Last verified 2026-07-20; facts checked against the primary sources below

How probate works in Butte County

Last verified: July 20, 2026

The short answer: Every Butte County decedent-estate case is handled by the Civil/Probate Division at the North Butte County Courthouse, 1775 Concord Avenue in Chico—not at a courthouse selected by the decedent's city. The probate clerk's number is (530) 532-7017. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys and other represented parties in all probate matters; self-represented people are exempt but may e-file. Original wills, codicils, testamentary trusts, bonds, and several other original or non-scannable items cannot be e-filed.

Butte adds a $3.50 court transaction charge to each e-filed envelope, plus the provider's fee and a card or e-check processing charge. Remote probate appearances require judicial approval and ordinarily require RA-010 at least five court days before a non-evidentiary hearing.

Butte County probate at a glance

Where do you file probate in Butte County?

The court states that the Probate Division at the North Butte County Courthouse handles all conservatorship, estate, guardianship, and trust matters for the entire county:

Do not choose a courthouse based only on the decedent's town or the location of property. Probate Code section 7051 generally makes Butte County the proper venue when the decedent was domiciled anywhere in the county, and the court then centralizes the case in Chico.

Is e-filing mandatory?

Yes for represented parties. Butte's e-filing page says all probate matters are subject to mandatory e-filing under Local Rule 21 and the court's standing order. Self-represented parties are exempt, though the court encourages them to participate.

Electronic submissions go through an authorized e-filing service provider. The court charges $3.50 for each envelope. Providers set their own fees; card payments add a percentage-based convenience charge or $1 minimum, and e-check adds $0.25. Court-controlled charges are waived for an approved fee waiver or fee-exempt government filer, but a private provider may still charge its own usage fee.

An e-file received from 12:00 a.m. through 11:59:59 p.m. on a court day is treated as filed that day. A submission received on a non-court day is treated as filed on the next court day. Acceptance is still subject to clerk review, so do not wait until the deadline to discover a formatting or document-type problem.

What cannot be e-filed?

Butte specifically excludes these items from electronic filing:

• Any will, codicil, or testamentary trust.
• A bond or undertaking.
• Subpoenaed documents.
• Certain financial-institution, care-facility, and escrow records filed under Probate Code section 2620.
• California vital-record forms.
• Attachments or exhibits that cannot be accurately transmitted because of size or type.
• Documents normally lodged during a proceeding, including trial exhibits.

The practical consequence is that an attorney may e-file the DE-111 petition but still needs a paper path for the original will. Preserve every original and confirm the delivery method with the Civil/Probate Division.

What local rules and forms apply?

Butte publishes a dedicated Local Rule 12 for probate and local probate forms and packets. The court's forms page currently lists PR.010 through PR.040 for investigation and conservatorship matters. Decedent estates principally use Judicial Council forms, but the local rules still govern presentation and court administration.

Start with fresh forms and review Local Rules 12, 13 (documents presented for filing), and 21 (electronic filing) before submission. The fact that a statewide form is complete does not eliminate a county filing rule.

The court does not publish routine probate examiner notes, pre-grants, or a standing probate tentative-ruling calendar. Unless the court issues a case-specific ruling or order, use the filed hearing notice and confirm appearance requirements with the Probate Division.

Can you attend remotely?

Butte uses CourtCall video for civil, probate, and family matters. Judicial approval is required except for the limited categories the court preapproves; probate should not be assumed preapproved.

For a non-evidentiary probate hearing, file and serve RA-010 at least five court days beforehand and lodge proposed form RA-020. Evidentiary hearings require at least ten court days' notice; another party may oppose with RA-015 at least five court days before the hearing. If approved, a party schedules through CourtCall's Remote Court Scheduler. A separate meeting link is needed for each hearing.

How long until the first hearing?

Probate Code section 8003 generally directs the hearing to be set 15 to 30 days after filing, or 30 to 45 days out when requested. Publication, mailed notice, rejected e-filings, paper delivery of the will, or pre-hearing corrections can extend the practical schedule. Use the hearing date on the accepted notice.

Can you avoid full probate?

For deaths on or after April 1, 2025, many California estates at or below $208,850 can use a small-estate affidavit process. A qualifying primary residence valued at or below $750,000 may use the simplified real-property petition. Trust property, jointly owned assets, and beneficiary-designated accounts may transfer outside probate altogether.

Complete an ownership-based asset inventory before opening a formal case. Avoiding an unnecessary petition also avoids publication, e-filing costs, and the probate calendar.

Butte County's practical checklist

• File with the Civil/Probate Division at the North Butte County Courthouse in Chico.
• Use e-filing if represented; self-represented filers may choose paper.
• Budget the $3.50 envelope fee plus provider and payment-processing charges.
• Deliver the original will outside the e-filing system.
• Review Local Rules 12, 13, and 21 and any relevant local probate form.
• Request CourtCall early; probate remote appearances generally need judicial approval.
• Calendar deadlines from the clerk-accepted filing, not the upload confirmation.

The Estate Desk handles estate administration for California families. Court logistics change; verify the filing and hearing details with Butte County Superior Court before acting.