Santa Clara County, California Probate Court Records

Santa Clara Probate court records comprise court case proceedings and filed documents, including wills and death certificates. Such cases are generally overseen by the Santa Clara County Superior Court (Downtown) and may include the following files and documents:

• Wills: These are legal documents that contain the deceased’s final instructions regarding the division and administration of their estate. Wills or last testaments are often included along with petitions for probate.
• Petitions: Executors must submit a Petition for probate (DE-11) to initiate a probate case at the Superior Court in Santa Clara. The petition is sometimes included as part of a probate court record.
• Court orders: This document contains the court judge’s final instructions regarding probate cases held at the Superior Court.
• Estate inventories: This is a comprehensive list of all the deceased’s estate, including liabilities such as expenses or debts accumulated by the estate. The document may also contain the market value for listed assets.
• Creditor claims: A creditor claim is a formal request to get repaid for debts owed by the deceased. Creditors file this document with the court to get the first right of settlement before the estate is divided amongst beneficiaries.
• Guardianship orders: This is a court directive appointing a guardian to manage the personal and financial affairs of beneficiaries or heirs.

Understanding the Parties Involved in Probate Cases

Probate court records in Santa Clara provide information on different parties performing specific functions. You may find the following parties involved in a probate case:

• Decedent (deceased): The decedent is the person whose estate is being administered or divided in a probate court.
• Executor: A person or entity appointed to carry out the directives in a will or last testament. Executors are either appointed by the decedent or the court.
• Heirs: Heirs are parties that are legally eligible to inherit a deceased’s estate in the absence of a will. Under state laws, heirs usually have close family ties with decedents.
• Beneficiaries: These are persons or entities named in a will to inherit benefits. A beneficiary is not always the legal heir; such persons could be an associate of the deceased.
• Attorneys: These are legal representatives of the parties involved in a probate case. Attorneys may provide legal guardianship and file documents on behalf of their client.
• Creditors: A creditor could be a person or entity owed by the deceased. The state law requires creditors to file a claim to recoup debts before the estate is transferred to beneficiaries.

Searchers may look up information about parties involved in probate cases for these reasons:

• To determine the assets and liabilities left behind by the decedent.
• To locate long-lost relatives who may appear as heirs or beneficiaries.
• To determine who is assigned to oversee the administration of the decedent’s estate.

Legal Purpose and Importance of Probate Court Records in Santa Clara County

Probate court records are important legal documents since they provide accurate information about past court events. The records are also important for reasons such as the following:

• To determine if the estate was properly transferred to the beneficiaries or heirs.
• To determine the identity of executors or guardians in charge of managing the estate.
• To find out the estimated value of the deceased’s estate.

The records are also important in genealogical research since they might include information on long-lost relations. The decedent’s heirloom can also serve as a resource for tracing a family history. Probate court might also provide references about old land boundaries and records. This makes it valuable as a resource for settling property disputes that may arise as a result of the probate case.

Differences Between Wills, Estates, and Other Probate Filings in Santa Clara County

Probate court records in Santa Clara County may include various documents and files. These files are important in legal matters and include the following:

• Santa Clara wills: These are legal documents that contain the deceased’s instructions regarding the management and distribution of assets. Wills typically include the name of an executor and beneficiaries.
• Estate inventories and accountings: An estate inventory is a list of all the deceased’s assets and liabilities. The list might include the estimated value of the estate along with incurred debts.
• Guardianship or conservatorship records: These records contain information about persons or entities appointed to oversee the personal or financial affairs of beneficiaries or heirs. The court may appoint a guardian or conservator during probate case proceedings.
• Petitions and motions filed during probate: A petition for probate is a formal request to initiate a probate case at the Santa Clara Superior Court.

Public Access to Probate Court Records in Santa Clara County

Santa Clara County probate court records are mostly accessible to the public. Under the California Public Records Act, the public can view and get copies of court records from designated public entities. These entities may maintain and disclose court records to interested parties.

However, public entities may deny requests for court records whose disclosure is not in the public interest. For example, personal information about minors is usually exempt from public probate court records. Other non-public probate information includes the following:

• Court-sealed documents.
• Personal financial information, such as bank statements and account details.
• Personal information like social security numbers and medical reports.

Methods for Searching Santa Clara County Probate Court Records

In Santa Clara County, you may search probate court records by using resources or options provided by designated record custodians. For example, the Clerk of the Santa Clara Superior Court hosts an online searchable portal for probate cases heard at the courthouse. Inquirers may also access the records by making an in-person or mail-in request to the court clerk.

Online searches are generally free, while offline requests may attract copy or search fees. Regardless of the search option, inquirers are required to provide the case party name, number, or other relevant data when requesting court records.

How to Find Santa Clara County Probate Cases Online for Free

Interested parties can find free Santa Clara probate cases by using these online resources.

• The Santa Clara County’s Open Records Portal: The search platform offers access to probate cases heard between May 1893 and September 1908. Inquirers may search records on the platform by providing the decedent’s name, case number, or filing date.
• The Santa Clara Superior Court’s Case Information Portal: Inquirers using the platform may search court records by inputting the case number, party name, filing date, or business name.

The superior court does not charge for online searches and viewing of court records. However, inquirers may pay to download copies of searched records.

Accessing Santa Clara County Probate Court Records in Person

The Superior Court in Santa Clara allows in-person requests for probate court records. Inquirers may obtain the records in person by visiting the courthouse at this location:

To access the records in person, inquirers must provide search data like the case number, party name, and the filing date. If there are not enough search data, the court clerk may charge search fees to retrieve requested court documents. The clerk also charges $0.5 per page of probate case records.

Requesting Santa Clara County Probate Court Records by Mail

In Santa Clara County, interested persons or entities may request probate records via these steps:

1. Create a written request or use the online transcript request form (if requesting court transcripts).
2. Attach the required fee as a money order or check payable to the Superior Court. If you are unsure about the total fees, you may indicate a “Not to Exceed” amount on a blank check.
3. Send the request form and fees via mail to:

   191 North First Street

   San Jose, CA 95113.

Santa Clara County Probate Court Record Access Methods

Applicable Fees for Santa Clara County Probate Court Record Requests

Record seekers may pay specific fees when requesting probate court records in Santa Clara County. The court may charge search fees, per-page copy fees, and certification fees. As of December 2025, record seekers may pay $40 per record certification and $0.5 per page of copied record.