DeadlineNotice of hearing on petition, report, or account (decedent estates and general) Probate citation: serve at least 5 days before the return day (unless another statute provides) Request for special notice on file (decedent estate): deliver notice of filing, copy of the paper, and hearing date at least 15 days before hearing Notice of hearing on petition to administer decedent's estate (heirs, devisees, named executors) First publication of notice of petition to administer estate Notice of hearing in guardianship/conservatorship matters (default rule) Notice of hearing on petition for appointment of guardian Notice of hearing on petition for appointment of conservator (spouse/partner and relatives) Notice to regional center (proposed conservatee with developmental disabilities) Personal service of citation and petition on proposed conservatee Guardian/conservator inventory and appraisal Objection to guardianship/conservatorship appraisal Deliver order appointing conservator and rights notice to conservatee and relatives First account of guardian or conservator: one year after appointment Subsequent account of guardian or conservator: biennially Conservatorship review: six months after initial appointment Conservatorship review: one year after initial appointment and annually thereafter Court investigator review report certified to court Notice of hearing on trust petition (Prob. Code 17200 petitions) Trustee notification (Prob. Code 16061.7): 60 days after triggering event Trustee notification to person not known at time of event: 60 days after trustee learns of them Trust contest deadline: 120 days after trustee notification served (alternative 1) Trust contest deadline: 60 days after copy of trust terms delivered within the 120-day period (alternative 2) Breach of trust claim disclosed in written account or report: 3-year limitation Breach of trust claim not adequately disclosed (or no account): 3 years from discovery Trustee fee increase: written notice to beneficiaries at least 60 days before increased fee is charged Trustee fee increase notice received: beneficiary files and serves 17200 petition before the 60-day period expires to suspend the increase Trustee's relative or firm paid for legal services: objection to dual compensation within 30 days after trustee's advance notice Revocable trust, last holder of power to revoke becomes incompetent: trustee gives notice and copy of trust to beneficiaries within 60 days Trustee of charitable trust: written notice to Attorney General at least 20 days before disposing of all or substantially all charitable assets Private foundation trust proceeding (16105): record notice of pendency within 10 days of commencement if trust instrument was recorded Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act: fiduciary fails to act within 90 days after beneficiary's written request (power to adjust / unitrust); beneficiary may petition court Trust account or report with 16461(c) notice: beneficiary must deliver written objection to trustee within 180 days (or longer trust period) after receipt Trustee's notice of proposed action (16500 et seq.): objection period must be at least 45 days from delivery or receipt Beneficiary written request for trust information (16061): petition to compel available if trustee fails to respond within 60 days Beneficiary written request for trust account: petition to compel account available if trustee fails to account within 60 days Trust petition: deliver copy of petition within 5 days after service of a notice of appearance or receipt of a written request Pre-1977 testamentary trust with trust company trustee: notice of removal from continuing court jurisdiction within 6 months after initial funding Pre-1977 testamentary trust with trust company trustee: file proof of removal notice within 7 months after initial funding Petition to transfer trust to another jurisdiction (17400) or accept trust from another jurisdiction (17450): notice at least 30 days before hearing Trust decanting: notice of intended exercise at least 60 days before the exercise Trust decanting notice received: court action to contest within 59 days of the notice Creditor claim deadline: 4 months after letters (alternative 1) Creditor claim deadline: 60 days after notice of administration mailed or delivered (alternative 2) Notice of administration to known creditors: 4 months after letters (alternative 1) Notice of administration to creditor: 30 days after PR first learns of creditor (alternative 2) Petition to file late creditor claim Creditor may treat claim as rejected if PR/court has not acted (30 days after filing) Creditor suit on rejected claim (claim due when rejection given): 90 days after notice of rejection Creditor suit on rejected claim (claim not yet due when rejected): 90 days after claim becomes due Outside limit for actions on decedent's liabilities: one year after death Notice of death to Director of Health Care Services (Medi-Cal recovery) Director of Health Care Services' time to file claim after notice Notice of death to California Victim Compensation Board (heir or beneficiary incarcerated) Notice of administration to Franchise Tax Board Notice of death to Department of Child Support Services (decedent had support obligation) Local child support agency's time to assert claim after 9202(e) notice Creditor claim: serve copy on personal representative (alternative A: 30 days after filing claim) Creditor claim: serve copy on personal representative (alternative B: 4 months after general letters) Action pending at death: apply to substitute personal representative after claim rejected Action against decedent covered by liability insurance (Prob. 550 et seq.): one year after the otherwise-applicable limitations period expires Creditor not given notice (bad faith): petition to determine personal representative liability within 16 months after