Probate Records

General Information

Probate records are public records subject to public view and copying unless they are confidential by operation of law or sealed by the court. Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) cases involve persons who may be placed in a locked facility. There are special protections to ensure that the conservatee’s rights are protected. LPS records are confidential. Documents within a court record may also be confidential, i.e., investigation reports, mediation reports, doctor evaluations, psychological evaluations, etc. Confidential records or documents may only be viewed and copied by the parties or their attorneys of record.

You can view all documents in Trust and Estate cases initiated after February 5, 2007, as well as most Probate Notes and Minute Orders for hearings after February 5, 2007. If you are not a party to a case, you will also be able to see that documents were filed, but not view the documents, for all Guardianship and Conservatorship cases filed after February 5, 2007 as well as many older Trust, Estate, Guardianship, and Conservatorship cases.

You may come to the court and access the case information online through one of the court’s kiosks free of charge. Requests for printed copies will be charged at the rate published in the court’s Fee Schedule.

Valid State or Federal Issued Photo Identification

Valid state or federally issued photo identification is required to view records. Acceptable forms of state or federally issued photo identification that are unexpired include:

Driver license
Passport
U.S. Resident's Card (green card)
State-issued I.D.
Military I.D.
Voter's I.D.

If You Do Not Have a Case Number

If you do not know the case number, you may create an online account and look it up using the court's public portal or you may go to the courthouse in person to use the public kiosk located in room 214. There is no need for a service ticket to use the kiosk.

Viewing or Copying Probate Records

Probate records are available on the public portal or at the kiosks in Room 214 at the William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse. The guidelines for viewing and requesting copies of records vary depending on how they are stored, whether you are a party, and whether you are representing a public agency. The various processes are as follows:

Probate Records	Are Stored	And May be Obtained..
With case numbers starting with: 34-2007 through 34-2023 23PR	Electronically at the courthouse.	Online: You may use the court's public portal to view and copy court records. In person: for all case types, including conservatorships and guardianships. You may use the kiosk to view records and ask the court clerk to make copies. By mail or drop box: Copies may be requested by submitting a Request for Copies of Probate Records form by mail or by placing it in the drop box located inside the courthouse. See instructions below. Parties Remote Access to Guardianship and Conservatorship Cases PARTIES: To get access to your case you must register for a new user account. You must also file your Probate Case Participant Enrollment Form, along with a copy of your government issued identification. The email address you use to create an account must be the same on the Case Participant Enrollment Form or you will not be able to view documents. You will receive an email confirming that you have access to your case. A separate form must be filed for each case or when you change your email address. To receive notification each time a document is filed in a case enroll in Case Activity Notification Request . ATTORNEYS: To get access to your case you must register for a new user account. Set up an account using the email address provided to the court on previously filed pleadings. You will receive an email confirming that you have access to your case. To receive notification each time a document is filed in a case enroll in Case Activity Notification Request.
Filed between 1937 and 2006	Digitally at the courthouse.	By mail or drop box: Copies may be requested by submitting a Request for Copies of Probate Records form by mail or by placing it in the drop box located inside the courthouse. See instructions below.
Filed before 1937	At the Center for Sacramento History.	By contacting the Center for Sacramento History directly at centerforsacramentohistory.org

Probate Records

Are Stored

And May be Obtained..

With case numbers starting with:

34-2007 through 34-2023
23PR

Electronically at the courthouse.

Online: You may use the court's public portal to view and copy court records.

In person: for all case types, including conservatorships and guardianships. You may use the kiosk to view records and ask the court clerk to make copies.

By mail or drop box: Copies may be requested by submitting a Request for Copies of Probate Records form by mail or by placing it in the drop box located inside the courthouse. See instructions below.

Parties Remote Access to Guardianship and Conservatorship Cases

PARTIES: To get access to your case you must register for a new user account. You must also file your Probate Case Participant Enrollment Form, along with a copy of your government issued identification. The email address you use to create an account must be the same on the Case Participant Enrollment Form or you will not be able to view documents. You will receive an email confirming that you have access to your case. A separate form must be filed for each case or when you change your email address. To receive notification each time a document is filed in a case enroll in Case Activity Notification Request .

ATTORNEYS: To get access to your case you must register for a new user account. Set up an account using the email address provided to the court on previously filed pleadings. You will receive an email confirming that you have access to your case. To receive notification each time a document is filed in a case enroll in Case Activity Notification Request.

Filed between 1937 and 2006

Digitally at the courthouse.

By mail or drop box: Copies may be requested by submitting a Request for Copies of Probate Records form by mail or by placing it in the drop box located inside the courthouse. See instructions below.

Filed before 1937

At the Center for Sacramento History.

By contacting the Center for Sacramento History directly at centerforsacramentohistory.org

In-Person Viewing or Copying

To view or copy records in person, the Probate Unit is located on the second floor, room 214, at the William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse. You do not need a service ticket to use the kiosk.

By Mail Viewing or Copying

To obtain a copy of records by mail or drop box, you must complete a Request for Copies of Probate Records form and mail or drop it in the drop box at William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse 3341 Power Inn Road, Sacramento, CA 95826. The request must be accompanied by a copy of valid state or federally issued photo identification, the fees, or a copy of the fee waiver, if applicable, and addressed to the Probate Records Clerk. Fees can be paid by check or money order. Do not mail or drop box cash.

The drop box is located at the entrance of the William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse, and the building hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding court holidays).