Quick Answer: Tehama County probate matters, including decedent’s estates, trusts, conservatorships, and guardianships, are handled at the Tehama County Superior Court, 1740 Walnut Street, Red Bluff, CA 96080, (530) 527-3484, open 8:30am-4:30pm Monday through Friday. Conservatorship and guardianship cases go through a dedicated court investigator before a judge rules, a step decedent’s estate cases don’t need.
Where Tehama County Probate Cases Are Heard
All Tehama County probate matters are filed and heard at the county’s single courthouse: 1740 Walnut Street, Red Bluff, CA 96080. Department 1 is on the first floor; Departments 2 through 5 are on the second floor. Building hours are 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday, and free parking is available in the lots around the building. The court also accepts electronic filing for probate cases through Odyssey eFileCA, available 24 hours a day.
Conservatorship and Guardianship Cases Go Through a Court Investigator
Unlike a straightforward decedent’s estate matter, conservatorship and guardianship petitions in Tehama County are assigned to a dedicated court investigator before a judge decides anything. The investigator’s role, and the phone line for reaching that office, (530) 529-6104, is separate from the general courthouse number. Investigators have specialized training in social work, accounting, mental health, and criminal justice, and there’s a fee for most investigations, per the court’s own Probate Court division page.
For conservatorships, the investigator reviews the proposed conservatee’s living situation, health, and finances, interviews family members and others involved, and reports findings to the court before the hearing. For guardianships, the investigator reviews the qualifications of anyone seeking appointment, including site visits and interviews, to assess the potential guardian’s home environment.
General vs. Limited Conservatorships, and When LPS Applies
Tehama County distinguishes between a General Probate Conservatorship, for adults unable to care for themselves due to physical injury, advanced age, dementia, or similar conditions, and a Limited Probate Conservatorship, which applies specifically when the conservatee is developmentally disabled and is designed to preserve as much independence as possible.
A separate category, LPS (Lanterman-Petris-Short Act) conservatorships, applies only to adults with a serious mental illness listed in the DSM who are gravely disabled and may be a danger to themselves or others. LPS conservatorships can involve placement in a locked facility, so they carry additional civil-rights protections, and they’re investigated specifically by the Office of the Public Guardian/Conservator rather than the general probate investigator.
Guardianship of the Estate: Bond or Blocked Account
When a minor is set to receive a large monetary gift or inheritance, Tehama County probate court may require a guardianship of the estate to manage those funds. In these cases, the court can require the guardian to obtain a bond, or instead require the funds to be placed into a blocked account where withdrawals need prior court approval, a detail worth knowing before assuming a straightforward transfer is possible.
Need Funds While a Tehama County Estate Is Still Open?
Tehama County probate cases commonly take 9 to 18 months to close. ProbateLend offers a Tehama County probate advance that gives qualifying heirs a portion of their expected inheritance now, without waiting for the estate to formally close. There’s no credit check and no monthly payments; repayment comes out of the estate at final distribution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all Tehama County probate cases require a court investigator?
No. Court investigators are assigned specifically to conservatorship and guardianship cases. A standard decedent’s estate probate doesn’t go through this investigation step.
What’s the difference between a general and limited conservatorship in Tehama County?
A limited conservatorship applies only when the conservatee is developmentally disabled, with powers deliberately kept narrow. A general conservatorship covers other adults unable to care for themselves due to age, injury, dementia, or similar conditions, with broader authority for the conservator.
Can a family member serve as a conservator in Tehama County?
Yes. A conservator can be a family member, friend, or professional fiduciary, though the court investigator still reviews the proposed conservator’s suitability before appointment.
Why would a guardian of a minor’s estate need a bond?
The bond (or a blocked account requiring court approval for withdrawals) protects the minor’s inherited funds from mismanagement, since a minor can’t monitor their own guardian the way an adult beneficiary could.
Is Tehama County probate eFiling available for all case types?
Tehama accepts eFiling for most case types including probate, though certain filings like adoptions are excluded. Check the court’s eFile CA page for current exceptions before assuming a specific document qualifies.
For help understanding who’s appointed to handle a Tehama County estate, see our guide to administrator vs. executor differences. If you’re an heir waiting on a case to close, learn more about how probate advances work. For more on California probate, visit ProbateLend.