Riverside County Probate Records

In Riverside County, California, probate proceedings mainly pertain to the administration of decedents' estates, that is, distributing or sharing a deceased individual's assets to the proper parties. The county's probate court maintains the related case documents, which detail case events and activities, such as the petitions/motions filed, parties involved, orders or decrees issued, and more. Hence, the records are useful for establishing the value of a decedent's estate, resolving inheritance disputes, protecting the rights of claimants (including creditors), and researching one's lineage or ancestry.

Probate in Riverside County is commonly initiated for a person who, at the time of their death, resided in California, had no valid trust, and had an estate worth over $166,250 (for deaths before April 1, 2022) or $184,500 (for deaths on or after April 1, 2022). Form DE-300 has the latest estate limits in California.

Are Probate Records Public?

Yes. Per California Rules of Court 2.400(a) and 2.550(c), probate records are open to the public in Riverside County. These rules govern the public dissemination of Riverside County court records (which probate records are a part of) and impose access limits where a law, court order, or court rule requires confidentiality.

Accordingly, although the general public can inspect multiple probate records or copy publicly accessible information in a Riverside County probate court file, they cannot examine the following documents or data:

• Psychological evaluations
• Medical records
• Financial information, including debit/credit card numbers and tax statements
• Sensitive personal information, like protected addresses and Social Security numbers (SSNs)
• Capacity declarations
• Safekeeping wills
• Confidential Guardian Screening Forms
• Probate Investigators' Referral Reports
• Any other probate record/information deemed exempt under the California Trial Court Records Manual's Section 10.3 and Appendix 1

For confidential records, access is usually limited to the parties involved, their attorneys, and anyone with a court order permitting access or review.

What is Probate Court in Riverside County?

The Probate Division of the Riverside County Superior Court acts as the county's local probate court. In addition to overseeing decedents' estates, the court handles trusts, mental health filings, guardianships, conservatorships, and minor's compromises. Below are the probate court locations within Riverside:

Palm Springs Courthouse
3255 E Tahquitz Canyon Way
Palm Springs, CA 92262
Phone: (760) 393-2617

Riverside Historic Courthouse
4050 Main Street
Riverside, CA 92501
Phone: (951) 777-3147

Temecula Courthouse
41002 County Center Drive
Suite 100
Temecula, CAA 92591
Phone: (951) 777-3147

Probate Court Case Lookup

One way to look up probate cases in Riverside County, California, is to access the local superior court's Public Portal. This database is available per Ca. Rule of Court 2.503 to enable interested members of the public to look up cases heard by the court, including probate cases. A case party's name or case number is the minimum system requirement for searches. However, while users can review case information and download case documents, they cannot see or download confidential or sealed records through the online portal.

Another method for viewing a Riverside County probate case is to visit the probate courthouse where a case is being heard or was finalized. This option often appeals to the following groups:

• Individuals who cannot obtain remote access to the Public Portal at home, at a public library, or any other place with an internet connection
• Individuals who require access to a record for which only courthouse electronic access is provided
• Individuals who need the official copy of a probate record

Courthouses maintain public access computers for no-cost case research, and visitors can request copies from staff, usually for a fee.

Alternatively, a Request for Certified Copies (RI-MC011) can be completed and submitted to the Probate Division through the eSubmit portal. This form can also be delivered to the presiding courthouse in person (a drop box option may be available) or by mail with a stamped and self-addressed envelope and a check or money order in the appropriate amount (if copies are needed). The court's Fee Schedule can be reviewed for record-related fees.

How to Find Probate Records Online Free

The Riverside County Superior Court's Public Portal is free to users who conduct a case number search for a probate record. However, individuals carrying out a name search are liable for fees of up to $250. On the other hand, persons requiring non-confidential, non-sealed documents are charged $1 for the initial five pages and 50 cents for each subsequent page.

Members of the public also have private aggregator websites as a convenient means to find probate records online. These sites are well known for having no geographical limits and offering a variety of U.S. court records to the public. However, while they typically allow basic searches for free, users may be charged a fee or asked to subscribe/register for search results.

How Long Does Probate Take in California

The Judicial Branch of California underscores 9 to 18 months as the general timeframe for a probate case (that is, opening the case, administering the decedent's estate, and closing the estate).

However, this duration may be prolonged for complex, sizeable, or disputed estates. The timing until an estate is closed (or "probated") may also be influenced by the executor's diligence, the court's workload, statutory waiting periods/deadlines, and other complications (like if the beneficiaries are difficult to locate or if assets need to be sold). As a result, some cases take years to be finalized.

Are Wills Public Record?

Yes. In Riverside County, wills included in probate records are deemed public and can be seen or copied by anyone, provided no statutory or judicial restrictions exist. However, an exception applies to wills filed for safekeeping under Cal. Prob. Code § 8200, which are confidential and only available per court order or upon producing a certified copy of the testator's death certificate.

How to Find Out If Someone Has a Will

To determine if a Riverside County resident drafted a will, one can contact the local Superior Court for public probate records or access those records through the court's available channels (as explained previously). A copy may be available to any interested party if the will has been probated (i.e., gone through the probate process).

However, because California law does not mandate the submission of a will to a court, an inquirer may not find the document at the courthouse. In such cases, the estate's personal representative (the person in charge of will execution and managing the decedent's assets) may be contacted. Usually, the contact person is a family member or the attorney who prepared the will.

It is crucial to note that a living person's will can only be disclosed with their permission or upon a court order (if filed with a court for safekeeping and compelling grounds exist).

Riverside County Family Court Case Search

Individuals seeking a family court case search in Riverside County can stop by the presiding family law courthouse to utilize a public computer for their inquiry. A case number or case party name is required for each search.

Where physical inspection is not conceivable, a remote search can be conducted via the Riverside County Superior Court's Public Portal or by submitting a Request for Certified Copies (RI-MC011) via the court's eSubmit website or other accepted methods. Charges apply for copies of records.

Note, however, that not all family court records have unrestricted access. Certain entire records are confidential, and others can only be released after extensive redaction. In the same manner, some family case records are not accessible through the court's remote access portal, and some can only be seen or obtained with a judicial order.