File Probate in Napa County
Last Updated: April 24, 2026
IN THIS GUIDE:
Introduction to Filing Probate in Napa County
If you have recently lost a family member and are trying to figure out how to file probate in Napa County, you are likely dealing with a court process that is unfamiliar, time-sensitive, and more complicated than it first appears. Napa County estates often include vineyard parcels, winery business interests, residential real property, agricultural holdings, and other assets that require formal court supervision before they can transfer to heirs. Whether the estate is straightforward or complex, the process starts in the same place — the Civil Division of the Napa County Superior Court — and it requires accurate paperwork, correct publication, and close attention to the court’s tentative ruling system at every stage.
When a Napa County resident passes away owning assets in their individual name — outside of a trust, joint tenancy, or beneficiary designation — formal probate is often required before those assets can transfer to heirs. Filing probate in Napa County means working with the Civil Division of the Superior Court of California, County of Napa, at the Historic Courthouse in downtown Napa. This guide gives you everything you need to navigate the Napa County probate court correctly from the start.
When Is Probate Required in Napa County?
California law requires probate when a decedent owned assets in their individual name — outside of a trust, joint tenancy, or beneficiary designation — with a total gross value above the current statutory threshold of $208,850 (effective April 1, 2025). Smaller estates may qualify for a simplified affidavit procedure under Probate Code §13100. Property held in a funded living trust, jointly owned real estate, and accounts with named beneficiaries typically transfer outside of probate.
What This Napa County Probate Guide Covers
This guide covers the Napa County probate court — its location, departments, and key contacts — where to file probate in Napa County, e-filing procedures, local rules, publication requirements, probate examiner notes in Napa County, the two court-appointed probate referees, and the full probate timeline in Napa County. Probate & More provides professional non-attorney probate document preparation for Napa County families at a flat fee — typically saving thousands compared to statutory attorney fees.
Each California county runs probate differently — local rules, filing locations, examiner procedures, and publication requirements all vary. If you are handling an estate in a different county, our California Probate by County guide has county-specific details for all 58 counties.
Probate Court in Napa County
The Superior Court of California, County of Napa, handles all probate matters filed in Napa County. The Civil Division is responsible for probate, conservatorships, guardianships, and related estate proceedings. All probate petitions in Napa County are filed at the Historic Courthouse, 825 Brown Street, Napa — at the Civil Division clerk’s window.
Napa County uses a case-number routing system for probate hearings. Cases with even-numbered endings are assigned to Courtroom A, presided over by Hon. Cynthia P. Smith. Cases with odd-numbered endings go to Courtroom B, presided over by Hon. Joseph J. Solga. Both departments hear probate matters with Civil Law and Motion on Tuesdays through Thursdays at 8:30 AM, except on days immediately following a court holiday.
Tentative Ruling System
The Napa County Superior Court uses a tentative ruling system for all probate matters. Tentative rulings are posted by 3:00 PM on the court day before the scheduled hearing and are available on the court website at napa.courts.ca.gov or by calling (707) 299-1270. If you wish to appear and argue, you must notify all other parties and the court by 4:00 PM the day before the hearing — by calling (707) 299-1270 (press “0” when the recording begins) or by emailing JudicialReception2@napa.courts.ca.gov. However, if the tentative ruling approves a routine, unopposed matter, no appearance is required.
Ex Parte Probate Matters
Probate ex parte applications are presented to a Civil Division judicial officer at 11:30 AM each court day. Unless the nature of the application precludes advance notice, you must give notice and make an appointment by calling the court no later than 10:00 AM the preceding court day.
Where to File Probate in Napa County
All probate petitions in Napa County are filed with the Civil Division at the Historic Courthouse, 825 Brown Street, Napa, CA 94559. Understanding where to file probate in Napa County is the first practical step in getting the process started. Self-represented individuals file in person at the Civil Division clerk’s window, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. A drop box at the courthouse is available until 5:00 PM for same-day filings.
E-Filing for Probate in Napa County
The Napa County Superior Court accepts electronically filed documents in probate cases. E-filing is available for probate along with civil, family, criminal, traffic, and juvenile matters. Self-represented filers may choose to e-file or file in person at the Civil Division counter.
