Probate is the court process for distributing a person's property after they die. Whether or not they left a will, certain assets may need to go through probate before they can be transferred to heirs or beneficiaries. These resources explain how the process works and what to expect.

• Guide to Property After Someone Dies California Courts self-help guide covering what happens to property after a death, including whether probate is required.
• General Overview of Wills, Estates & Probate Court Santa Barbara Superior Court's self-help overview of the probate process.
• Overview of What to Expect in Formal Probate Step-by-step explanation of the formal probate process from the California Courts. Includes information about guardianship and conservatorship.
• An Overview of the Probate Court Process for a Simple Estate (Nolo Press) Nolo Press publishes books about the law, written by attorneys for non-attorneys. Includes a procedural checklist. From How to Probate an Estate in California, Chapter 13.
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The Probate Division of the Santa Barbara Superior Court handles probate cases, conservatorships, guardianships, and trust matters. Contact the Probate Clerk, Probate Examiner, or Probate Facilitator for procedural questions.

• Probate Division Contact information for the Probate Clerk, Probate Examiner, and Probate Facilitator, plus office hours and additional resources.
• Filing Fee Schedule Statewide civil fee schedule (probate fees start on page 8).

Probate filings require specific court forms. Santa Barbara Superior Court provides local forms and pre-assembled form packets for common probate actions. Statewide Judicial Council forms are also required for most filings.

• Santa Barbara Superior Court – Local Forms Local probate forms required by the Santa Barbara Superior Court.
• Santa Barbara Superior Court – Form Packets Pre-assembled form packets for common probate filings.
• California Judicial Council Probate Court Forms Statewide mandatory and optional court forms for probate proceedings.

• Santa Barbara Superior Court Local Rules – Probate (Chapter 17) Local court rules governing probate proceedings in Santa Barbara County.
• California Rules of Court Statewide rules that apply to all California court proceedings, including probate.
• California Probate Code The full text of the California Probate Code from the state legislature.

Certified copies of death certificates are typically required to open a probate case and to transfer assets. In Santa Barbara County, these are obtained from the County Clerk-Recorder's Office.

• Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder – Death Records How to request official death certificates from the Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder, Vital Records division.

The following professional legal resources are available for use at the Law Library. These publications are written for attorneys but can be valuable for anyone researching probate procedures in depth.

• CEB OnLaw Administering a Single-Person Trust After Settlor's Death (Action Guide) • California Decedent Estate Practice
• Lexis/Nexis How to Begin, 1 California Probate Procedure, Ch. 3 • Transfer of Property Without Administration, 1 California Probate Practice, Ch. 4 • Initiating Probate Administration, 1 California Probate Practice, Ch. 5
• Westlaw Probate (The Rutter Group, California Practice Guide)