Orange County Probate Court

The Orange County Probate/Mental Health Unit handles decedent estates, wills and trusts, conservatorships, guardianships, minor’s compromise cases, and elder or dependent adult abuse matters, along with CARE Act mental health assistance proceedings. It’s a single, centralized division housed at one dedicated courthouse rather than spread across the county’s several branch locations, and it offers an unusually wide range of online tools, including a dedicated conservatorship accounting portal and orientation videos in multiple languages. It’s typically used by families settling a loved one’s estate, people pursuing conservatorship or guardianship, or those bringing an elder abuse protection matter.

General Court Services

Court Access & Procedures

Probate and mental health matters are filed and heard at a single dedicated courthouse, and most filing can be done electronically through the court’s e-filing system. Case-specific tentative rulings and examiner notes are posted online, and the court offers multilingual online orientation courses for people involved in conservatorship cases. This is a full-security courthouse, meaning all visitors pass through a weapons screening, so items like pocketknives, scissors, or pepper spray aren’t allowed inside; readers should check the official court website for current hearing calendars and any required forms before their visit.