letters Creditor petition on personal representative liability (9053): serve notice and petition on PR at least 30 days before hearing Creditor claim: no amendment or revision for any purpose after 1 year from letters (or order for final distribution, if earlier) Inventory and appraisal (decedent's estate) Notice to probate referee of hearing on objection to appraisal (decedent's estate) Notice of proposed action (IAEA): deliver at least 15 days before proposed action date Objection to proposed action (IAEA): must reach PR before the date specified in the notice Petition for final distribution or status report: 1 year after letters (no federal estate tax return) Petition for final distribution or status report: 18 months after letters (federal estate tax return required) Estate sale of personal property: personal representative files report and petition for confirmation (else purchaser may) Estate sale of real property: personal representative files report and petition for confirmation (else purchaser may) Transfer of beneficiary interest for value (11604.5): file agreement and declaration, serve notice of assignment (30 days after execution) Transfer of beneficiary interest for value: file and serve within 30 days after letters issue (agreement signed before administration began) Transfer of beneficiary interest for value: outer limit 15 days before final distribution hearing Guardian/conservator of estate: earliest date to petition for compensation (90 days after letters) RUFADAA: custodian must comply with fiduciary request to disclose digital assets or terminate account (60 days); court application available after Request for special notice on file: deliver inventory and appraisal (or other non-hearing paper) within 15 days after filing Petition to waive appraisal by probate referee: hearing not sooner than 15 days after petition filed (notice with copy of proposed inventory per 1220) Petition to remove probate referee for cause: deliver notice to referee at least 15 days before hearing Probate referee: return completed appraisal or file status report within 60 days after delivery of inventory Personal representative may not continue decedent's business beyond 6 months after letters without a court order Notice of proposed abandonment or disposal of estate tangible personal property (9780 et seq.), personal delivery: at least 5 days before stated date Notice of proposed abandonment or disposal of estate tangible personal property, by mail: deposit at least 10 days before stated date Objector to abandonment fails to take possession within 10 days after request: personal representative may abandon or dispose without court order Option to purchase given in will with no stated time limit: exercise within one year from death Petition to revoke or limit IAEA authority: serve personal representative with petition and notice at least 15 days before hearing Supplemental inventory and appraisal: file within 4 months after personal representative learns of property not in prior inventory Will contest after probate (petition to revoke probate) Response to will contest (summons on objection to probate) Probate of later-discovered will by proponent who had notice: 120 days after first order (alternative 1) Probate of later-discovered will: 60 days after proponent learns of the will (alternative 2) Pre-probate will contest: answer the objection within 15 days after demurrer to the contest is overruled Notice of appeal from appealable probate order: 60 days after clerk serves notice of entry Notice of appeal from appealable probate order: 60 days after party serves notice of entry Notice of appeal from appealable probate order: 180 days after entry (outside limit) Named executor petitions for administration (or risks waiver of right to appointment) Custodian of will delivers original to court clerk and copy to named executor Small estate affidavit (personal property): earliest date to use (40 days after death) Petition to determine succession to decedent's primary residence (13151): earliest filing date Affidavit re real property of small value (13200): earliest filing date (six months after death) Small estate affidavit (13100): action against transferee by person with superior right or by personal representative barred 3 years after affidavit presented (or fraud discovered, if later) Small real property affidavit (13200): action against transferee barred 3 years after certified copy of affidavit issued (or fraud discovered, if later) Petition for preliminary distribution: earliest filing date (two months after letters) Distributee whose whereabouts unknown: must claim share within 5 years after distribution order or is deemed predeceased Court inquiry into distribution to a beneficiary's transferee or designee (11604): serve beneficiary and transferee at least 15 days before hearing General pecuniary devise not distributed within one year after death begins to bear interest Notice of sale of estate personal property by posting (at least 15 days before sale date) Private sale of estate personal property: must be made no later than one year after the day stated in the notice of sale Private sale of estate real property: must be made no later than one year after the day stated in the notice of sale Estate real property appraised at $5,000 or less: posted notice of sale (in lieu of publication) at least 15 days before sale date or auction Private sale of estate real property: appraisal (and valuation date) must be within one year before the confirmation hearing Purchaser defaulted after confirmation: petition to vacate confirmation and confirm to new high bidder within 60 days after confirmation Petition to fix administration expenses chargeable to encumbered property sold (10361.5): serve notice and petition on lienholders, brokers and PR at least 30 days before hearing Action by heir to recover property sold by