The Estate Desk

Last verified 2026-08-14; facts checked against the primary sources below

Solano County probate notes and filing guide

Last verified: August 14, 2026

The short answer: Find Solano County probate notes through the court's Probate Pre-Grants & Notes page. Examiner notes are generally available about a week before the hearing. Check the pre-grant after 5:00 p.m. the night before. You may skip the hearing only when the matter remains uncontested, appears on the pre-grant list, and the pre-grant does not require attendance.

File Solano probate matters at the Hall of Justice, 600 Union Avenue, Fairfield, CA 94533. The probate clerk is (707) 207-7341 and [email protected].

Solano County probate at a glance

Fact Detail
Probate filing office Hall of Justice, 600 Union Avenue, Fairfield, CA 94533
Probate clerk (707) 207-7341; [email protected]
Clerk hours Drop-in 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.; phone closed noon–1:00 p.m.
E-filing Mandatory for attorneys; optional for self-represented parties
Original will Lodge with Probate Clerk within 30 days; physical original required
Notes Generally one week before hearing through case portal
Pre-grants Available after 5:00 p.m. the night before hearing
Estate calendars Department 22, generally Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 9:30 a.m.
First-petition fee $435 statewide fee

Filing and the original will

Local Rule 20 requires attorney e-filing in probate. Self-represented parties and nonparties are exempt but encouraged to e-file. Ex parte applications are excluded from the general electronic mandate.

The court instructs a will custodian to lodge the original with the Probate Clerk within 30 days under Probate Code section 8200. Do not substitute a scan. Represented parties must electronically process probate letters and bonds as of July 1, 2025; self-represented parties may continue processing those in person or by mail.

How do you find Solano County probate notes and pre-grants?

  1. Open the court's Probate Pre-Grants & Notes page and follow the case-portal instructions.
  2. Find the case and read the examiner notes, usually available about a week before hearing.
  3. Cure each defect by filing the proper document. Probate staff do not accept cure documents by email.
  4. Recheck the notes, then check the pre-grant list after 5:00 p.m. the night before the hearing.
  5. Appear if the case is absent from the pre-grant list, contested, involves a sale confirmation, needs proof of a holographic will, or the pre-grant directs attendance.

Department 22 normally calendars estates, trusts, and other probate petitions Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 9:30 a.m.; compliance hearings are Monday at 11:00 a.m.

Ex parte, remote appearance, and fees

Estate ex parte applications are by appointment only. Call Department 22 at (707) 207-7322 for a date, then file the application with the Family Law/Probate clerk and follow Local Rule 7.10. The estate-calendar page publishes a department Zoom link, but the assigned judge's instructions control whether a particular hearing may be remote.

No Solano-specific surcharge for the opening petition was identified; the statewide fee is $435.

Solano publishes probate forms and filing instructions, but no separate mandatory local form for opening a routine decedent estate was identified. Use current Judicial Council forms and Local Rule 7, with the court's special electronic letters/bonds process after appointment.

Solano County's practical checklist:

Court procedures change; verify filing, notes, and hearing details with Solano County Superior Court before acting.

Primary sources