A courtesy copy is required for any e-filed document exceeding 15 pages or any color document (Local Rule 3.3). Consequently, those copies must be delivered to the assigned department no later than the next court day after filing. Direct fax filing is not accepted — documents submitted by fax must go through a licensed faxing agency. Approved Electronic Filing Service Providers (EFSPs) include One Legal, Odyssey File & Serve, Tyler File & Serve, and others accepted by the court.
E-Filing Information →
Fees and Local Forms →
Local Rules of Court →
How to Look Up a Probate Case in Napa County
Napa County Superior Court provides several online tools to check your case status, review tentative rulings and probate notes, and access the court calendar without visiting the courthouse.
Important: Tentative rulings are posted by 3:00 PM on the court day before the scheduled hearing. If you wish to appear and argue, you must notify all parties and the court by 4:00 PM that same day. If no tentative ruling is posted for your matter, or if the ruling indicates that an appearance is required, you must appear at the hearing.
| Resource | Link / Details |
|---|---|
| Case Lookup | napa.courts.ca.gov/case-lookup-and-self-service — search by case number or party name |
| Tentative Rulings — Online | napa.courts.ca.gov/online-services/tentative-rulings — posted by 3:00 PM day before hearing |
| Tentative Rulings — Phone | (707) 299-1270 — press “0” after recording to request oral argument |
| Oral Argument Email | JudicialReception2@napa.courts.ca.gov — notify by 4:00 PM day before hearing |
| Daily Court Calendar | napa.courts.ca.gov/online-services/daily-court-calendar |
| Records & Research | (707) 299-1140 — Civil Division ($15 per search over 10 min; $0.50/page copies) |
| Court Website | napa.courts.ca.gov |
Local Probate Rules in Napa County
The Napa County Superior Court’s local rules govern all matters filed in the court, including probate cases handled by the Civil Division. The current local rules are effective January 1, 2026. Specific probate provisions appear under Rule 9, while the tentative ruling system applicable to probate is addressed under Rule 2.9. Additional provisions covering ex parte procedures, courtesy copy requirements, and court reporter services also apply to probate matters.
Download the Napa County Local Rules of Court →
Key Requirements Under the Napa County Local Rules
- Probate matters are heard Tuesday through Thursday at 8:30 AM with Civil Law and Motion; your case number determines your department — even cases go to Dept A (Hon. Smith), odd cases go to Dept B (Hon. Solga)
- Ex parte probate applications are presented to the Civil Division judicial officer at 11:30 AM each court day — appointment required by 10:00 AM the preceding court day
- Tentative rulings are posted by 3:00 PM the court day before the hearing; if no tentative ruling is posted for your matter, an appearance is required
- To request oral argument, notify all parties and the court by 4:00 PM the day before the hearing — call (707) 299-1270 (press “0”) or email JudicialReception2@napa.courts.ca.gov
- Courtesy copies are required for any e-filed document exceeding 15 pages or containing color — deliver to the assigned department no later than the next court day after filing (Local Rule 3.3)
- No official court reporter is provided for probate hearings — parties who want a record must arrange private court reporting at their own expense
- All e-filed documents must conform to California Rules of Court, Rule 2.256(b); signatures on e-filed documents are governed by CRC Rule 2.257
- Fee waivers require Judicial Council forms FW-001 and FW-003, submitted as the lead document in the same filing transaction
Filing Reminder: Review the court’s tentative rulings page regularly after filing. If deficiencies appear in your notes, respond well before the hearing date. Failure to correct noted issues typically results in a continuance — adding weeks to your case.
Probate Notice Publication in Napa County
California Probate Code §8121 requires publication of the Notice of Petition to Administer Estate in an adjudicated newspaper of general circulation. Publication must run for three successive weeks. The first publication must appear at least 15 days before the hearing. File your Proof of Publication affidavit with the court before or at the hearing.
Select the newspaper serving the city where the decedent resided at the time of death. If no adjudicated paper serves that city, or if the decedent did not reside in a city, select a paper with county-wide circulation in Napa County. Contact each newspaper directly for current legal notice pricing.
