Quick Answer: San Francisco County probate cases are handled by one court location, the Civic Center Courthouse at 400 McAllister St., Department 204. The Probate Clerk’s Office is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. weekdays (closed for lunch from noon to 1 p.m.), and estates under $184,500 (for deaths on or after April 1, 2022) may qualify for a simplified small estate process instead of full probate.
If you’re an heir or executor dealing with a San Francisco County estate, knowing exactly who to call and where to file saves real time. Unlike counties with multiple branch courthouses, San Francisco consolidates all probate matters, including decedent’s estates, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships, into a single downtown courtroom. Here’s what to know before you file.
San Francisco County Probate Court Contact Information
The Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco hears all probate matters at the Civic Center Courthouse. There is no separate probate-only building, and every filing, hearing, and clerk interaction for decedent’s estates runs through this one location.
| Contact | Phone Number |
|---|---|
| Probate Investigators | (415) 551-3657 |
| Courtroom Clerk (Dept. 204) | (415) 551-3702 |
| Court Supervisor, Probate Clerk’s Office | (415) 551-3673 |
| Filing Windows 23-25, Room 103 | (415) 551-3892 |
| Recorded Tentative Rulings Line | (415) 551-4000 |
Address: Civic Center Courthouse, 400 McAllister St., Department 204, San Francisco, CA 94102-4514
Clerk’s Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed noon to 1:00 p.m. (except court holidays)
Pre-granted orders: Available in Room 103, Windows 23, 24, and 25, after 9:30 a.m. on or after the hearing date
What Cases Does the San Francisco Probate Court Handle?
Department 204 oversees several distinct case types, and each follows its own calendar:
- Decedent’s estates and wills (executor and administrator appointments)
- Trust administration and disputes
- Guardianship of minors
- Conservatorship of adults, including mental health conservatorships (heard separately in Department 622)
- Elder and dependent adult abuse restraining orders tied to an active conservatorship
If the deceased person left a will, the person named to handle the estate is the executor. If there’s no will, the court appoints an administrator instead. Both are referred to collectively as the personal representative, and both file through the same Department 204 process.
How to File a Probate Case in San Francisco County
Most new probate filings start with a petition submitted to the Probate Clerk’s Office, either in person at Room 103 or through an approved e-filing service provider. Once filed, the clerk assigns a hearing date automatically, you don’t request a specific date yourself.
Hearing times depend on the type of matter:
- General probate appearance hearings (other than guardian or conservator appointments): Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at 9:00 a.m., Department 204
- Guardian appointment petitions: Tuesday at 1:30 p.m., Department 204 (appearance required)
- Conservator appointment petitions: Thursday at 9:00 a.m., Department 204 (appearance required)
- Law and motion matters: Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, and Fridays, Department 204
- Ex parte matters requiring an appearance: 10:00 and 10:30 a.m., Monday through Wednesday and Friday, Department 202
A Petition for Appointment of Probate Conservator (Form GC-310) must now be filed together with the mandatory Confidential Declaration on Medical Ability to Attend Hearing (Form GC-325). Filing GC-310 without the GC-325 attached is one of the more common reasons a conservatorship hearing gets delayed.
Does Your San Francisco Estate Qualify for Small Estate Probate?
Not every estate needs a full probate case. Under California Probate Code sections 13100 through 13116, personal property can sometimes be collected using a simple affidavit instead, depending on when the person died.
| Date of Death | Small Estate Threshold |
|---|---|
| On or after April 1, 2022 | $184,500 |
| Before April 1, 2022 | $166,250 |
If the estate’s value falls under the applicable threshold, heirs may be able to use the sample affidavit for collection of personal property instead of opening a full probate case. Estates above that threshold, or that include real property, generally require the standard probate process through Department 204.
Need Cash Before Your San Francisco Probate Case Closes?
San Francisco probate cases can take months to work through the court’s calendar, especially when a case involves a guardianship or conservatorship appointment on top of estate administration. If you’re an heir waiting on funeral costs, mortgage payments, or other bills that can’t wait for the estate to close, a San Francisco County probate advance lets you access a portion of your inheritance now instead of waiting for the court process to finish. Read our full breakdown of how to get a probate advance in San Francisco County for the step-by-step application process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I appear at a San Francisco probate hearing remotely?
Yes, for matters heard in Department 204 and Department 202, San Francisco offers remote appearance by Zoom. The current meeting ID and password are posted on the Probate Court page of the court’s website, and instructions for connecting remotely are provided in a separate PDF linked from that page.
How do I find out why my probate hearing was continued?
The court publishes a checklist of common problems that cause probate hearings to be delayed or continued, covering issues like missing bond, incomplete notice, or unfiled inventory. Reviewing that checklist before your hearing date can catch a fixable problem early instead of losing another court cycle.
Who do I contact about a tentative ruling in my case?
Tentative rulings are available by phone at (415) 551-4000, generally by 3:00 p.m. the court day before your hearing. If you need to reach the specific examiner assigned to your matter, the court publishes examiner email addresses for direct questions about a pending ruling. You can also check hearing dates and case status directly through our guide to looking up a probate case online.
Do I need a lawyer to handle probate in San Francisco County?
California law doesn’t require an attorney for probate matters, but the process involves strict filing deadlines, notice requirements, and accounting rules. Given how complex a contested or high-value estate can get, most personal representatives in San Francisco still hire an experienced probate attorney rather than filing pro se.
What if I can’t wait for my San Francisco probate case to close?
If probate is dragging on and you need funds now, a probate cash advance is one option that doesn’t require repayment out of pocket, it’s repaid directly from your share of the estate once it closes. This differs from a loan since there’s no monthly payment or credit check involved.
Whatever stage your San Francisco County probate case is in, having the right court contact and filing information on hand makes the process easier to manage. For heirs who need financial breathing room before the estate settles, ProbateLend can help bridge the gap with a fast, straightforward probate advance.