Where probate is handled
Probate is filed in the county where the person lived. For Kern County, the court lists its probate venue as:
- Juvenile Justice Center, 2100 College Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93305
- Probate clerk: (661) 610-6900
- Probate examiner line: (661) 610-6970
- Main line: (661) 610-6000, then option 5 for probate
Some probate matters are heard in Courtroom T1 at 3131 Arrow St, and remote hearings are listed under "J1-Probate." Check the court's probate page for hours and hearing details before you go. Court staff can explain procedures but can't give legal advice.
The steps in a full probate
- File the petition. The person asking to run the estate files a Petition for Probate (form DE-111).
- Give notice. Heirs and beneficiaries must be mailed notice at least 15 days before the hearing (Probate Code §8110). Notice is also published three times in a local newspaper, the first at least 15 days before the hearing (§8121). The court won't hear the petition until proof of publication is filed (§8124).
- Attend the hearing. The judge appoints the personal representative, and the court issues Letters.
- Take inventory. An inventory and appraisal of the estate is due within 4 months after Letters are issued (§8800).
- Notify creditors. Creditors have until the later of 4 months after Letters are issued or 60 days after they're mailed notice to file a claim (§9100).
- Close the estate. Within one year after Letters (18 months if a federal estate tax return is required), the personal representative must ask the court to approve final distribution or file a status report (§12200).
For a fuller walkthrough of each stage, see the California probate process.
Check the probate examiner notes
Before each hearing, Kern's probate examiners review the papers filed in the case. Their notes are posted through the court's probate page. Reading them ahead of time shows what the court still needs, so problems can be fixed before the hearing.
Smaller estates may not need full probate
These limits apply to deaths on or after April 1, 2025. They adjust every three years; the next change is April 1, 2028.
| Option | Limit | Earliest filing |
|---|---|---|
| Small estate affidavit (§13100) | $208,850 in total California property | 40 days after death |
| Petition to determine succession to the primary residence (§13151, form DE-310) | $750,000 for the main home | 40 days after death |
| Affidavit for real property of small value (§13200, form DE-305) | $69,625 in real property | 6 months after death |
| Spousal or domestic partner property petition (§13650, form DE-221) | No dollar limit | — |
Which option fits depends on the estate, so it's worth asking a probate attorney before filing.
Selling a house in a Kern County probate
The personal representative can usually sell the house before the case closes. See Can you sell a house during probate in California? for how that works.
We're a local home buyer in Bakersfield, at 1701 Westwind Dr, Suite 107. We buy probate and inherited houses across Kern County as-is, and we work with the estate's attorney and timeline. We'll need one walkthrough to make an offer.
Call or text (661) 271-6299, or request an offer. More about selling in Kern County.
Official sources and further reading
This is general information, not legal advice. We are not a law firm. For advice on your estate, talk with a probate attorney.