NOTICE: Effective 12/8/2020, the Self-Help Center will not be providing in-person services at any location until further notice. Please click here for information on how to access services remotely during this time: Self-Help Temporary Remote Services Flyer
AVISO: A partir del 12/8/2020, el Centro de autoayuda no proporcionará servicios en persona en ningún lugar hasta nuevo aviso. Haga clic aquí para obtener información sobre cómo acceder a los servicios de forma remota durante este tiempo: Self-Help Temporary Remote Services Flyer (Spanish)
Effective, Tuesday, September 3, 2019, the Probate File Examiner Office Hours will be 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., Monday through Friday, 725 Court Street, Room 210, Martinez.

PROBATE OF WILLS, TRUSTS AND ESTATES:

  • Probate is when the court supervises the distribution of a person’s assets and payment of the person’s debts after their death. For information relating to wills, trusts and estates please call (925) 608-2613.

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CONSERVATORSHIP:

  • Conservatorship is when a judge determines, through a court process, that an adult person cannot take care of himself/herself or their finances and appoints a conservator

Senior Self-Help Clinic:

  • Attorneys are available to provide assistance to petitioners over the age of 60. At this clinic, attorneys can give you information about court procedures, provide court forms, and assist in filling them out. Staff cannot provide legal advice or represent clients. The clinic is located at the Spinetta Family Law Center in Martinez on the first Tuesday morning of the month. This clinic is by appointment only. For an appointment, call 925-609-7900.

Conservatorship Workshop:

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LIMITED CONSERVATORSHIP:

  • A limited conservatorship is a court proceeding where a judge gives a responsible person, called a limited conservator, certain rights to care for another adult who has a developmental disability, called a limited conservatee. This is different from an adult conservatorship.
  • Probate Facilitator Assistance: The Probate Facilitator is an attorney employed by the court to assist parties who represent themselves and who seek limited conservatorship of a person only (NO ESTATE). If you have questions about the forms or process to obtain a limited conservatorship of a person, you can contact the Probate Facilitator by sending an email to probfac@contracosta.courts.ca.gov or by leaving a voicemail message at (925) 608-2066

GUARDIANSHIP:

  • Guardianship is when the court gives someone, who is not the child’s parent, legal and physical custody of a child or the right to control a child’s property, or both.

Probate Facilitator Assistance:

  • Probate Facilitator Assistance: The Probate Facilitator is an attorney employed by the court to assist parties who represent themselves and who seek guardianship of a person only (NO ESTATE). If you have questions about the forms or process to obtain a guardianship of a person, you can contact the Probate Facilitator by sending an email to probfac@contracosta.courts.ca.gov or by leaving a voicemail message at (925) 608-2066

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Completing Guardianship Forms:

  • You can complete the forms needed to start your guardianship case using a free online software program called LawHelp Interactive. To get started, please see the following steps:

    • Download the Parental Diagram: Form GC-51 ( English | Spanish )
      • This diagram will help you organize information about the minor child’s relatives before you have to enter the information into the program.
    • Download and read the Guardianship LHI Program Instructions: Form GC-53 ( English | Spanish )
      • It is very important to read through the instructions before you start the program as some of the questions, if answered incorrectly, will cause you extra work when you must correct the final forms.
        The instructions provide tips for entering information correctly.
      • NOTE: The link to the LawHelp Interactive Program is contained in these instructions.
  • Once you have completed your forms, you can contact the Probate Facilitator for assistance with reviewing your forms.

Checklist and Instructions for Service:

  • After you have filed to open your guardianship case, you must serve certain family members. For more information about service, please read the following Checklist for Guardianship Service: Form GC-54 ( English | Spanish )

    If you still have questions regarding service, please contact the Probate Facilitator.

Court Process and Information

Other Information