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DE-111 Petition for Probate — Riverside County

The DE-111 Petition for Probate asks the Superior Court to appoint someone (the executor or administrator) to handle a person's estate. For a simple, uncontested estate, California lets the proposed representative file it without a lawyer.

First, the honest part: for contested estates, out-of-state property, or business interests, hire a probate attorney — their statutory fees come out of the estate, not your pocket.

🚀 Prepare your DE-111 packet free →DE-111 · DE-121 (the Hemet Chronicle pre-designated) · DE-142 bond waivers · DE-140 / DE-147 / DE-150 — print-ready

What the DE-111 asks

Decedent	Name, date and place of death, and the county and address where they lived.
Will	Whether there is a will (attach the original) and who it names as executor.
Estate value	Estimated personal property, annual income, and real property — used to set bond and court fees.
Bond	Whether bond is waived (heirs sign DE-142 waivers) or required.
Heirs	Who survived the decedent — spouse, children, parents, siblings — with ages and addresses. This section trips up most self-represented filers; our tool walks you through it.

Where to file in Riverside County

File at the probate courthouse assigned to the decedent’s ZIP code: Riverside Historic Courthouse (4050 Main St), Southwest Justice Center (30755-D Auld Rd, Murrieta), or Palm Springs Courthouse (3255 E Tahquitz Canyon Way). The filing fee is $435 (FW-001 waiver if low income). You'll get a case number and a hearing date. See the full Riverside County probate guide.

Next: publish the DE-121

After filing, the DE-121 Notice of Petition to Administer Estate must be published (Probate Code §8121) — three times, finishing at least 15 days before the hearing — and mailed to everyone named in the petition.

Common questions

How much does it cost to file a DE-111 in Riverside County?

The court filing fee is $435. Publishing the DE-121 notice is $374.50 with us. Our forms tool is free.

Do I need probate at all?

Not always. Small estates may use simpler affidavit procedures instead. If the estate requires a court petition, the DE-111 is the form.

Can I file a DE-111 without a lawyer?

Yes, for simple, uncontested estates. For disputes, out-of-state real estate, or business interests, consult a probate attorney.

What happens at the hearing?

If no one objects and the paperwork is in order, the judge signs the Order (DE-140) and the clerk issues Letters (DE-150), your legal authority to act for the estate.

Ready? Start your free probate forms → · Already filed? Publish your DE-121 — $374.50 →

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Disclaimer: We are a newspaper. We are not attorneys, paralegals, or registered Legal Document Assistants, and we are not acting in any of those capacities. Our forms tool is free (our only paid service is newspaper publication), provides no legal advice, and is used at your own risk — review every form before signing and filing. For legal questions, consult an attorney or the court's free Self-Help Center.