San Mateo County Probate — What Heirs Need to Know

Probate in San Mateo County, California

San Mateo County spans the Peninsula south of San Francisco, covering communities including Redwood City, San Mateo, Daly City, South San Francisco, Burlingame, San Bruno, Foster City, Millbrae, Menlo Park, and Half Moon Bay. With roughly 760,000 residents and some of the highest real estate values anywhere in the country, estates in this county often involve significant assets — and equally significant statutory fees.

All probate matters are heard at the Hall of Justice in Redwood City. The county operates with moderate court volume and is generally considered more manageable than neighboring Santa Clara or San Francisco counties, though its sky-high property values mean the financial stakes for heirs are substantial. Median home prices in communities like Atherton, Hillsborough, and Woodside routinely exceed $2 million.

Consult with a San Mateo County probate attorney for guidance specific to your situation.

San Mateo County court information

San Mateo County local rules and procedures

File on the 1st floor, appear on the 2nd. All San Mateo County probate petitions are filed at the Probate Division Clerk's Office on the 1st floor of the Hall of Justice, 400 County Center, Redwood City. Hearings are held on the 2nd floor in the designated Probate Department. No branch courthouses handle probate matters — all proceedings must occur in Redwood City under Local Rule 4.1.

Limited daily calendar slots. Under Local Rule 4.2, probate matters are heard Monday through Friday at 9:00 a.m., but the court sets only a limited number of cases per day. If your preferred date is full, the clerk assigns the next available date. Hearings expected to exceed 15 minutes must be specially set on the long-cause calendar — and that special date must be requested from the Probate Department clerk before filing, not after.

All papers due 5 court days before the hearing. Under Local Rule 4.5 and 4.6, every supporting declaration, affidavit, consent, proof of service, and proposed order must be delivered to the Probate Division Clerk's Office no later than 5 court days before the hearing. Failure to meet this deadline results in an automatic continuance at the court's discretion — a common cause of avoidable delays. Reply papers must be filed no later than 2 court days before the hearing.

Tentative rulings published the afternoon before. San Mateo County posts tentative rulings by 3:00 p.m. the day before the scheduled hearing, accessible by phone at (650) 261-5019 or on the court's website. Most routine matters are resolved without appearance if the tentative ruling is favorable and no one objects — making it essential for practitioners to review notes in advance.

Continuances by email — 5 court days minimum. To continue a regular probate matter, email [email protected] no later than 5 court days before the hearing. The email must include the case number, hearing date, confirmation that all parties agree (with copies), and preferred future dates. Continuances for conservatorship and guardianship matters require a separate process involving the Probate Court Investigator.

Personal appearance required for property sale confirmations. Under Local Rule 4.6, personal appearance by counsel is mandatory for hearings on petitions for court confirmation of real property sales — the court will not process these on a non-appearance basis. Given the frequency of real property in San Mateo County estates, this is a meaningful scheduling constraint that adds a hearing to the timeline for many estates.

Very high property values mean large statutory fees. Under California Probate Code Section 10810, combined attorney and executor fees for a $1.5 million gross estate total approximately $58,000. For a $2 million estate, combined fees reach approximately $68,000. These fees are calculated on gross value — mortgages and debts are not subtracted.

San Mateo County probate timeline

The following reflects a typical straightforward estate in San Mateo County.

Why high property values extend San Mateo County probate

Even in an efficient court, the mandatory California waiting periods are unavoidable. The 4-month creditor claim period means no estate can close in under five to six months from filing. Real property — nearly universal in San Mateo County estates given the housing market — adds appraisal, listing, escrow, and title transfer steps, each of which takes time.

Large estates may also implicate California or federal estate tax thresholds, trust administration questions, or disputes among beneficiaries. Estates in communities like Atherton or Hillsborough with values above $5 million can involve multiple rounds of court petitions, professional fiduciary oversight, and tax return preparation before any distribution can occur.

Inheritance advance for San Mateo County heirs

Probate in San Mateo County can stretch on for months. If you are named as a beneficiary and need funds now, First Heritage Funding offers an inheritance advance that puts cash in your hands within 48 hours. The probate case keeps moving on its own schedule — your advance does not slow it down or affect other heirs.

Unlike a loan, an inheritance advance requires no credit check and carries no monthly payments. We charge a single flat fee, and repayment comes only from your eventual share of the estate. If the estate distributes less than anticipated, you are not personally responsible for the difference. Learn more about how an advance differs from a loan.

We serve heirs throughout San Mateo County — including Redwood City, San Mateo, Daly City, South San Francisco, Burlingame, San Bruno, Foster City, Millbrae, Menlo Park, Belmont, San Carlos, Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, Hillsborough, Atherton, and all surrounding communities.

Request your free quote online or call (800) 617-7260 to talk through your San Mateo County estate.

See also: California Inheritance Advance · California Probate by County · CA Probate Local Rules · California Probate Fees