San Francisco County Probate Court

The San Francisco Probate Court handles decedents’ estates, trusts, guardianships of children, and conservatorships for adults who can’t manage their own care or finances, along with related elder abuse protections and mental health conservatorship matters. It’s a single-courthouse operation with a highly structured weekly calendar, assigning different case types to specific days and times rather than a general docket. It’s typically used by families settling a loved one’s affairs, people seeking guardianship of a child, or those pursuing conservatorship for an aging or vulnerable relative.

General Court Services

Court Access & Procedures

Most probate matters require filing a petition with the clerk, and hearing dates are assigned at the time of filing rather than chosen by the filer. Certain non-appearance filings, like some ex parte petitions, can be dropped off with the probate clerk during a designated midday drop-box window, while matters requiring an appearance are heard in person on set days of the week. Tentative rulings can be checked online or by phone before a hearing, and some hearings offer remote appearance options; visitors should check the official court website for current calendar details and any required forms before their hearing date.