weeks
- Deadline
- Within 30 days after letters issued
- Est. Cost
- Varies by newspaper - 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
Guardianship is a court proceeding for adults who are not a child's parents to get custody of the child, manage the child's property, or both.
Filing Fees
- Person Only
- $435
- Property/Estate
- $435
guardianship of person
Guardian has same responsibilities to care for child as a parent - full legal and physical custody, can make all decisions about physical care of child. Can be relatives, friends of family, or other suitable persons.
guardianship of estate
Set up to manage child's income, money, or other property until child turns 18. Usually court appoints surviving parent to be guardian of child's estate.
Sources (13)
- https://www.tuolumne.courts.ca.gov/
- https://www.tuolumne.courts.ca.gov/self-help/probate-conservatorship
- https://www.tuolumne.courts.ca.gov/online-services/probate-notes
- https://www.tuolumne.courts.ca.gov/online-services/tentative-rulings-and-case-notes
- https://www.tuolumne.courts.ca.gov/general-information/location-contact-info
- https://www.tuolumne.courts.ca.gov/zoom
- https://www.tuolumne.courts.ca.gov/divisions/collaborative-courts/care-court
- https://www.tuolumne.courts.ca.gov/self-help/family-law/guardianship
- https://www.tuolumne.courts.ca.gov/forms-filing/local-rules
- https://www.tuolumne.courts.ca.gov/forms-filing/fax-filing
- https://www.tuolumne.courts.ca.gov/self-help
- https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/probate
- https://www.courts.ca.gov/forms.htm?filter=DE