Adjudicated Newspapers — Napa County
Three adjudicated newspapers serve Napa County — verified from the Napa County Clerk-Recorder. Contact each newspaper directly for current pricing.
| Newspaper | Area Served | Phone | Online Submission | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Napa Valley Register | City of Napa / County-wide | (707) 226-3711 | nvrlegals@napanews.com | napavalleyregister.column.us/place |
| St. Helena Star | St. Helena / Napa Valley | (707) 226-3711 | nvrlegals@napanews.com | napavalleyregister.column.us/place |
| Calistoga Tribune | Calistoga / Upper Valley | (707) 942-5181 | legals@calistogatribune.com | calistogatribune.com |
Note: The Napa Valley Register and St. Helena Star share the same legal notices contact and online submission portal. Verify the current adjudicated newspaper list with the Napa County Clerk-Recorder before publishing.
Probate Examiner Notes in Napa County
The Napa County probate examiner reviews every probate filing to verify compliance with the California Probate Code, state rules, and Napa County local rules. After review, the court issues a tentative ruling on your probate matter identifying any procedural deficiencies or concerns that must be addressed before the judge can rule on the petition.
Because Napa County uses a tentative ruling system for probate — rather than a separate notes window — probate tentative rulings serve as the examiner’s primary communication to filers. Rulings are posted by 3:00 PM on the court day before the scheduled hearing and are available on the court website or by calling (707) 299-1270. If a routine, unopposed matter is approved by tentative ruling, no appearance is required. However, if the ruling identifies defects or places the matter on calendar for appearance, you must comply with the court’s instructions.
How to Access Your Probate Notes in Napa County
Visit the court’s Tentative Rulings page at napa.courts.ca.gov/online-services/tentative-rulings. You may also call (707) 299-1270 after 3:00 PM the court day before your hearing. Check the portal regularly in the weeks leading up to your hearing — especially after submitting supplements or corrections.
Common Examiner Notes in Napa County
- Missing or incorrect proof of publication
- Missing required attachments to the Inventory and Appraisal
- Incorrect notice language or missing notice to creditors
- Unsigned or undated verification pages
- Inconsistent information across filings
- Missing DHCS notice documentation
- Incomplete property characterization
Probate examiner notes in Napa County signal filing problems that must be corrected before the court can proceed with the hearing. When the court flags missing attachments, deficient notice language, unsigned verification pages, or inconsistent information across filings, each problem requires a targeted supplement or correction. If you do not address the deficiencies properly, the court will either continue the hearing or place the matter on calendar for appearance — extending your case by weeks or longer. Our Probate Notes and Supplements in California guide walks through exactly how to address those issues correctly.
Probate Referees in Napa County
California probate referees are appointed by the State Controller’s Office to appraise all non-cash assets in a decedent’s estate. The personal representative appraises cash items; the assigned referee appraises all other assets including real property, vineyard parcels, winery business interests, vehicles, and personal property.
In Napa County — where estates frequently include wine country vineyard land, winery business interests, and high-value residential and agricultural real property — the referee’s appraisal carries significant weight. The appraised values establish the basis for statutory fees, accountings, and final distribution calculations. Vineyard parcels and winery-related assets may also require additional time for the referee to complete valuations, so plan accordingly when scheduling your Inventory and Appraisal deadline.
| Referee | Address | Phone | Fax | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TORR, Michael L. | 525 Carriage Court, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 | (707) 544-8636 | (707) 526-3758 | scprobatereferee@gmail.com |
| THOMAS, Richard S. | 17568 Spruce Grove Road Ext., Suite F, Hidden Valley Lake, CA 95467 | (707) 987-2227 | (707) 987-2329 | rthomas123@mchsi.com |
Referee assignments can change. Always confirm the current roster of Napa County probate referees at the California State Controller’s Office before initiating contact: sco.ca.gov/eo_probate.html.
