Every resource below is a government agency, court, bar association, library or nonprofit. We do not list law firms or real estate companies here.
San Francisco Superior Court
| Resource | What it's useful for |
|---|---|
| Probate Court | The Probate Department's home page: location (400 McAllister St., Dept. 204), hearing schedule, examiner contacts |
| Wills and Decedents' Estates | The court's overview of estate administration (note: check small estate amounts against form DE-300, below) |
| Trusts | How trust matters come before the probate court |
| Probate Pro Bono Mediation Program | Free, court-connected mediation for probate disputes, such as heirs disagreeing about a house |
| Tentative Rulings | See the court's tentative ruling before a probate hearing |
| San Francisco Local Rules of Court | Rule 14 covers probate, including sales, overbids and broker commissions |
| ACCESS (Legal Self-Help) Center | Free in-person self-help at 400 McAllister St., Room 509 |
California Courts and forms
| Resource | What it's useful for |
|---|---|
| Guide to property after someone dies | The state's plain-language starting point |
| Overview of formal probate | The three stages of probate and the typical timeline |
| When formal probate may not be needed | Simplified transfers and small estate options |
| Inventory and estimate property value | First step in choosing the right process |
| Wills, estates, and probate index | A-to-Z index of the state's probate self-help pages |
| DE-300, Tables of Adjustments | The official current small estate dollar limits |
| DE-147, Duties and Liabilities of Personal Representative | What an executor or administrator must do, and their personal liability |
| DE-165, Notice of Proposed Action | The form used for actions, including sales, under IAEA authority |
| Court Forms search | Every Judicial Council form, including the DE (decedent estate) series |
| California Rules of Court | Statewide rules, including Title 7 (probate) |
California law
| Resource | What it's useful for |
|---|---|
| California Probate Code | The official text of the Probate Code from the California Legislature |
| San Francisco Law Library | Free research help from reference librarians, plus legal databases |
Property, deeds and property tax (San Francisco)
| Resource | What it's useful for |
|---|---|
| A guide to property matters following an owner's death | SF Assessor-Recorder's step-by-step guide, including form BOE-502-D |
| Learn about change in ownership | When property is reassessed and which exclusions apply |
| Proposition 19 | SF's guide to parent-child and grandparent-grandchild transfers |
| Recording a document | How to record deeds and affidavits of death |
| Get copies of recorded documents | Get a copy of the current deed |
| Learn about transfer tax | How SF transfer tax works, including the inheritance exemption |
| Transfer tax rates | Current SF transfer tax rate table |
| Secured Property Taxes | Look up and pay property tax on estate property |
| Information for Heirs | How heirs claim estate funds held by the city for missing beneficiaries |
| Property Information Map | Free parcel lookup for zoning, permits and assessor data |
Rental property and tenants
| Resource | What it's useful for |
|---|---|
| Learn about San Francisco rental laws | Rent control and eviction protections that come with an inherited rental |
| Speak with a Rent Board counselor | Free, multilingual counseling on Rent Ordinance questions |
| Rent Ordinance, §37.9 | Includes §37.9(k) on tenant disclosures when a building is sold |
State tax agencies
| Resource | What it's useful for |
|---|---|
| Proposition 19 (State Board of Equalization) | State Prop 19 guidance, FAQs and the current value limit |
| Change in Ownership FAQs (BOE) | What counts as a change in ownership, including transfers at death |
| Deceased person (Decedent) | California Franchise Tax Board guidance on the final return |
| Estate Tax (State Controller) | Confirms California has no current estate tax |
| Probate Referees (State Controller) | The state program that appoints probate referees |
Federal tax
| Resource | What it's useful for |
|---|---|
| Publication 551, Basis of Assets | Stepped-up basis for inherited property |
| Topic no. 703, Basis of assets | Short summary of basis rules |
| Estate tax | Federal estate tax overview |
| What's new: Estate and gift tax | The current exemption amount |
| Frequently asked questions on estate taxes | Common estate tax return questions |
Finding and checking professionals
| Resource | What it's useful for |
|---|---|
| Find a Certified Specialist (State Bar) | Search for certified specialists in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law |
| Find a Lawyer Referral Service (State Bar) | State-certified lawyer referral services |
| Attorney Search (State Bar) | Check any California lawyer's license status |
| BASF Lawyer Referral and Information Service | The Bar Association of San Francisco's referral service |
| Public License Lookup (Department of Real Estate) | Check any California real estate agent's license |
Free and low-cost legal help
| Resource | What it's useful for |
|---|---|
| ACCESS (Legal Self-Help) Center | Free self-help at the courthouse |
| Bay Area Legal Aid | Free civil legal help for eligible low-income residents |
| Legal Assistance to the Elderly | Free legal help for San Francisco seniors and adults with disabilities |
| BASF Justice & Diversity Center | The Bar Association of San Francisco's pro bono legal services |
Related guide
Co-owners who can't agree on what to do with an inherited property sometimes end up in a partition action. Our sister guide covers partition in San Francisco: partitionssanfrancisco.com.