personal representative on claim sale is void: 3 years after settlement of final account (or discovery of fraud, if later) Former personal representative's account after resignation, removal, or other termination Account by legal representative of deceased or incapacitated personal representative Interested person's petition for mandatory account order: available more than one year after letters or last account File delinquent guardianship/conservatorship account and set for hearing after court's 2620.2 notice Public agency guardian/conservator: file delinquent account after 2620.2 notice Notice of hearing on petition for temporary guardianship or temporary conservatorship Personal delivery to proposed conservatee of notice of proposed temporary conservator appointment Hearing to reconsider ex parte temporary guardianship (if general hearing not within 30 days) Hearing on petition to terminate ex parte temporary conservatorship (filed more than 15 days before general hearing) Notice of hearing on petition to terminate temporary conservatorship (2250(h)(1) hearing) Notice of hearing on petition to terminate temporary conservatorship heard with general petition (2250(h)(2)) Guardian or conservator files notice of change of residence Advance notice of intent to remove ward from current residence (15 days) Advance notice of intent to remove conservatee from current residence (20 days) Court investigator's report on proposed conservatorship filed and delivered (at least 5 days before hearing) Regional center assessment of proposed limited conservatee (within 30 days after petition filed) Regional center report delivered before limited conservatorship hearing ICWA (probate guardianship or conservatorship of Indian child): no proceeding until at least 10 days after parent, Indian custodian, tribe or BIA receives notice Ward or conservatee in (or on leave from) a state hospital: notice and copy of petition, report or account to Director of State Hospitals / Developmental Services at least 15 days before hearing Appointment petition where proposed guardian/conservator is a nonparent provider of services to a person with developmental disabilities: notice and petition to regional center director at least 30 days before hearing Estate includes VA money: notice and copy of petition, report or account to Veterans Administration office at least 15 days before hearing Estate includes VA money: notice of filing and copy of inventory to Veterans Administration office within 15 days after the inventory is filed ICWA: Indian child's parent's consent to nomination of guardian valid only if executed at least 10 days after the child's birth Guardianship petitioner learns of undisclosed custody proceeding (adoption, juvenile, dissolution, etc.): amend petition within 10 days Guardianship investigation / probation / social services reports available to parties no less than 3 court days before hearing Guardianship of the person: notice and copy of petition to county-designated investigating agency at least 15 days before hearing Nonrelative guardianship of the person: notice and copy of petition to Director of Social Services (Sacramento) and local investigating agency at least 15 days before hearing Spouse of conservatee (or spouse-conservator): file and serve notice of dissolution, legal separation or nullity action within 10 days of its filing Domestic partner of conservatee (or partner-conservator): notify of termination of domestic partnership within 10 days Conservatorship of an absentee (military / federal service): notice and petition to the secretary or agency head at least 15 days before hearing (plus Gov. Code 6061 publication) Conservatorship of a missing person: notice and petition to last known address at least 15 days before hearing (plus Gov. Code 6061 publication) Limited conservatorship (developmentally disabled adult): first court review one year after appointment Limited conservatorship: subsequent reviews biennially (every 2 years after the prior review) Court investigator cannot locate conservatee: conservator must make conservatee available within 15 days of receiving notice (or show cause) Petition to terminate or modify limited conservatorship filed by another: serve limited conservator at least 5 days before hearing Petition to authorize sterilization of a conservatee (Prob. 1950 et seq.): serve notice and petition at least 90 days before hearing Out-of-state conservator registering conservatorship in California: notice of intent to register at least 15 days before registering Petition to transfer guardianship or conservatorship to another county: notice and copy of petition to all persons listed in petition at least 15 days before hearing Temporary conservator removed conservatee from residence in an emergency: file 2253 request no later than one judicial day after removal Temporary guardian or conservator of the estate: present account within 90 days after appointment of the general guardian or conservator of the estate Temporary guardian or conservator: powers terminate 30 days after appointment (unless court sets earlier date or extends) Conservator of the estate: record certified copy of letters in each county where conservatee owns real property, no later than 90 days after appointment Action on guardian's or conservator's bond against sureties: 4 years after discharge/removal or after surcharge order becomes final (whichever later) Conservator of the person: file care plan within 120 calendar days of appointment Conservator of the person: file care plan no later than 10 days before a hearing on continuation or termination of the conservatorship Dementia placement / medication powers (2356.5): conservatee's attorney files petition or report within 30 days after receiving investigator report Petition for court authorization of medical treatment (2357): personally serve ward (12+) or conservatee and their