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California · Southern California · #1 Most Populous County in the US
Los Angeles County, California
Government offices, property tax, public records, courts, senior services, and local resources for LA County residents
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
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Los Angeles County's assessment ratio means effective tax rates are low — but incorrect appraisals still cost money. Ownwell manages the appeal with no upfront cost.
How do I appeal my Los Angeles County property tax assessment?
The formal appeal window runs July 2 through December 1 each year. File an Application for Changed Assessment (form AAB-100) with the Assessment Appeals Board online at bos.lacounty.gov or by mail to 500 W Temple St, Room 383, Los Angeles CA 90012. There is a $46 nonrefundable filing fee. Before filing formally, you can request a free informal review with the Assessor's Office using form RP-87. Ownwell can handle the entire process on your behalf and only charges a fee if you save money.
What is Proposition 13 and how does it affect my LA County property taxes?
Proposition 13, passed in 1978, limits LA County property tax to 1 percent of a property's assessed value, with assessed value increases capped at 2 percent per year. When a property is sold or substantially improved, the assessed value resets to the purchase price or construction cost. This means longtime homeowners often pay taxes on values far below current market value, while recent buyers pay on their purchase price. If you believe your assessed value is above current market value, you can file an appeal.
How do I find LA County court records?
Los Angeles Superior Court maintains an online case access portal at lacourt.org where you can search civil, criminal, family, and probate cases by name or case number. Records are publicly available subject to court sealing rules. For older or sealed records, contact the clerk at the specific courthouse that handled the matter. TruthFinder also aggregates publicly available LA County court and arrest records.
What is the difference between LA County senior services and City of LA senior services?
LA County Aging and Disabilities Department (626-414-6439) serves all county residents regardless of what city they live in, administering federally mandated programs under the Older Americans Act. The City of Los Angeles Department of Aging (213-482-7252) operates separately and serves only residents within the city limits of Los Angeles specifically, not Long Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica, or other cities. If you live within the City of LA, you may be eligible for both county and city programs.
How does probate work in LA County and how long does it take?
California probate is required when the gross estate exceeds $184,500 (2024 threshold). The process is handled by LA Superior Court's Probate Division at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 N Hill St in downtown LA. Given the volume of cases, LA County probate typically takes 12 to 18 months minimum. Estates below the threshold can use a small estate affidavit without court involvement. Many LA residents use revocable living trusts to bypass probate entirely, which can be significant given California real estate values.
Office: LA County Office of Emergency Management – (323) 980-2200 | lacounty.gov/residents/emergencies
Alert System: SoCal Aware (Notify LA); Wireless Emergency Alerts; NOAA Weather Radio; multiple city alert systems
Shelter Info: lacounty.gov/residents/emergencies; Red Cross; American Red Cross Greater Los Angeles shelter network; many permanent shelter locations
FEMA Region: Region 9
Notes: Most populous county in the US (~10 million people); Los Angeles is county seat; major hazards include earthquakes (San Andreas Fault, Puente Hills Fault, Newport-Inglewood Fault – the 1994 Northridge earthquake magnitude 6.7 killed 57, caused $25 billion in damage; the Puente Hills Fault runs directly beneath downtown LA and could produce a M7.5); EXTREME WILDFIRE RISK (2025 Palisades and Eaton Fires destroyed major portions of Pacific Palisades and Altadena – two of the most destructive fires in California history; ongoing catastrophic risk); tsunami risk (distant and local source); landslides (Palos Verdes, Malibu); flooding; LAEFD, LAFD, and dozens of city fire agencies operate in the county; sophisticated multi-agency emergency management
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Roads: LA County Public Works – (800) 675-4357 | pw.lacounty.gov
Public Transit: LA Metro (Metro Rail and Bus – (323) 466-3876) | metro.net; extensive rail network (B/D/E/G/J/L lines; A line; K line; Silver Line bus rapid transit); LADOT; Metrolink commuter rail; Big Blue Bus (Santa Monica); Culver City Bus; Torrance Transit; many city bus systems; LAX (Los Angeles International Airport – one of the world’s busiest); Bob Hope/Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR); Long Beach Airport (LGB); Van Nuys Airport (VNY – general aviation); Amtrak (Pacific Surfliner, Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited, Coast Starlight – Union Station LA)
Notes: LA County’s transportation is centered on Union Station and LAX; Metro Rail is expanding significantly (2028 Olympics preparations have accelerated rail construction); the freeway system (I-5, I-10, I-105, I-110, I-210, I-405, I-605, I-710, US-101, SR-2, SR-60, SR-91, SR-134, SR-170) is among the most complex in the world; traffic congestion is legendary; Metro Bike Share; Metrolink commuter rail connects to Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, and San Diego Counties; the LA region’s transit has improved dramatically but remains car-centric
