State Probate Courts
If you are in need of a probate attorney, then chances are you will also need a local court where you can attend to all of your probate affairs. The processes involved in matters of probate are often unfamiliar to those who must deal with them for the first time. Therefore, we have taken steps to ensure that your pursuit for a probate court in your state is as easy as possible. From answers to some of your most pertinent questions, to information about the legal requirements and fees associated with filing a document, it is our goal to help with all of your probate needs. We have provided links to courts in your area and the information you need to know in order to obtain the forms you need and properly file all of your legal documents. For those states that do not have separate courts specifically designated to handle probate matters, we have provided a link to your local court instead.
Alabama courts have jurisdiction over many legal matters, including estate, real property rights, mental health, and adoption issues. Keep in mind that the state's courts do not allow for jury trials. With 68 probate courts and judges, you have several to choose from, some of which can be found in the links listed below:
Baldwin County Probate Court
Cullman County Probate Court
Elmore County Probate Court
Etowah County Probate Court
Madison County Probate Judge
Mobile County Probate Court
Walker County Probate Judge
A separate probate court does not exist in the state of Alaska. Rather, all cases of estate, mental health, and juvenile matters are attended to in the Superior Court.
Alaska Court System
In the state of Arizona, there is no separate probate court. As a result, the Superior Court maintains jurisdiction over legal matters concerning juveniles, mental health, and estate.
Arizona Judicial Branch of the Superior Court
Apache Superior Court
Cochise County Superior Court
Coconino County Superior Court
Gila County Superior Court
La Paz County Superior Court
Maricopa County Superior Court, Probate and Mental Health Department
Mohave County Superior Court
Pima County Superior Court
Pinal County Superior Court
Santa Cruz County Superior Court
Yayapai County Superior Court
Yuma County Superior Court
There is not a separate probate court in the state of Arkansas. Instead, the Civil Court has jurisdiction over estate cases, as well as those pertaining to mental health and juvenile matters. Jury trials are allowed in the Civil Court.
Arkansas Circuit Courts
In California, the Superior Court has jurisdiction over all matters of estate, juvenile, and mental health issues because the state does not have a separate probate court. However, juvenile cases are not allowed in the court.
California Courts, Families and Children
California Superior Courts, Judicial Branch
The only separate probate court that can be found in Colorado is in Denver County. For the rest of the state, probate matters proceed in district courts.
Denver, CO Probate Court
District Courts in Colorado
In Connecticut, you can find a separate probate court with 130 judges. Estate, paternity, domestic relations, support & custody, adoption, and mental health are all matters over which the court has jurisdiction; it does not allow for jury trials.
Connecticut Probate Court
For probate cases, the Court of Chancery handles matters related to real property rights, estate, and mental health. It is important to note that the court does not allow for trial by jury. A separate family court exists to handle juvenile matters, and similarly, it does not allow jury trials.
Court of Chancery
Family Court in Delaware
Washington D.C. does not have a separate probate court. Instead, probate cases are handled at the Superior Court level.
Probate Division of the D.C. Superior Court
A separate probate court does not exist in the state of Florida. For matters of estate, mental health, and juvenile cases, the Circuit Court has jurisdiction and it allows for jury trials.
Florida's Circuit Courts
159 probate courts and judges can be found in the state of Georgia. However, stipulations exist. A probate judge must have been a practicing attorney for no less than 7 years. While the courts have jurisdiction over cases involving mental health, estate, moving traffic violations, DWI/DUI matters, and miscellaneous civil offenses, they are only located in counties exceeding a population of 96,000.
Georgia Probate Court
Find Your Georgia Probate Court
In Hawaii, the Circuit Court has jurisdiction over estate, mental health, and juvenile matters because there is no separate probate court. The Circuit Court does allow for jury trials.
Hawaii State Judiciary, Circuit Courts
Idaho does not have a separate probate court, so the Magistrate Division is used instead. The Magistrate Division has jurisdiction over all juvenile, mental health, and estate cases.
Idaho County District Court and Magistrate Division
Idaho State Judiciary
There is not a separate probate court in Illinois, and the Circuit Court has jurisdiction over juvenile and civil cases in the state.
Illinois Circuit Court
One court in Indiana, the St. Joseph Probate Court, is specialized to handle probate cases. It has jurisdiction over estate, adoption, juvenile, and other civil matters. County Superior and District Courts throughout the state are also able to handle probate cases.