attorney, and deliver to spouse/partner and relatives, at least 15 days before hearing Action by ward or conservatee to recover property sold by guardian or conservator: 3 years after termination of guardianship or conservatorship Sale of conservatee's personal residence: serve and file final escrow settlement statement within 15 days of close of escrow Ward or conservatee in a state hospital: deliver copy of inventory and appraisal to the department director within 15 days after filing Professional fiduciary guardian or conservator: earliest date to submit a new hourly fee schedule (1 year after prior submission) Guardian of the estate: earliest discharge one year after ward attains majority (unless code provides otherwise) Guardian or conservator died or became incapacitated: legal representative files account within 60 days after appointment Petitioner whose nominee was not appointed: earliest date to petition for compensation and costs (90 days after letters issue) Petition for appointment of successor conservator: notice with copy of petition at least 15 days before hearing Successor conservator petition: court investigator files report and delivers copies at least 5 days before hearing Guardianship/conservatorship special notice on file: notice of filing, copy of paper and hearing date at least 15 days before hearing Guardianship/conservatorship special notice on file: deliver inventory and appraisal (or non-hearing paper) within 15 days after filing Petition to transfer guardianship or conservatorship property to a foreign (other state) fiduciary: notice and petition at least 30 days before hearing Final account and petition for discharge after transfer to foreign fiduciary: deliver with notice at least 30 days before hearing Public guardian/conservator removed occupant from intended ward or conservatee's home: hearing must be within 15 days of removal (and 10 days of petition filing); exclusion lapses 15 days after removal Public guardian removal petition: personally serve removed person and intended ward/conservatee at least 5 days before hearing Petition to transfer nonresident's California property to foreign fiduciary (3800 et seq.): 15 days' notice to personal representative/possessor and California obligors Guardian annual status report (Prob. 1513.2, form GC-251): file no later than one month after each anniversary of the appointment order Court-appointed counsel for ward or conservatee: notify court in writing within 5 court days of State Bar disciplinary action Creditor claim against deceased settlor's trust: 4 months after first publication Creditor claim against deceased settlor's trust: 60 days after actual notice Petition to file late creditor claim against trust (60 days after creditor's actual knowledge) Late creditor claim against trust: absolute outer limit (one year after first publication) Trust creditor may treat claim as rejected if trustee has not acted (30th day after filing) Suit (or referral) on rejected trust claim: 90 days after notice of rejection Suit on rejected trust claim not due at rejection: 90 days after claim becomes due Trust creditor claims: petition to approve settlement / allocation of claims (19020 et seq.): notice and petition at least 30 days before hearing Trust creditor procedure: trustee gives actual notice to known creditors before 4 months after first publication (alternative A) Trust creditor procedure: notice to creditor within 30 days after trustee first has knowledge (alternative B) Trust creditor not given notice (bad faith): petition on trustee liability within 16 months after first publication (notice 30 days before hearing) Trust creditor claim: no amendment after 1 year from first publication (or settlement approval order, if earlier) Trust creditor procedure, deceased settlor received Medi-Cal: DHCS has 4 months after trustee's notice of death to file claim Trust creditor procedure: petition on liability of settlor's surviving spouse (19320 et seq.): serve spouse and deliver to trustees, beneficiaries, PR at least 30 days before hearing Revocable transfer on death deed: record within 60 days after notarial acknowledgment TODD contest: commence proceeding AND record lis pendens within 120 days after beneficiary's 5682(c) affidavit recorded TODD contest (conservative): 120 days from date of beneficiary's 5681 notice to heirs Petition to revoke probate of will: written responsive pleading after service of summons Nonresident personal representative served via Secretary of State (8574): answer complaint within 30 days from service Missing person estate (Prob. 12400 et seq.): presumption of death arises after 5 continuous years without contact (earliest petition date) Posthumously conceived child: written notice that genetic material is available (4 months after death certificate or judgment) Posthumous conception notice received: no distribution or death benefit payment until 2 years after death certificate or judgment Disclaimer of interest under will, intestacy, TOD, joint tenancy, insurance, retirement account: file within 9 months (safe-harbor) Section 850 petition (Heggstad / property claimed by or against decedent, conservatee, ward or trust): serve notice and petition at least 30 days before hearing Order suspending or removing guardian, conservator or personal representative: petitioner notifies the bond surety within 5 days after entry Action on personal representative's bond against sureties: 4 years after discharge/removal or after surcharge order becomes final (whichever later) Petition to modify or vacate order for support of conservatee or family from community property (3088): notice and petition to managing spouse at least 15 days before hearing Petition for court approval of community property transaction where a spouse lacks capacity (3100 et seq.): serve citation and petition on that spouse (or notice on conservator) at least 