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Probate

Probate of Wills, Trusts, and Estates

Probate is when the court supervises the distribution of a person’s assets and payment of the person’s debts after their death. For information relating to wills, trusts and estates please call (925) 608-2613.

Download the Form Packet

Conservatorship

Conservatorship is when a judge determines, through a court process, that an adult person cannot take care of himself/herself or their finances and appoints a conservator

Conservatorship Workshop:

The Conservatorship Workshop covers the responsibilities of a conservatorship of the person and of the estate. The court requires that persons appointed as conservators, except for professional fiduciaries, complete this workshop. Workshop attendees MUST sign-up in advance. Please call the Contra Costa County Public Law Library at (925) 655-4627 to sign-up and obtain additional information. Or email: reference.questionsCCCPLLIB@gmail.com.

Click here for a schedule of the upcoming Court Accounting Workshops.

Download the Form Packet

Limited Conservatorship

A limited conservatorship is a court proceeding where a judge gives a responsible person, called a limited conservator, certain rights to care for another adult who has a developmental disability, called a limited conservatee. This is different from an adult conservatorship.

Probate Facilitator Assistance: The Probate Facilitator is an attorney employed by the court to assist parties who represent themselves and who seek limited conservatorship of a person only (NO ESTATE). If you have questions about the forms or process to obtain a limited conservatorship of a person, you can contact the Probate Facilitator by sending an email to probfac@contracosta.courts.ca.gov or by leaving a voicemail message at (925) 608-2066

Guardianship

Guardianship is when the court gives someone, who is not the child’s parent, legal and physical custody of a child or the right to control a child’s property, or both.

Probate Facilitator Assistance:

Probate Facilitator Assistance: The Probate Facilitator is an attorney employed by the court to assist parties who represent themselves and who seek guardianship of a person only (NO ESTATE). If you have questions about the forms or process to obtain a guardianship of a person, you can contact the Probate Facilitator by sending an email to probfac@contracosta.courts.ca.gov or by leaving a voicemail message at (925) 608-2066

Completing Guardianship Forms:

  • You can complete the forms needed to start your guardianship case using a free online software program called LawHelp Interactive. To get started, please see the following steps:

    • Download the Parental Diagram: Form GC-51 ( English | Spanish )
      • This diagram will help you organize information about the minor child’s relatives before you have to enter the information into the program.
    • Download and read the Guardianship LHI Program Instructions: Form GC-53 ( English | Spanish )
      • It is very important to read through the instructions before you start the program as some of the questions, if answered incorrectly, will cause you extra work when you must correct the final forms.
        The instructions provide tips for entering information correctly.
      • NOTE: The link to the LawHelp Interactive Program is contained in these instructions.
  • Once you have completed your forms, you can contact the Probate Facilitator for assistance with reviewing your forms.

Checklist and Instructions for Service

After you have filed to open your guardianship case, you must serve certain family members. For more information about service, please read the following Checklist for Guardianship Service: Form GC-54 ( English | Spanish )

If you still have questions regarding service, please contact the Probate Facilitator.

Court Process and Information

Other Information