Opening forms
Which California probate forms start the case?
| Official form | Purpose | When it enters the case | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE-111Petition for Probate | Asks the court to open the case and appoint an executor or administrator. | Opening filing. | Will status, proposed representative, authority requested, bond, attachments, and county forms. |
| DE-121Notice of Petition | Gives required notice of the petition and hearing. | Before the appointment hearing. | Who must receive notice, service timing, proof of notice, and publication requirements. |
| DE-140Order for Probate | Records the court’s appointment decision and approved authority. | Prepared for the appointment decision. | The proposed appointment, authority, bond, and exact order requested. |
| DE-147Duties and Liabilities | Explains and acknowledges the representative’s responsibilities. | During qualification for appointment. | Current instructions, signature, and any county filing requirement. |
| DE-150Letters | Shows institutions that the executor or administrator has court authority. | After appointment and required qualification. | The name, title, authority granted, bond status, certification, and institution copy requirements. |
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These are statewide Judicial Council forms. Confirm the current revision on the official form page and add the local forms required by the superior court handling the case.
Administration forms
Which California probate forms are used after appointment?
| Official form | Purpose | When it enters the case | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE-160Inventory and Appraisal | Reports property included in the probate estate. | After authority issues and assets are identified. | Ownership, item description, attachments, and which property is appraised by the representative or probate referee. |
| DE-161Inventory and Appraisal attachment | Provides the detailed property schedule supporting DE-160. | With the Inventory and Appraisal when additional space is needed. | Complete descriptions, property classification, values, and consistent totals. |
| DE-157Notice of Administration to Creditors | Provides formal notice to known or reasonably ascertainable creditors when required. | During creditor administration. | The creditor address, service date, claim deadline, and proof kept in the case file. |
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Property sales, creditor claims, substitute representatives, spousal property, and other events can require additional forms. Do not treat this list as a personalized filing packet.
Creditor and closing forms
Which California probate forms may be needed for creditors and closing?
| Official form | Purpose | When it enters the case | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE-165Notice of Proposed Action | Gives notice before certain actions when the Independent Administration of Estates Act applies. | Before the proposed action when notice is required. | The authority granted, people entitled to notice, response period, and proof of service. |
| DE-172Creditor’s Claim | Allows a creditor to state a claim against the estate. | During the creditor-claim period. | The filing and service route, supporting records, deadline, and later allowance or rejection. |
Closing does not use one universal packet. The court may require a final report, an account or permitted waiver, a petition for final distribution, notice, a proposed order, receipts showing distribution, and documents that end the representative’s appointment.
Use the case history and current court instructions to build the closing set. Do not copy an opening packet and assume it covers distribution.
The facts change the packet
When do the facts of a California probate case change the filing packet?
| Case fact | What may change | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| There is no original will | The petition, proof, notice, and inheritance analysis may differ. | What evidence the court requires and who must receive notice. |
| Bond may be required | Bond papers and the requested level of authority may affect appointment. | The will, waivers, estimated estate value, and the proposed order. |
| The estate includes real estate | Inventory, appraisal, sale, notice, and court-approval documents may apply. | How the property is owned and whether it belongs in probate. |
| A creditor files a claim | DE-172 and any allowance, rejection, or response documents may enter the file. | The claim deadline, supporting records, and payment priority. |
Before filing
What should you check before filing California probate forms?
- The form is the current revision
- The case caption, court location, and case number are consistent
- Required signatures, attachments, copies, and service are complete
- The county’s local forms, eFiling rules, and hearing procedures are included
Closing is especially case-specific. A final report, account or waiver, petition for final distribution, notice, proposed order, receipts, and discharge documents may be needed.
What Alix is
How does Alix handle California probate forms and the work behind them?
Alix is a Done-for-You estate settlement service that manages the process from start to finish. For California probate forms, a licensed attorney handles the legal analysis, prepares or reviews required filings, responds to court questions, and appears when a lawyer is needed.
Form and court work
- Current statewide and county forms
- Petitions, notices, declarations, and proposed orders
- Probate Notes, hearings, and legal responses
- Final legal documents for distribution and closing
Work that supplies the forms
- Account statements and asset records
- Property, creditor, insurance, and tax documents
- Institution follow-up and transfer records
- Receipts, beneficiary updates, and closing handoffs
Your Estate Settlement Specialist gathers and organizes the facts the filings depend on, then keeps the non-court work moving after the papers are filed.
Settling a loved one’s estate is too important to do alone.
Fulfill your duty as executor with the rigor and expertise it deserves.
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Questions about California probate paperwork
What form starts probate in California?
Form DE-111, Petition for Probate, asks the court to open a formal probate case and appoint an executor or administrator. It is not normally the entire opening packet. Required notice, proposed orders, duties, bond documents, Letters, attachments, and county forms depend on the petition and the local court.
What are Letters in California probate?
After the court appoints the executor or administrator and any qualification requirements are complete, it issues Letters using form DE-150. A certified copy shows banks, insurers, buyers, and other institutions that the named person has authority to act. The form is proof of authority, not a complete list of permitted actions.
Are California probate forms the same in every county?
Judicial Council forms are statewide, but counties can add local forms, filing methods, original-document rules, courtesy-copy requirements, and hearing procedures. Use the current statewide revision first, then check the superior court handling the case. A packet accepted in one county may be incomplete in another.
Can one probate form packet fit every estate?
No. The required documents depend on the will, proposed representative, authority requested, bond, property, notice recipients, creditors, sales, accounting history, and court instructions. Build the packet for the current stage and facts. Do not reuse an opening checklist as a creditor, sale, distribution, or closing packet.
What is the California Inventory and Appraisal form?
Form DE-160 is the Inventory and Appraisal. It identifies property included in the probate estate for valuation and court reporting. The executor or administrator supplies the property information, while the required appraisal process depends on the asset. Use current instructions and keep the supporting account and property records.
Where should I download California probate forms?
Download the current Judicial Council revision from the official California Courts form page. Use the official superior-court page for county forms and local instructions. Avoid relying on an old saved PDF or a third-party packet because revision dates, filing methods, attachments, and local requirements can change.
Sources checked for this page3 current court, government, and law references
Forms, fees, court assignments, and procedures can change. Confirm the current official source before filing.
- California Courts: Find your court formsCurrent Judicial Council forms
- California Courts: Formal probateStatewide process, timing, hiring counsel, and forms
- California Courts: Petition for Probate DE-111Official form and current revision