15 days before hearing Community property transaction petition (3100 et seq.): serve nonpetitioning competent spouse and deliver notice to persons named in petition at least 15 days before hearing Petition for health care decision for adult without conservator (3200 et seq.): personally serve patient, attorney and health care agent; deliver to spouse and relatives at least 15 days before hearing Petition to place minor's or disabled person's recovery in a special needs trust: notice and petition to DHCS, State Hospitals and Developmental Services directors at least 15 days before hearing Special needs trust terminates / beneficiary dies: DHCS, DSH, DDS or requesting county has 4 months after trustee's notice to make claim CUTMA petition to designate successor custodian or remove custodian: notice at least 15 days before hearing CUTMA: right to petition for custodian accounting ends one year after final accounting filed and property delivered Power of attorney: agent fails to account or report within 60 days after written request, petition to compel available Petition concerning a power of attorney (4540 et seq.): serve notice and petition on attorney-in-fact and principal at least 15 days before hearing Petition concerning advance health care directive / agent / surrogate (4765 et seq.): serve notice and petition on agent or surrogate and patient at least 15 days before hearing Motion against nonresident personal representative served under 8574: serve notice of motion at least 30 days before hearing Petition for allowance on statutory compensation of personal representative or attorney: earliest 4 months after letters Estate property distributed to the State (escheat): claim within 5 years after order for distribution or forever barred Surviving spouse election to have community / quasi-community property administered: file within 4 months after letters (and before 13656 order) Surviving spouse may sell, convey or encumber community / quasi-community real property after 40 days from death Surviving spouse liability for decedent property in spouse's possession (13561, 13562): action barred 3 years after death Spousal property petition (13650): optional inventory and appraisal may be filed within 3 months after filing the petition Probate: submit proposed order before hearing (Contra Costa County) Probate: response to tentative ruling (Contra Costa County) Probate: fee petition by counsel for proposed conservatee/ward (under $5,000) ex parte notice (Contra Costa County) Probate: Notice of Administration to Creditors before final distribution hearing (Contra Costa County) Hearing date
Deadline
Trigger (Hearing date): Friday, November 6, 2026. Count back 15 calendar days: Thursday, October 22, 2026. Rules applied
Cal. Prob. Code 1220(a)(1) (a) If notice of hearing is required to be given as provided in this section:(1) At least 15 days before the time set for the hearing, the petitioner or the person filing the report, account, or other paper shall cause notice of the time and place of the hearing to be delivered pursuant to Section 1215 to the persons required to be given notice. Official source Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b, 10, 17(b)(4), applied to probate proceedings by Prob. Code 1000; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.10 CCP 12: "The time in which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first day, and including the last, unless the last day is a holiday, and then it is also excluded." CCP 12a(a): "If the last day for the performance of any act provided or required by law to be performed within a specified period of time is a holiday, then that period is hereby extended to and including the next day that is not a holiday. For purposes of this section, “holiday” means all day on Saturdays, all holidays specified in Section 135 and, to the extent provided in Section 12b, all days that by terms of Section 12b are required to be considered as holidays." CCP 12b: "If any city, county, state, or public office, other than a branch office, is closed for the whole of any day, insofar as the business of that office is concerned, that day shall be considered as a holiday for the purposes of computing time under Sections 12 and 12a." CCP 10: "Holidays within the meaning of this code are every Sunday and any other days that are specified or provided for as judicial holidays in Section 135." CCP 17(b)(4): "“Month” means a calendar month, unless otherwise expressed." Prob. Code 1000(a): "Except to the extent that this code provides applicable rules, the rules of practice applicable to civil actions, including discovery proceedings and proceedings under Title 3a (commencing with Section 391) of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, apply to, and constitute the rules of practice in, proceedings under this code." Official source Last day to mail/deliver notice. Prob. Code 1215(a)(4): the period of notice is not extended for mail; 1215(c)(2) same for electronic delivery. Default recipients: personal representative and persons who requested special notice (1220(a)(2)); specific statutes add others (e.g., 11000 for accounts, 12201 for status reports, 9103(e) late-claim petitions, 8906(c) appraisal objections). CRC 7.51: mailed notice must go individually and directly to each person; notice to a represented person goes per Prob. Code 1214. Court may dispense with notice for good cause (1220(c)). Posting (Prob. Code 1230, 15 days before hearing) is a clerk duty where required. If the clerk's office is closed or inaccessible on the last day (weather, emergency or local closure orders), the deadline may be extended. Check local orders. This calculator applies the cited rules to the dates you enter. It is not legal advice. Court orders, local rules, and case-specific facts can change a deadline; verify before relying on it. Rule set pending attorney review.