Conservatorship
Conservatorship is a legal proceeding in which the court evaluates the vulnerability of an adult who may be unable to take care of his or her own: needs for shelter, food, medical care, manage personal finances, or may be subject to undue influence.
Guardianship
Guardianship is a court process by which a person other than a parent is given custody of a child or authority over a child’s property. Appointment as guardian requires the filing of a petition and approval by the court.
Probate
The Probate Department of the Court handles decedents’ estates, trusts, and conservatorships. These matters are filed and heard at the Fontana and Victorville Districts.
Probate eFiling
The Probate Division is implementing voluntary electronic filing (eFiling) for attorneys and self-represented litigants.
Probate Notes
Starting October 28, 2022, Probate Notes will be available through the
Court Access Portal (CAP) for hearings scheduled November 15, 2022 and later. Notes are available two weeks prior to your hearing and for 7 days after the hearing, so
print or save your notes for future references. For help accessing your notes, click
here.
CARE Act Proceedings
The Probate Department of the Court handles CARE Act proceedings, wherein qualified persons can seek Court assistance with mental health treatment. CARE Act Petitions are filed and heard at the Fontana District.
California Probate laws are established to protect and manage decedents' estates, trusts, guardianship of minors, and conservatorship of adults who are unable to provide for their personal needs or manage their financial resources.
The Probate Clerk’s Office and Courtrooms are located at the Fontana and Victorville Districts. Click here for court locations.
The Probate Business Office is open Monday through Friday to assist customers with filings, purchase of forms/packets, viewing of records and depositing of wills. Some case records can also be purchased online through the Portal.
The Probate Examiners are available to assist with existing cases that note deficiencies that are currently pending before the court. For hearings scheduled November 15, 2022 and later, Probate Notes can be found via the Court Access Portal (CAP). For help accessing your notes, click here.
The Court Investigators interview all persons who are the subject of a petition for conservatorship before the appointment is made, to determine if they understand the proceedings or have any objections. Periodic investigations are also conducted after the appointment to determine if the conservatee’s needs are being met.
The Court Investigators also investigate guardianships of the person and guardianship of the estate. Click here for information regarding Guardianships.
Court forms and rules can be found here.