Last verified 2026-07-14, every fact checked against the primary sources below
How probate works in San Bernardino County
Last verified: July 14, 2026
The short answer: In San Bernardino County, where you file depends on the deceased's zip code: valley and mountain communities file the Petition for Probate (form DE-111) at the Fontana District courthouse, and the High Desert files in Victorville. The filing fee is $435 — the county's $35 courthouse surcharge is absorbed into that total, not added on top. Attorneys must e-file (mandatory since June 16, 2025); self-represented filers may file on paper. Probate Notes appear on the Court Access Portal about two weeks before the hearing, and if yours say "recommended for approval," you can skip the hearing.
Before you file anything, check whether you need probate at all. The simplified paths at the bottom of this page skip the process entirely for many families.
San Bernardino County probate at a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Petition form | DE-111, Petition for Probate — caption must cite the Probate Code section (Local Rule 20-601) |
| Filing fee | $435 total (the $35 local surcharge is offset, not added) |
| Where to file | Fontana District (valley/mountain zips) or Victorville District (High Desert zips) — by the deceased's residence zip code |
| Clerk phone | (909) 521-3388 (probate unit, countywide) |
| E-filing | Mandatory for attorneys since June 16, 2025 (Odyssey eFileCA); optional for self-represented parties |
| Pre-hearing review | Probate Notes on the Court Access Portal (cap.sb-court.org), about two weeks before the hearing |
| Hearing window | 15 to 30 days after filing by statute (Prob. Code § 8003); the court assigns the date |
| Skip probate? | Estate of $208,850 or less: small-estate affidavit. Home worth $750,000 or less: form DE-310 |
Where do you file probate in San Bernardino County?
San Bernardino splits probate by geography under General Order GO26-032 (where probate cases are filed and heard, effective through 2027):
| Courthouse | Address | Who files here | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fontana District | 17780 Arrow Blvd., Fontana, CA 92335 | Valley and mountain zip codes: San Bernardino, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Chino, Redlands, and surrounding communities | (909) 521-3388, clerk 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Victorville District | 14455 Civic Drive, Victorville, CA 92392 | High Desert zip codes: Victorville, Apple Valley, Hesperia, Barstow, Big Bear, and surrounding communities | (909) 521-3388 |
| Needles District | 1111 Bailey Ave., Needles, CA 92363 | River-area zips, limited matters only (small-estate real property, succession, spousal petitions); full probate goes to Victorville | (760) 269-4962 |
Do not file at the San Bernardino Justice Center downtown — many older webpages still point there, but it no longer takes probate filings. Probate hearings run in departments F1, F2, F3, and F5 at Fontana and V15 at Victorville.
How much does it cost to file probate in San Bernardino County?
| Item | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| First-filed Petition for Probate (letters testamentary or letters of administration) | $435 total | Gov. Code § 70650(a); the county's $35 courthouse-construction surcharge (Gov. Code § 70624) is offset by a matching reduction elsewhere in the fee, so the total stays $435 — statewide civil fee schedule effective Jan. 1, 2026, appendix |
You may see San Bernardino listed among the "surcharge counties." It is — but unlike San Francisco, the surcharge does not raise what you pay. If you e-file, the provider's convenience fee comes on top.
How do you file the petition?
"The Probate Division implemented mandatory electronic filing (eFiling) for attorneys effective June 16, 2025" (probate e-filing). Self-represented parties may e-file voluntarily or file on paper.
E-filing runs through the approved providers on Odyssey eFileCA; the provider collects the filing fee. PDFs must be text-searchable. When you e-file, you can note preferred hearing dates or availability limits in the submission comments — the court assigns the hearing and sends notice (e-filing FAQ).
How long until the first hearing?
State law says the hearing on the petition "shall be set for a day not less than 15 nor more than 30 days after the petition is filed," or 30 to 45 days out if you request it (Prob. Code § 8003).
Use the gap well. You must publish notice of the hearing in a newspaper and mail notice to heirs before the hearing, and you should watch your Probate Notes as the date approaches.
What are Probate Notes and how do you clear them?
Probate examiners review your petition before the hearing and publish Probate Notes listing any defects (Local Rule 20-102, probate notes page):
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where to find them | The Court Access Portal, searchable by case |
| When they appear | Usually at least two weeks before the hearing; updates typically post three court days before |
| The magic words | If the notes say "recommended for approval," the petitioner may skip the hearing entirely — the matter is deemed submitted on the recommendation (Local Rule 20-102(c)) |
| How to respond | File corrective documents promptly — late filings may not be reviewed before the hearing and can force a continuance |
| Examiner questions | [email protected] (examiners cannot resolve defects by email); probate clerk (909) 521-3388 |
What local quirks should an executor know?
- Venue inside the county is by zip code. Check General Order GO26-032's tables before you file — the wrong courthouse costs you weeks.
- "Recommended for approval" means stay home. San Bernardino is one of the few counties that expressly deems a clean petition submitted without appearance.
- Orders must be "complete in themselves" — no incorporating the petition by reference (Local Rule 20-614). Draft the order as a standalone document.
- Any petition invoking the Probate Code must be by petition, with the code section cited in the caption below the title (Local Rules 20-601, 20-602).
- Remote appearances run on ZoomGov; check in 15 minutes early. Evidentiary hearings and trials are in person.
- Depositing the original will with the court costs $50 (Gov. Code § 70626(d)).
Can you skip probate entirely?
Formal probate is the expensive road. Two shortcuts cover many San Bernardino families, using the thresholds on Judicial Council form DE-300 (rev. April 2025) for deaths on or after April 1, 2025:
| If | Then |
|---|---|
| The probate estate is $208,850 or less | No probate. After 40 days, collect assets with a small-estate affidavit under Probate Code §§ 13100 to 13101 |
| The main asset is the primary residence, worth $750,000 or less | A simplified court petition (form DE-310) instead of full probate |
For what counts toward those numbers and what skips probate automatically, see our first-30-days guide.
The Estate Desk handles this for California families. theestatedesk.com
Check in 2 minutes whether you need probate at all
Primary sources
- https://sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov/divisions/probate
- https://sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov/system/files/forms-filing/whereprobatecasesarefiledandheard.pdf
- https://sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov/divisions/probate/probate-notes
- https://sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov/online-services/efiling/probate-efiling
- https://sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov/system/files/local-rules/rulesofcourt.pdf
- https://sanbernardino.courts.ca.gov/location/fontana-district
- https://courts.ca.gov/system/files/file/statewide-civil-fee-schedule-eff-01012026.pdf
- https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PROB§ionNum=8003
- https://courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/courts/default/2024-11/de300.pdf