Chapter 1 - General Notice Provisions

California Probate Code — §§ 1200-1214

Sections (15)

Enacted by Stats. 1990, Ch. 79.

(a)Except as otherwise provided in this code, this part governs notice required or permitted under this code.

(b)This part does not apply to notice under a particular provision to the extent that the particular provision is inconsistent with this part.

(c)This part does not apply to the giving of a particular notice where the notice was delivered, mailed, posted, or first published before July 1, 1991. The applicable law in effect before July 1, 1991, continues to apply to the giving of that notice,

notwithstanding its repeal.

§ 1201

Enacted by Stats. 1990, Ch. 79.

If a person is required to give notice, the person required to give the notice need not give the notice to himself or herself or to any other person who joins in the petition.

§ 1202

Enacted by Stats. 1990, Ch. 79.

Where the court determines that the notice otherwise required is insufficient in the particular circumstances, the court may require that further or additional notice, including a longer period of notice, be given.

§ 1203

Amended by Stats. 1991, Ch. 82, Sec. 2.5. Effective June 30, 1991. Operative July 1, 1991, by Sec. 31 of Ch. 82.

(a)Subject to subdivision (b), unless the particular provision governing the notice of hearing provides that the time for giving notice may not be shortened, the court may, for good cause, shorten the time for giving a notice of hearing.

(b)Unless the particular provision governing the publication of notice of hearing otherwise provides, the court may not shorten the time for publication of notice of hearing.

§ 1204

Enacted by Stats. 1990, Ch. 79.

A person, including a guardian ad litem, guardian, conservator, trustee, or other fiduciary, may waive notice by a writing signed by the person or the person’s attorney and filed in the proceeding.

§ 1205

Enacted by Stats. 1990, Ch. 79.

If a hearing is continued or postponed, no further notice of the continued or postponed hearing is required unless ordered by the court.

§ 1206

Enacted by Stats. 1990, Ch. 79.

(a)Subject to subdivision (b), where notice is required to be given to known heirs or known devisees, notice shall be given to the following persons:

(1)If the estate is an intestate estate, to the heirs named in the petition for letters of administration and to any additional heirs who become known to the person giving the notice prior to the giving of the notice.

(2)If the estate is a testate estate, to the devisees named in the petition for probate of the will and to any additional devisees who become

known to the person giving the notice prior to the giving of the notice.

(b)Notice need not be given to a person under subdivision (a) if the person’s interest has been satisfied pursuant to court order or as evidenced by the person’s written receipt.

§ 1207

Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 529, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1994.

(a)Subject to subdivision (b), where notice is required to be given to a decedent’s beneficiaries, devisees, or heirs, notice need not be given to a person who, because of a possible parent-child relationship between a stepchild and a stepparent or between a foster child and a foster parent, may be (1) an heir of the decedent or (2) a member of a class to which a devise is made.

(b)Subdivision (a) does not apply where the person required to give the notice has actual knowledge

of facts that a person would reasonably believe give rise under Section 6454 to the parent-child relationship between the stepchild and the stepparent or between the foster child and the foster parent.

§ 1208

Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 730, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1996.

(a)Except as provided in subdivision (b), if notice is required to be given to a trust or trustee, notice to trust beneficiaries is not required.

(b)Subject to subdivision (c), where the personal representative and the trustee are the same person, or where no trustee has been appointed, notice shall be given to (1) each person to whom income or principal would be required or authorized in the trustee’s discretion to be currently distributed if the trust were in effect, or (2) if

there are no such persons, to each person who, under the terms of the trust, would be entitled to any distribution if the trust were terminated at the time the notice is required to be given.

(c)Notice to trust beneficiaries is not required under subdivision (b) where the trust has more than one trustee and notice is given to a cotrustee who is not a personal representative.

§ 1209

Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 853, Sec. 29. (AB 3281) Effective January 1, 2025.

(a)If notice is required to be given to the State of California, the notice shall be given to the Attorney General.

(b)If notice is required to be given to the Attorney General, the notice shall be delivered pursuant to Section 1215 to the Attorney General at the office of the Attorney General in Sacramento, California.

(c)The Attorney General does not waive the right to object to a proposed settlement that adversely impacts a charitable gift by failing to appear at a mediation, a mandatory settlement conference, or other court-ordered alternative dispute resolution proceeding related to the settlement.

§ 1210

Enacted by Stats. 1990, Ch. 79.

If an interested person has a guardian or conservator of the estate who resides in this state, personal service on the guardian or conservator of any process, notice, or court order concerning a decedent’s estate is equivalent to service on the ward or conservatee, and it is the duty of the guardian or conservator to attend to the interests of the ward or conservatee in the matter. The guardian or conservator may appear for the ward or conservatee and waive any process, notice, or order to show cause that a person not under legal disability might waive.

§ 1211

Enacted by Stats. 1990, Ch. 79.

If a notice is required by this code and no other type of notice is prescribed by law, by the Judicial Council, or by the court or judge, the notice shall be in substantially the following form:

§ 1212

Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 319, Sec. 15. (AB 976) Effective January 1, 2018.

Unless the court dispenses with the notice, if the address of the person to whom a notice or other paper is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 1215 is not known, notice shall be given as the court may require in the manner provided in Section 413.30 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

§ 1213

Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 319, Sec. 16. (AB 976) Effective January 1, 2018.

(a)The following persons shall deliver pursuant to Section 1215 a notice, as described in Section 1211, to a surety who has filed a court bond in a proceeding:

(1)A person who files a petition to surcharge.

(2)A person who files an objection to an account.

(3)A person who files a petition to suspend or remove a guardian, conservator, or personal representative.

(4)An attorney who files a motion to withdraw from representation of a guardian, conservator, or personal representative.

(b)Within five days after entry of an order to suspend or remove a guardian, conservator, or personal representative, the person who filed a petition to suspend or remove a guardian or, if the order to suspend or remove a guardian, conservator, or personal representative was issued upon a motion by the court, the court, shall notify pursuant to Section 1215 the surety who has filed a court bond of the order.

(c)The notice required by this section shall be delivered pursuant to Section 1215 to the addressee listed on the surety bond.

(d)Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b), notice is not required to a surety pursuant to this section if the surety bond is for a guardian, conservator, or personal representative who is

not the subject of the petition, motion, or order described in this

section.

§ 1214

Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 319, Sec. 17. (AB 976) Effective January 1, 2018.

If a notice or other paper is required or permitted to be served or delivered pursuant to Section 1215 to a person who is represented by an attorney of record, the notice or other paper shall also be delivered pursuant to Section 1215 to this attorney, unless otherwise specified in a request for special notice.