Kern County Probate Records

Kern County probate records detail the distribution of a decedent's estate per the provisions of their will and state law. Like Kern County court records created in the course of judicial proceedings, probate records are generated following probate processes, such as will execution and estate administration, initiated after an individual dies.

Probate records include wills, judicial decrees, letters of administration, estate inventory, case dockets, and other documents generated, filed, and compiled during probate proceedings. These records are valuable because they can establish an individual's familial relationships. For instance, a will may identify an individual's spouse, children, brother, sister, niece, nephew, and more. As a result, probate records are invaluable for genealogical research. Probate records can also reveal the economic standing of an individual and how their estate must be distributed amongst their heirs, beneficiaries, and eligible creditors. Hence, probate records may also be utilized to resolve estate disputes and inheritance claims.

Are Probate Records Public?

Yes. Under rules 2.400(a) and 2.550(c) of the California Rules of Court, probate records, a subset of court records, are considered public records. Hence, most Kern County probate records are accessible to anyone who requests them from their official custodian, the Kern County Superior Court.

Nonetheless, some probate court files are confidential and exempt from public disclosure by state or federal law, court order, or court rule. In such cases, only parties to the case, individuals with an applicable court order, and those with a statutory right to access the file due to an ongoing case are allowed access. Some examples of probate files that are exempt from public disclosure include but are not limited to, mediation reports, psychological evaluations, capacity declarations, and financial statements. The California Trial Court Records Manual Appendix 1 and Section 10.3 outlines other records exempt from being public.

What is Probate Court in Kern County?

In Kern County, the Superior Court's Probate Division has original jurisdiction over probate matters, such as actions concerning an individual's will, trusts, decedent's estate, and the estate of incapacitated persons or minors. The Probate Division also has the authority to issue marriage licenses, appoint guardians and conservators, and conduct guardianship and conservatorship investigations. The Local Rules of Courts govern how the Kern County Superior Court operates and handles probate cases and proceedings.

There are 11 different Superior Courthouses in Kern County. However, only one (1) of these courthouses handles probate matters. This courthouse is located and may be contacted at:

Juvenile Justice Center
2100 College Ave
Bakersfield, CA 93305
Phone: (661) 610-6900

Probate Court Case Lookup

Interested persons can conduct a Kern County Probate Court case lookup through any of the following:

• Inquirers can search for probate cases online through the Kern County Superior Court Case Search portal. Users must register an account or sign in to access the portal. Furthermore, users can search for cases on the portal by supplying a case number or party name as search criteria to facilitate their search.
• Inquirers can visit the probate office during regular office hours to request a probate case lookup in person.
• Draft a written probate case lookup request containing sufficient information that identifies the desired probate case, such as a case number or party name, and mail it to;

Superior Court of California County of Kern
Probate Court
2100 College Ave
Bakersfield, CA 93305

Requesters may be charged a fee for a probate case lookup request they make per the Kern County Superior Court's Fee Schedule. For instance, searches for estate documents that take longer than 10 minutes are subject to a $15 fee.

How to Find Probate Records Online Free

Record seekers can use official resources, such as the Kern County Superior Court Case Search portal, to search for probate records online for free. As previously mentioned, users must sign up or log in to access the portal, and searches are facilitated using a case number or party name as search criteria.

Alternatively, interested persons can utilize certain third-party aggregator websites to conduct online searches for Kern County probate records. These websites are operated by private entities or persons who retrieve public probate records from official sources and compile them in a searchable private database. Although most third-party websites may allow users to conduct probate record searches for free, access to complete and detailed search results may be subject to certain fees.

How Long Does Probate Take in California?

According to a California Courts Self-Help Guide publication, a probate process can take 9 to 18 months to complete, and in some cases, it might take longer. Several factors typically affect the aforementioned timeline, making the probate process last longer or be finalized quicker. These factors include but are not limited to:

• Disputes or contestations involving the estate or will
• The estate's complexity and size
• The number of beneficiaries
• The executor or attorney's competence and experience

Are Wills Public Record?

Yes. Once a will has been probated in Kern County, it is considered public records and accessible to anyone (to the extent permitted by law).

Nonetheless, wills that were filed with the Kern County Superior Court's Probate Division for safekeeping remain confidential throughout the testator's (the writer of the will) lifetime. Record seekers can only request or access these types of wills with a certified copy of the testator's death certificate or a judicial order per Cal. Prob. Code § 8200.

How to Find Out If Someone Has a Will

The only way interested parties can find out if a living person has a will is by contacting the person directly to make inquiries or request permission to retrieve it from the probate court, where they may have stored it for safekeeping.

If the testator is deceased, record seekers can contact the probate court in the county where the testator last resided, once lived, or owned property to request a copy of their will. However, if the testator never filed their will with a probate court for safekeeping, record seekers can query their attorney or executor to find out if they have a copy of the will. Sometimes, the testator may store their will in their home or personal storage places, like a safety deposit box, storage unit, or personal safe. In such cases, interested persons can search these places to find the decedent's will.

Kern County Family Court Case Search

The Kern County Superior Court provides different avenues for interested persons to conduct a Family Court Case search: online, by mail, and in person. Inquirers can use the case information search portal to perform searches online. For in-person or by-mail requests, inquirers can visit or draft a written request containing sufficient information about the sought-after family case and submit it to the specific family court that handled the case. Six (6) Kern County Superior Courts have a Family Law Division that handles family law cases. The physical address and contact information of these courts are outlined below:

Metro Justice Building
1215 Truxtun Ave
Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: (661) 610-6400

Delano
1122 Jefferson St
Delano, CA 93215
Phone: (661) 610-7300

Lamont
12022 Main St
Lamont, CA 93241
Phone: (661) 610-7100

Mojave
1773 State Highway 58 Business
Mojave, CA 93501
Phone: (661) 610-7400

Ridgecrest
132 E Coso Ave
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
Phone: (661) 610-7450

Shafter
325 Central Valley Hwy
Shafter, CA 93263
Phone: (661) 610-7200

It is worth noting that some family law case records are confidential and only accessible to eligible persons, such as parties to the case and persons or entities authorized by law. Some examples of such cases include adoption records, child custody orders, and cases involving allegations of abuse.