Judicial Branch of Indiana
St. Joseph Probate Court
A separate court for probate cases does not exist in Iowa. With one associate probate judge and 12 associate juvenile judges, the District Court handles these cases; however, it does not allow for jury trial of mental health or juvenile cases.
Iowa Judicial Branch, District Courts
In Kansas, jurisdiction over civil and juvenile cases resides within the District Court because the state does not have a separate probate court.
Kansas District Courts
You cannot find a separate probate court in the state of Kentucky. Rather, the District Court has jurisdiction over all matters related to juvenile, mental health, and estate cases.
Kentucky Court of Justice
There are not separate probate courts in Louisiana, but you can find separate courts for family matters and juvenile matters. For probate cases, jurisdiction over estate, adoption, mental health, and juvenile matters lies within the District Court system.
Louisiana Supreme Court
Sixteen probate courts can be found in Maine. These are under county court system jurisdiction and do not allow for jury trial. Among the matters which the court holds jurisdiction over include estate, domestic relations, and adoption. For matters of mental health and juvenile issues, jurisdiction can be found within the District Court system, which does not allow for jury trial either.
Find Your Maine Probate Court
Maine District Courts
Maine Local Government Portal
In the state of Maryland, the Circuit Court handles probate issues only in the counties of Hartford and Montgomery. For the rest of the state, 22 counties have an Orphans' Court, with a total of 66 judges to handle all estate matters.
Hartford & Montgomery Counties, Circuit Courts
Maryland Orphans' Court
There are 14 divisions of probate and family courts in the state of Massachusetts and a total of 51 justices. Massachusetts probate courts have jurisdiction over matters of estate, paternity, custody/support, adoption, domestic violence, divorce, and other civil issues. A separate court system which allows for jury trials exists for juvenile cases.
County Probate Courts in Massachusetts
In Michigan, there are 106 probate judges and 78 probate courts. The state's probate courts have jurisdiction over all estate, mental health, and juvenile matters. Only some jury trials are allowed, so it is important to connect with an associate from the court to learn if yours is an issue that could be brought before a jury.
Michigan Probate Courts by County
There is not a separate probate court in the state of Minnesota. For jurisdiction over estate, mental health, and juvenile matters your case will be taken to the District Court.
Minnesota District Courts by County
Minnesota Probate/Wills/Estates Court Forms
Probate Division of the Second Judicial District Court
Estate, divorce, support/custody, paternity, and mental health matters are handled by the Chancery Court in Mississippi.
Chancery Court, Mississippi
Mississippi Administrative Office of Courts
There is not a separate probate court in Missouri. Instead, the Circuit Court, which has three deputy probate, and four probate commissioners, has jurisdiction over probate matters such as estate, juvenile, and mental health issues.
Missouri Circuit Courts
The District Court has jurisdiction over estate, juvenile, and mental health matters in Montana because the state does not have a separate system of probate courts. The District Court allows for jury trials when it comes to matters related to probate.
Montana District Courts
The District Court has jurisdiction over mental health cases in Nebraska because the state does not have a separate probate court. There are 12 districts in Nebraska, with 93 County Courts and 59 judges. Except in juvenile cases, the courts do allow for jury trial and they have jurisdiction over estate, adoption, and juvenile matters.
Nebraska Judicial Branch, County Courts
Nebraska District Courts
Nevada does not have a probate court separate from the regular court system. Instead, the District Court, which allows for jury trials in most cases, has jurisdiction over estate, juvenile, and mental health matters.
Nevada District Courts by County
United States District Court, District of Nevada
In New Hampshire, jurisdiction over estates, trusts, wills, guardianships, involuntary commitments, termination of parental rights, and some matters of equity can be found in one of the state's two probate courts.
New Hampshire Circuit Court Probate Division
Because New Jersey does not have a separate probate court, the Superior Court has jurisdiction over estate, juvenile, and civil matters. Generally, the court allows for trial by jury, however there are some exceptions.
New Jersey Superior Courts
There are 33 probate courts and judges in the state of New Mexico, some of which can be found below. Jurisdiction over estate cases that are uncontested is awarded to these probate courts. Contested estate cases go to the District Court. In addition, the District Court also handles mental health and juvenile matters.
New Mexico Courts
Bernalillo County Probate Court
Grant County Probate Judge
Lea County Probate Judge
Sandoval County Probate Judge
Jurisdiction over estate and adoption matters is given to the New York Surrogates Court; this is a court that allows for jury trial. Jurisdiction over juvenile and guardianship cases is given to the New York Family Court; this is a court that does not allow for jury trial.
