Probate in Alameda County
By Find Local Law Editorial Team · Last reviewed: May 24, 2026
Researched and drafted with AI assistance and verified against primary sources (statutes, Judicial Council forms, and official court websites). This is general information, not legal advice.
If you’re handling an estate in Alameda County, the process follows California’s statewide probate timeline and statutory fee schedule — what’s local is where you file and the court’s self-help resources.
In Alameda County, probate documents are filed at the Berkeley Courthouse Clerk’s Office. Before you start, it’s worth confirming whether the estate even needs full probate: smaller estates can often use a small estate affidavit instead. If you do proceed, the executor duties guide covers what you’ll be responsible for, and do you need a lawyer walks through when to get help.
Local court information
Courthouse: Berkeley Courthouse, 2120 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley, CA 94704 — probate documents are filed in the Clerk's Office here.
In Alameda County, probate documents are filed only at the Clerk's Office of the Berkeley Courthouse, and no later than two court days before the hearing. The court's Self-Help Center provides free procedural assistance (not legal advice), and the Probate Division publishes online Probate Self-Help FAQs covering property transfers at death, simplified procedures, and administering and closing an estate. Verify current addresses, hours, and filing rules on alameda.courts.ca.gov before you file.
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Start your free intakeFrequently asked questions
- Where is probate filed in Alameda County?
- Probate documents are filed only at the Clerk's Office of the Berkeley Courthouse, 2120 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley, CA 94704. File no later than two court days before the hearing.
- Is there a self-help center for probate in Alameda County?
- Yes — the court's Self-Help Center offers free procedural help, and the Probate Division publishes online Probate Self-Help FAQs covering transfers at death, simplified procedures, and closing an estate.
- What court rules apply to Alameda County probate?
- Filings must follow both the statewide California Probate Code and Rules of Court and Alameda's local probate rules. Check the court's Probate Rules & Forms page before filing.