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: LA County Department of Regional Planning – (213) 974-6411 | planning.lacounty.gov; LA County Department of Public Works Building and Safety – (626) 458-3100 | dpw.lacounty.gov
Services: Unincorporated county permits; 88 incorporated cities (Los Angeles, Long Beach, Glendale, Santa Clarita, Lancaster, Palmdale, Pomona, Torrance, Pasadena, El Monte, Downey, Inglewood, West Covina, Norwalk, Burbank, South Gate, Compton, Hawthorne, Whittier, Alhambra, San Bernardino, and many more) each have separate permit offices
Notes: LA County is one of the most active building markets in the world; ADU construction has been enormous; post-Palisades/Eaton Fire rebuilding is one of the largest rebuilding efforts in California history; transit-oriented development near Metro stations; affordable housing crisis driving policy interventions; unincorporated areas (East LA, Altadena, Florence-Firestone, Hacienda Heights, Rowland Heights, etc.) are served directly by county
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: LA County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs – (213) 974-7926 | veteransservices.lacounty.gov
VA Medical: VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System – (310) 478-3711 (major VA medical center; West LA campus – one of the largest VA campuses in the US; long controversy over the 388-acre West LA campus and veteran homelessness; Master Plan for veteran housing being implemented); VA Long Beach; multiple CBOCs throughout the county
Services: Full range including VA healthcare, benefits, pension, compensation, mental health, homeless veteran services, women veterans services; county veteran services office
Notes: LA County has the largest homeless veteran population of any county in the US; the West LA VA campus controversy (the campus was misused for commercial development while veterans were homeless nearby) led to a landmark settlement requiring veteran housing on the campus; LAHSA (Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority) coordinates veteran homelessness services; the county’s veteran service infrastructure is extensive but demand overwhelms supply; LAUSD and LA Community College District have veteran student services; Veteran Stand-Downs and outreach events are regular; CalVet coordination
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: LA County Library – (562) 940-8462 | lacountylibrary.org; 87 branches in unincorporated areas and contract cities; Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL – separate; largest branch library system in the US with 73 branches); Long Beach Public Library; Glendale Public Library; Pasadena Public Library; many more city systems
Services: Books, e-books, public computers, Wi-Fi, genealogy, maker spaces, recording studios, art galleries, technology centers, adult literacy, ESL, children’s programs; multilingual in over 50 languages; HomeAccess (device and Wi-Fi lending)
Notes: LAPL is one of the finest urban library systems in the US – its Central Library (downtown LA – a stunning historic 1926 building with a remarkable 1993 addition after a 1986 arson fire) is a destination library; the county and city library systems together represent one of the most extensive public library networks in the world; LA’s extraordinary diversity drives multilingual collections and programming; LA County Library’s HomeAccess program (lending devices and hotspots to library card holders) has been a national model
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
County Parks: LA County Parks and Recreation – (626) 588-5700 | lacountymilliontrees.org; 183 parks covering 78,000+ acres
State Parks: Point Mugu SP; Leo Carrillo SP; Malibu Creek SP; Topanga SP; Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (NPS – 150,000 acres of open space in the Santa Monica Mountains between the Pacific Ocean and San Fernando Valley – the world’s largest urban national park)
Federal: Angeles National Forest (700,000+ acres in the San Gabriel Mountains north of LA – the “National Forest of Los Angeles”; heavily used by urban Angelenos)
Notable Attractions: Griffith Park (4,210 acres – the largest urban park in the US with natural terrain; Griffith Observatory; LA Zoo; Greek Theatre; hiking with views of Hollywood sign and downtown); Santa Monica Pier; Venice Beach; Hollywood; Getty Center and Getty Villa; LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art – largest art museum in the western US); The Broad; Museum of Natural History; California Science Center (Space Shuttle Endeavour); Disneyland (Orange County border); Universal Studios; Hollywood Bowl; Dodger Stadium; SoFi Stadium; Crypto.com Arena; Rose Bowl; Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens (San Marino)
Notes: LA County’s parks and recreation resources are extraordinary in their scale and diversity – from beaches to mountains to urban parks; Griffith Observatory is one of LA’s defining cultural icons; the Santa Monica Mountains form a green corridor connecting sea to mountain in one of the world’s great cities; Angeles National Forest absorbs 30+ million recreation visits annually from urban Angelenos who have few other wild places nearby; the LA Zoo, LACMA, Getty, Natural History Museum, and Space Shuttle Endeavour are world-class cultural institutions; Disneyland at the LA County/Orange County border is one of the most visited attractions in the world; Hollywood is Hollywood; the beach communities (Santa Monica, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach) are iconic California beach culture
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: LA County GIS – gis.lacounty.gov | (213) 974-1234; open data at data.lacounty.gov; USGS Southern California Seismic Network; CalFire maps; USACE flood zone maps; Metro’s transit mapping