County Trial Courts in New York
New York City Family Court
New York City Surrogate's Court
In North Carolina there is not a separate court dedicated solely to address the issues of probate cases. Therefore, The Superior Court has jurisdiction over estate cases; this is a court system that allows for jury trials. However, the District Court, which has jurisdiction over mental health and juvenile cases, only allows for trial by jury in civil cases.
North Carolina Superior and District Trial Courts
North Dakota does not have a separate probate court. Therefore, the District Court is given jurisdiction over estate, juvenile, and mental health matters. In many cases, trial by jury is allowed.
North Dakota's District Courts
The Probate Division of the Court of Common Pleas has jurisdiction over probate matters in the state of Ohio. In most cases, the court allows for jury trials and it holds jurisdiction over all estate, mental health, and juvenile cases.
County Trial Courts in Ohio
Summit County Court of Common Pleas, Probate Division
Due to the fact that Oklahoma does not have a separate set of courts dedicated to probate cases, the District Court has jurisdiction over such matters. The District Court allows for jury trials and it oversees juvenile and civil cases.
Oklahoma District Courts
Seven County Courts and 7 judges preside over mental health, adoption, and juvenile cases in the state of Oregon. The state's county courts do not allow for trial by jury.
Oregon County Courts
In Pennsylvania, jurisdiction over mental health, estate, and juvenile cases has been awarded to the Court of Common Pleas. Generally, the court allows for trial by jury, but there are exceptions.
Pennsylvania Common Pleas Court
There are 39 probate courts and 39 judges in Rhode Island. The state's probate courts have jurisdiction over estate cases and do not allow for trial by jury. For matters involving mental health cases, the District Court has jurisdiction; for matters involving juvenile cases, the Family Court has jurisdiction.
Rhode Island Probate Courts
Rhode Island Probate Forms
In South Carolina, all 46 probate courts and judges do not allow for jury trials. The state's probate court system has jurisdiction over both estate and mental health cases. However, the state's Family Court has jurisdiction over juvenile cases.
South Carolina Probate Courts by County
South Carolina Judicial Department, Family Court
In South Dakota, the Circuit Court has both civil and juvenile jurisdiction. There are no separate probate courts in the state.
South Dakota Circuit Courts
Tennessee is unique because the state law provides for probate matters such as estates, wills, and the like to be vested in the chancery court of each respective county of the state (of which there are 95). This will hold true unless the jurisdiction is specifically given to another court. Some of the state's probate courts are listed below:
Franklin County Probate Court
Haywood County Probate Court
Jefferson County Probate Court
Shelby County Probate Court
Washington County Probate Court
Jurisdiction over estate and mental health matters can be found in 16 probate courts in Texas. The state also has 16 probate judges. Additionally, the Constitutional County Court, County Court of Law, and District Court also have jurisdiction over mental health, estate, and juvenile matters. All of these courts allow for trial by jury.
Texas County Courts
Texas Statutory Probate Courts
Because Utah does not have a separate probate court the District Court is the legal system that provides jurisdiction over the state's estate and mental health cases. The District Court allows for trial by jury in most cases, but the Juvenile Court system does not allow for jury trials in any situation.
Utah District Courts
In Vermont, there are 18 probate courts and judges. Probate courts in the state do not allow for jury trials; they have jurisdiction over matters of estate, adoption, domestic relations, mental health, and some civil cases.
Vermont Probate Courts by City
There is no separate probate court in the state of Virginia. For this reason, the Circuit Court has jurisdiction over these issues, including matters of mental health and estate. For jurisdiction over juvenile matters, the District Court comes into play.
Virginia Circuit Courts
Virginia District Courts
A separate court for probate cases does not exist in the state of Washington. Instead, jurisdiction over estate and mental health matters, as well juvenile matters, is given to the Superior Court.
Washington Superior Courts
In West Virginia, the Circuit Court has jurisdiction over estate, juvenile, and mental health cases. There is not a separate probate court. The West Virginia Circuit Court system allows for trial by jury.
West Virginia Circuit Courts
Wisconsin does not have a separate court system for probate matters. Instead, the Circuit Court has jurisdiction over matters of a civil or juvenile nature.
Wisconsin Circuit Court Forms
Wisconsin Court System
There is not a separate probate court in Wyoming. Rather, the state relies upon the District Court for jurisdiction over estate, mental health, and juvenile cases.
Wyoming District Courts