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California Rules of Court — Probate and Mental Health Rules – 2026

Title 7 of the California Rules of Court governs probate proceedings and mental health matters in California courts, including estate administration, conservatorships, guardianships, and LPS proceedings.

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General Provisions Notices, Publication, and Service Pleadings Appointment of Executors and Administrators Bonding of Personal Representatives, Guardians, Conservators, and Trustees Independent Administration of Estates Spousal or Domestic Partner Property Petitions Creditors' Claims Sales of Real and Personal Property Inventory and Appraisal Accounts and Reports of Executors, Administrators, Conservators, and Guardians Preliminary and Final Distributions Compensation of Personal Representatives and Attorneys Compensation in All Matters Other Than Decedents' Estates Contested Hearings and Trials Trusts Claims of Minors and Persons With Disabilities Guardianships Conservatorships Appointed Counsel CARE Act Rules

General Provisions

Rule 7.1 Probate Rules Rule 7.2 Preliminary provisions Rule 7.3 Definitions and use of terms Rule 7.4 Waiver of rules in probate proceedings Rule 7.5 Waivers of court fees in decedents' estates, conservatorships, and guardianships Rule 7.10 Ex parte communications in proceedings under the Probate Code and certain other proceedings

Notices, Publication, and Service

Rule 7.50 Description of pleading in notice of hearing Rule 7.51 Service of notice of hearing Rule 7.52 Service of notice when recipient's address unknown Rule 7.53 Notice of hearing of amended or supplemented pleadings Rule 7.54 Publication of Notice of Petition to Administer Estate Rule 7.55 Ex parte application for order

Pleadings

Rule 7.101 Use of Judicial Council forms Rule 7.102 Titles of pleadings and orders Rule 7.103 Signature and verification of pleadings Rule 7.104 Execution and verification of amended pleadings, amendments to pleadings, and supplements to pleadings; use of Judicial Council forms

Appointment of Executors and Administrators

Rule 7.150 Acknowledgment of receipt of statement of duties and liabilities of personal representative Rule 7.151 Reimbursement of graduated filing fee by successful subsequent petitioner [Repealed]

Bonding of Personal Representatives, Guardians, Conservators, and Trustees

Rule 7.201 Waiver of bond in will Rule 7.202 Two or more personal representatives Rule 7.203 Separate bonds for individuals Rule 7.204 Duty to apply for order increasing bond Rule 7.205 Independent power to sell real property Rule 7.206 Bond upon sale of real property Rule 7.207 Bonds of conservators and guardians

Independent Administration of Estates

Rule 7.250 Report of actions taken under the Independent Administration of Estates Act

Spousal or Domestic Partner Property Petitions

Rule 7.301 Spousal or domestic partner property petition filed with petition for probate

Creditors' Claims

Rule 7.401 Personal representative's action on the claim Rule 7.402 Court's action on the claim Rule 7.403 Listing all claims in the final report

Sales of Real and Personal Property

Rule 7.451 Refusal to show property to prospective buyers Rule 7.452 Petitioner or attorney required at hearing Rule 7.453 Petition for exclusive listing Rule 7.454 Ex parte application for order authorizing sale of securities or other personal property

Inventory and Appraisal

Rule 7.501 Inventory and Appraisal to show sufficiency of bond

Accounts and Reports of Executors, Administrators, Conservators, and Guardians

Rule 7.550 Effect of waiver of account Rule 7.551 Final accounts or reports in estates with nonresident beneficiaries [Repealed] Rule 7.552 Graduated filing fee adjustments for estates commenced on or after August 18, 2003, and before January 1, 2008 [Repealed] Rule 7.553 Graduated filing fee statements for decedents' estates commenced on or after January 1, 2008 [Repealed] Rule 7.575 Accounting of conservators and guardians Rule 7.576 Final account of conservator of the estate

Preliminary and Final Distributions

Rule 7.650 Decree of distribution establishing testamentary trusts Rule 7.651 Description of property in petition for distribution Rule 7.652 Allegations in petition for distribution concerning character of property

Compensation of Personal Representatives and Attorneys

Rule 7.700 Compensation paid in advance Rule 7.701 Allowance on account of statutory compensation Rule 7.702 Petition for extraordinary compensation Rule 7.703 Extraordinary compensation Rule 7.704 Apportionment of statutory compensation Rule 7.705 Calculation of statutory compensation Rule 7.706 Compensation when personal representative is an attorney Rule 7.707 Application of compensation provisions

Compensation in All Matters Other Than Decedents' Estates

Rule 7.750 Application of rules to guardianships and conservatorships Rule 7.751 Petitions for orders allowing compensation for guardians or conservators and their attorneys Rule 7.752 Court may order accounting before allowing compensation Rule 7.753 Contingency fee agreements in guardianships and conservatorships Rule 7.754 Use of paralegals in the performance of legal services for the guardian or conservator Rule 7.755 Advance payments and periodic payments to guardians, conservators, and to their attorneys on account for future services Rule 7.756 Compensation of conservators and guardians Rule 7.776 Compensation of trustees

