If someone in your family died owning property in Contra Costa County, the estate will most likely go through probate at the Contra Costa County Superior Court in Martinez. Knowing where to file, how the court flags problems, and which deadlines matter can save you weeks of back and forth.
This guide pulls together the Contra Costa County probate resources executors and heirs ask about most, with links to the court’s own pages.
Quick Answer: Contra Costa County probate cases are filed and heard at the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse, 725 Court Street, Martinez, in Departments 30 and 38. Probate examiners post calendar notes on the court’s Public Portal about 6 to 8 days before each hearing, and any fix must be filed at least 5 days before the hearing to be considered.
Where Probate Cases Are Filed in Contra Costa County
All probate, guardianship, and conservatorship documents in Contra Costa County are filed and heard at the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse in Martinez. That is true whether the decedent lived in Richmond, Walnut Creek, Antioch, or San Ramon.
The courthouses in Pittsburg, Richmond, and Walnut Creek handle other case types. Probate does not go there.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Courthouse | Wakefield Taylor Courthouse, 725 Court Street, Martinez, CA 94553 |
| Probate departments | Department 30 and Department 38 |
| Wills, trusts, and estates information | (925) 608-2613 |
| Ex parte hours | 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., Room 210 (sign in 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.) |
| Calendar notes | Court Public Portal, about 6 to 8 days before the hearing |
| Last day to file a fix | 5 days before the hearing |
How a Contra Costa Probate Case Moves Forward
Most estates start with a Petition for Probate, Judicial Council form DE-111. The court posts a probate forms packet built around that petition on its probate page.
Before the first hearing, the petitioner gives notice to heirs and beneficiaries and publishes notice of the petition in a newspaper. If the judge grants the petition, the executor or administrator receives Letters, the court document that gives them legal authority to act for the estate.
From there, the personal representative gathers assets, has them appraised, handles creditor claims, and finally asks the court to approve distribution. A simple estate often takes a year or more. A house sale, a dispute between heirs, or a late creditor can add months.
Contra Costa Probate Calendar Notes
Calendar notes are where most delays in Contra Costa probate start, so it pays to read them as soon as they post.
What are probate calendar notes?
The court’s probate examiners review every petition and proposed order before the judge acts on it. They publish calendar notes that list any legal problems they find in each case. The notes are usually available on the court’s Public Portal 6 to 8 days before the hearing.
What does “NEEDED” mean on my calendar notes?
An item marked NEEDED is something the court expects you to fix before the hearing. Fixing it usually means filing an amended or supplemental pleading that follows the Rules of Court. Pleadings must be filed at least 5 days before the hearing to be considered, so a late fix can push your matter to a later date. The court explains the process on its probate calendar notes page.
Zoom Hearings and Ex Parte Requests
The probate department holds hearings on Zoom. The court only lets people in from the waiting room if their full first and last name is showing, and video must be on. A phone number, nickname, or partial name can keep you out of your own hearing.
Ex parte applications are decided on the papers, not in a courtroom. You present them to the probate examiners in Room 210 between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m., after signing in between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. The court contacts you when the order is ready to pick up.
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Records, Forms, and Fees
You can look up case information on the court’s Public Portal. Minutes, case documents, and orders are not available online, so you have to request copies from the court’s records office.
Filing fees follow the court’s current civil fee schedule. The court’s fees page has the schedule and explains how to ask for a fee waiver if you cannot afford the filing fee.
The court’s Probate Facilitator only helps self-represented people with guardianship or limited conservatorship of a person. The facilitator does not help with estates of people who have died, so most executors work with a probate attorney. Our California probate attorney directory lists attorneys by county.
What Heirs Can Do While the Case Is Open
Contra Costa probate can stretch well past a year, especially when a family home in Concord, Lafayette, or Danville has to be sold before distribution. Your bills do not wait for the court.
A probate advance gives you part of your expected inheritance now. It is not a loan, there are no monthly payments, and it is repaid from your share when the estate distributes. If you want to know what to gather first, review the documents needed for an inheritance advance.
Contra Costa County Probate FAQs
Where do I turn in an original will in Contra Costa County?
California Probate Code Section 8200 requires whoever has the original will to deliver it to the superior court clerk in the county where the decedent lived within 30 days after learning of the death. In Contra Costa County, probate documents go to the Wakefield Taylor Courthouse in Martinez. Keep a copy for yourself before you turn in the original.
How long does an executor have to file the inventory and appraisal?
Under Probate Code Section 8800, the personal representative must file the inventory and appraisal within 4 months after Letters are issued. Non-cash assets such as real estate are valued by a probate referee appointed through the State Controller. A late inventory is a common reason a Contra Costa case stalls.
What is the creditor claim deadline in a California probate?
Creditors generally have until the later of 4 months after Letters are first issued or 60 days after notice was mailed to them (Probate Code Section 9100). The estate cannot make a final distribution until that window closes, which is one reason most estates take at least several months.
Do conservators in Contra Costa County need training?
Yes. The court requires people appointed as conservators, other than professional fiduciaries, to complete a Conservatorship Workshop. You sign up in advance through the Contra Costa County Public Law Library at (925) 655-4627.
The Bottom Line
Contra Costa probate runs through one courthouse in Martinez, and most delays come from problems flagged in the calendar notes. Check your notes early, fix anything marked NEEDED at least 5 days before the hearing, and keep copies of everything you file. If the wait itself is the problem, ProbateLend can help you get part of your inheritance now.
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