Parcel Search: assessor.lacounty.gov (one of the most-used county assessor portals in the US)
Notes: LA County has one of the most sophisticated GIS programs in the world; earthquake hazard zone mapping is critical; liquefaction zone maps; hillside mapping for landslide risk; fire hazard severity zone maps (post-2025 Palisades/Eaton Fire, maps are being updated); Metro’s live transit tracking; Flood zone and stormwater management GIS; South Coast Air Quality Management District monitoring station network
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: LA County Animal Care and Control – (562) 940-6898 | animalcare.lacounty.gov; 6 shelters (Agoura, Baldwin Park, Carson, Castaic, Downey, Lancaster); City of LA Animal Services – laanimalservices.com (separate – 6 shelters); Long Beach Animal Care Services; many city shelter systems
Services: Stray intake (enormous volume), adoptions, owner surrenders, spay/neuter, microchipping; wildlife conflict management (coyotes, mountain lions – P-22 the mountain lion lived in Griffith Park for 10 years; wildlife crossings on the 101 freeway)
Notes: LA County and City animal services together handle hundreds of thousands of animals annually; the coyote population in LA has expanded dramatically into residential neighborhoods; mountain lions regularly cross the 101 freeway (the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing over the 101 – the world’s largest wildlife crossing – opened in 2024 to connect the Santa Monica Mountains to the larger landscape); P-22, the famous mountain lion who lived in Griffith Park, became an LA icon before his death in 2022; LA’s animal welfare community is enormous and well-funded; Best Friends Animal Society (national HQ in Utah but major LA operations at Dodgertown and Silverlake); Karma Rescue; Lange Foundation; many others
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: LA County Public Works Solid Waste Management – pw.lacounty.gov; each city contracts separately; Puente Hills Landfill Complex (one of the world’s largest); various Materials Recovery Facilities throughout county
Recycling: CalRecycle compliance; LA County is a leader in Zero Waste programs; AB 939 compliance (50% diversion achieved long ago); SB 1383 organics recycling implementation (food scraps and green waste composting)
Air Quality: South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) – aqmd.gov (one of the strictest air quality agencies in the world; manages the South Coast Air Basin which includes LA, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties; LA Basin smog has improved dramatically since the 1970s but ozone and PM 2.5 remain challenges)
Environmental: California SWRCB; LA Regional Water Quality Control Board; USEPA Region 9; Army Corps (LA River and flood control – 51 miles of concrete-lined channel; ongoing LA River revitalization; soft-bottom restoration); MWD (Metropolitan Water District of Southern California – imports most of LA’s water from Colorado River and State Water Project); Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission; LA Waterkeeper; Heal the Bay (beach water quality monitoring)
Notes: LA County’s environmental management is extraordinarily complex; the LA River (51 miles of mostly concrete-lined channel built by the Army Corps after the catastrophic 1938 flood) is being revitalized – billions in investment is transforming portions back to a living river; the 2025 Palisades and Eaton Fires created the largest environmental cleanup in LA history – toxic ash and debris from tens of thousands of destroyed structures required massive remediation; LA Basin air quality has improved dramatically (the 1970s “smog-eye-burning” days are gone) but continues to be one of the worst air quality regions in the US; MWD imports water from 400+ miles away via the Colorado River Aqueduct and State Water Project – the most extensive municipal water import system in the world; LA’s beaches (monitored by Heal the Bay) show enormous improvement in water quality since the Clean Water Act enforcement; the Santa Monica Bay receives stormwater runoff from the entire LA Basin – beach closures after rain are still common; the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing over the 101 freeway represents a major investment in urban wildlife connectivity – a globally recognized model for reconnecting fragmented habitats in urban landscapes
About Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County is the most populous county in the United States, home to nearly 10 million people across 88 incorporated cities and more than 120 unincorporated communities covering 4,084 square miles from the Pacific coast to the San Gabriel Mountains to the Mojave Desert. County government here is one of the largest and most complex local governments in the country, operating 38 departments, employing over 100,000 people, and managing a budget exceeding $40 billion annually. This guide covers the county government offices and services that directly affect LA County residents: property tax appeals, public records, courts, senior services, estate and probate, and the key departments most people need to navigate.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Los Angeles County property taxes are governed by California’s Proposition 13, which limits assessed value increases to 2 percent per year unless a property changes ownership or undergoes new construction. This means many longtime homeowners pay taxes on assessed values well below current market value, while recent buyers pay on their purchase price. The County Assessor’s Office, the largest in the country with responsibility for 2.6 million assessments, determines taxable values and administers all exemption programs.
