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After a parent dies · California
How probate works in California after a parent dies
In California, you open probate by going to court and asking a judge to appoint a personal representative. In California, anyone who finds an original will must deliver it to the court. In California, the personal representative collects the property, pays the bills, and distributes what is left to the people legally entitled to it.
Educational only. Not legal advice. Sources checked November 2, 2026.
What the official sources say
- In California, you open probate by going to court and asking a judge to appoint a personal representative. California Courts Self-Help Guide. Checked November 2, 2026
- In California, anyone who finds an original will must deliver it to the court. California Courts Self-Help Guide. Checked November 2, 2026
- In California, the personal representative collects the property, pays the bills, and distributes what is left to the people legally entitled to it. California Courts Self-Help Guide. Checked November 2, 2026
- In California, if the person named in the will cannot serve or there is no will, an order of priority decides who may be appointed. California Courts Self-Help Guide. Checked November 2, 2026
How to keep these papers
Keep dated copies of the papers you already have in one place, and write the day something happened on the same day. KeepMyProof is a private phone app for that: folders with checklists, the day it happened next to the day you saved it, and one PDF of a folder when someone asks.
- Will or trust copies
- Death certificates
- Court papers naming the executor
- Accounts and property papers
- Bills and letters to close out
- Family land papers (heirs' property)
Download the free printable checklist (PDF)
One page, no email needed.
Coming soon to Google Play.
More for California
- How to order a death certificate in California
- Executor duties and deadlines in California
- Small estates in California: collecting a parent's property without full probate
- Executor checklist: papers after a parent dies: the full guide
- How probate works after a parent dies: all states
Neighbouring states
- How probate works in Arizona after a parent dies
- How probate works in Nevada after a parent dies
- How probate works in Connecticut after a parent dies
- How probate works in Alaska after a parent dies
Questions
Where do these California facts come from?
Each fact on this page is copied from an official source: California Courts Self-Help Guide. We checked that each source still says it on November 2, 2026. Rules and forms change, so open the official link and read the current version before you rely on it.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page is educational only and is not legal advice. KeepMyProof is not a law firm. For advice about your situation, ask a lawyer licensed in California or your court's self-help center.
Which papers should I keep for after a parent dies?
A good start: Will or trust copies; Death certificates; Court papers naming the executor; Accounts and property papers; Bills and letters to close out; Family land papers (heirs' property). Keep only papers you are allowed to have, write the date on each note, and keep originals somewhere safe.
How can I keep these papers private on my phone?
KeepMyProof keeps copies of the papers you already have in folders with checklists, encrypted on your phone, with no account and no ads. It is free for the first items you save. It is coming soon to Google Play.
Educational only. Not legal advice.