Contested Hearings and Trials

Rule 7.801 Objections and responses Rule 7.802 Electronic filing and service in contested probate proceedings

Trusts

Rule 7.901 Trustee's accounts Rule 7.902 Beneficiaries to be listed in petitions and accounts Rule 7.903 Trusts funded by court order

Claims of Minors and Persons With Disabilities

Rule 7.950 Petition for approval of compromise of claim or action or disposition of proceeds of judgment for minor or person with a disability Rule 7.951 Disclosure of attorney's interest in petition for approval of compromise of claim Rule 7.952 Attendance at hearing on the petition for approval of compromise of claim Rule 7.953 Order for the deposit of funds of a minor or a person with a disability Rule 7.954 Petition for the withdrawal of funds deposited for a minor or a person with a disability Rule 7.955 Attorney's fees for services to a minor or a person with a disability

Guardianships

Rule 7.1001 Guardian screening form Rule 7.1002 Acknowledgment of receipt of Duties of Guardian Rule Rule 7.1002.5. Guardianship of ward 18 to 20 years of age Rule 7.1003 Confidential guardianship status report form Rule 7.1004 Termination of guardianship Rule 7.1005 Service of copy of final account or report after resignation or removal of guardian Rule 7.1006 Service of copy of final account on termination of guardianship Rule 7.1007 Settlement of accounts and release by former minor Rule 7.1008 Visitation by former guardian after termination of guardianship Rule 7.1009 Standards of conduct for the guardian of the estate Rule 7.1011 Taking possession of an asset of the ward at an institution or opening or changing ownership of an account or safe-deposit box in a financial institution Rule 7.1012 The good cause exception to notice of the hearing on a petition for appointment of a temporary guardian Rule 7.1013 Change of ward’s residence (Prob. Code, §2352) Rule 7.1014 Communications between courts in different California counties concerning guardianship venue Rule 7.1015 Guardianship and certain conservatorship proceedings involving Indian children (Prob. Code, §§ 1449, 1459, 1459.5, 1460.2, 1511(b), (i); Welf. & Inst. Code, §§ 224-224.6; 25 U.S.C. §§ 1901-1963; 25 C.F.R. §§ 23.1-23.144) Rule 7.1016 Participation and testimony of wards in guardianship proceedings (Pro. Code, § 1514(b)(1); Fam Code, § 3042) Rule 7.1020 Special Immigrant Juvenile Findings in Guardianship Proceedings

Conservatorships

Rule 7.1050 Conservator forms Rule 7.1051 Acknowledgment of receipt of Duties of Conservator Rule 7.1052 Termination of conservatorship [Repealed] Rule 7.1053 Service of final account of removed or resigned conservator [Repealed] Rule 7.1054 Service of final account after termination of conservatorship [Repealed] Rule 7.1059 Standards of conduct for the conservator of the estate Rule 7.1060 Investigations and reports by court investigators Rule 7.1061 Taking possession of an asset of the conservatee at an institution or opening or changing ownership of an account or safe-deposit box in a financial institution Rule 7.1062 The good cause exception to notice of the hearing on a petition for appointment of a temporary conservator Rule 7.1063 Change of conservatee’s residence; determination of level of care (Prob. Code, §§ 2352, 2352.5)

Appointed Counsel

Rule 7.1101 Scope, definitions, and general qualifications Rule 7.1102 Qualifications and annual education required for counsel appointed to represent a ward or proposed ward (Prob. Code, §§1456, 1470(a)) Rule 7.1103 Qualifications and annual education required for counsel appointed to represent a conservatee, proposed conservatee, or person alleged to lack legal capacity (Prob. Code, §§ 1456, 1470(a), 1471) Rule 7.1104 Local administration Rule 7.1105 Certification of attorney qualifications

CARE Act Rules

Rule 7.2201 Title and purpose Rule 7.2205 Definitions Rule 7.2210 General provisions Rule 7.2221 Papers to be filed (§ 5975) Rule 7.2223 Venue and transfer (§ 5973) Rule 7.2225 Persons who may file petition (§§ 5974, 5978) Rule 7.2230 Counsel for respondent (§§ 5976(c), 5977(a)(3)(A), (a)(5)(C) & (b)(1)) Rule 7.2235 Notice of proceedings (§§ 5977-5977.3, 5979) Rule 7.2240 Joinder of local government entity (§ 5977.1(d)(4)) Rule 7.2301 Order to show cause (§ 5979(b)) Rule 7.2303 Participation in accountability hearings (§ 5979)