Probate Timeline in Napa County
Most straightforward probate estates in Napa County take 12 to 18 months from filing to final distribution. Napa County’s tentative ruling system and case-number department routing require careful attention at every stage. Estates involving vineyard parcels, winery business interests, high-value wine country real estate, or contested matters may take considerably longer.
| Step | Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Filing | File the Petition for Probate (DE-111) at the Civil Division clerk’s window, Historic Courthouse, 825 Brown Street, Napa. File in person Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM, or e-file through an approved EFSP. Your case number determines your courtroom: even cases go to Dept A (Hon. Smith); odd cases go to Dept B (Hon. Solga). |
| 2 | Publication | Publish the Notice of Petition to Administer Estate in an adjudicated Napa County newspaper three times over three successive weeks. The first publication must appear at least 15 days before the hearing. Select the paper serving the city where the decedent resided — Napa Valley Register, St. Helena Star, or Calistoga Tribune. File the Proof of Publication affidavit before or at the hearing. |
| 3 | Examiner Review | The court reviews your petition and issues a tentative ruling by 3:00 PM the court day before your hearing. Access the ruling at napa.courts.ca.gov/online-services/tentative-rulings or by calling (707) 299-1270. The ruling will indicate whether the matter is approved, continued for corrections, or placed on calendar for appearance. |
| 4 | Respond to Notes | If the tentative ruling identifies deficiencies, file all supplements and corrections before the hearing date. Failure to correct noted issues results in a continuance. All supplements must be filed and served according to local rule requirements. Provide a courtesy copy of any supplement exceeding 15 pages. |
| 5 | Initial Hearing | Probate hearings are held in the assigned department (A or B) at the Historic Courthouse, Tuesday through Thursday at 8:30 AM. Check your tentative ruling the day before. If the matter is approved without appearance, you generally do not need to attend unless the court directs otherwise. |
| 6 | Letters Issued | After the court grants the petition, Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration are issued. These authorize the personal representative to act on behalf of the estate — opening accounts, collecting assets, and paying debts. |
| 7 | Inventory & Appraisal | File the Inventory and Appraisal (DE-160) within the statutory period. One of the two assigned Napa County probate referees — Torr or Thomas — appraises all non-cash assets. Vineyard parcels, winery interests, and complex agricultural property may require additional time for the referee to complete valuations. |
| 8 | Creditor Period | Creditors have four months from the date of first publication OR 60 days from actual notice, whichever is later, to file claims against the estate. No petition for final distribution may be filed until this period has passed. |
| 9 | Final Distribution | File the Petition for Final Distribution with a complete accounting. The court issues a tentative ruling by 3:00 PM the day before the final hearing. At the hearing, the judge approves distribution to heirs and the estate is closed. |
How Probate & More Helps Families with Napa County Probate
Napa County’s tentative ruling system, case-number department routing, and local rule requirements create a process that demands precision at every step. The probate timeline in Napa County typically runs 12 to 18 months for straightforward estates — but only when filings are correct and notes are addressed promptly. A deficient filing, an incorrectly formatted notice, or a missed publication can result in a continued hearing — and in a county where estates regularly include valuable vineyard land, winery business interests, and wine country real estate, those delays carry real financial consequences.
Probate & More provides experienced non-attorney flat-fee probate document preparation for Napa County estates. On a $700,000 estate — easily reached with Napa Valley vineyard or residential property — statutory attorney fees can exceed $17,000. Our flat-fee service delivers the same professionally prepared documents at a fraction of that cost, putting more of the estate where it belongs: in the hands of your family.
Our team coordinates publication with the correct adjudicated Napa County newspaper for the decedent’s community — the Napa Valley Register, St. Helena Star, or Calistoga Tribune — works with whichever of the two county probate referees is assigned to your estate, prepares supplements in response to probate notes well before hearing deadlines, handles e-filing through approved EFSPs, and prepares all closing documents. When you are ready to file probate in Napa County, we are ready to help — from first filing through final distribution, for families throughout all 58 California counties.
FAQs — Napa County Probate
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Our team has guided California families through probate for over 50 years — flat-fee document preparation, no attorney required. We coordinate publication with the correct adjudicated Napa County newspaper for the decedent’s community, work with both county probate referees, prepare supplements before hearing deadlines, and e-file through approved EFSPs. From the city of Napa to Calistoga, we are here to help.
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
We are a California Registered Legal Document Assistant (LDA). We prepare legal documents — we do not practice law.
For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult a licensed California probate attorney.
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