Property owners who believe their assessed value exceeds current market value can file an appeal with the Assessment Appeals Board. The formal appeal window runs July 2 through December 1 each year, with a $46 nonrefundable filing fee per parcel. Before filing a formal appeal, property owners can request an informal review directly with the Assessor’s Office at no charge using form RP-87. If the informal review does not resolve the dispute, filing a formal appeal with the AAB preserves your rights. California also allows Proposition 8 decline-in-value claims when a property’s current market value has dropped below its Prop 13 base value, which is useful during market downturns.
Key exemptions available to LA County property owners include the Homeowner’s Exemption ($7,000 reduction in assessed value for primary residences, applied automatically after first filing), the Disabled Veterans’ Exemption, and several senior relief programs available through the state.
OWNWELL CTA: Are you overpaying Los Angeles County property tax? Ownwell analyzes your LA County assessment, prepares the comparable sales evidence, and files the appeal on your behalf. You only pay if you save. The appeal window opens July 2 each year.
LINK CLUSTER: How to appeal your LA County assessment, Homeowner’s exemption, Proposition 13 explained, Prop 8 decline-in-value claim, Disabled veterans exemption, Pay property taxes online, Search your assessed value, Tax sale information, Supplemental tax bill explained
Recommended
Are you overpaying Los Angeles County property tax? Ownwell analyzes your LA County assessment, prepares the comparable sales evidence, and files the appeal on your behalf. You only pay if you save. The appeal window opens July 2 each year.
Public Records
California’s Public Records Act gives residents broad access to government documents held by LA County agencies. The Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk maintains the county’s official property records, including deeds, liens, mortgages, easements, and subdivision maps, for all 88 cities and unincorporated areas. LA County’s online property records portal allows searches by owner name, address, or document number with most documents available for download. Court records are accessible through the LA Superior Court’s online portal. Arrest records are held by the LA County Sheriff for areas under sheriff jurisdiction, and by individual city police departments for arrests in incorporated cities.
One thing worth knowing about LA County records: the sheer volume of documents across dozens of agencies means that getting the right record often requires knowing exactly which agency holds it. The county’s general information line at 213-974-1234 can direct you to the correct department for most requests.
Recommended
Search Los Angeles County public records, including arrests, court filings, property history, and background information for residents across all 88 cities.
Search Los Angeles County arrest and court records. TruthFinder aggregates publicly available arrest records, court filings, and background information for residents across all 88 cities in LA County.
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
The Los Angeles Superior Court is the largest trial court system in the United States, with more than 500 judges and commissioners operating across 36 courthouses throughout the county. Unlike most counties where the court is a single institution, LA Superior Court is organized into districts: Central, Northeast, Northwest, South, Southeast, Southwest, East, and North, each serving specific geographic areas. Finding the right courthouse for your matter depends on where you live or where the legal matter originated. The court’s online case access portal allows public searching of case records across all divisions.
LA Superior Court handles civil matters, criminal felonies, family law, probate, juvenile dependency, and small claims. Misdemeanors in incorporated cities may be prosecuted by city attorneys rather than the LA County District Attorney, which is the largest local prosecutor’s office in the country. The Public Defender’s Office has 32 locations throughout the county.
Courts Directory
Court
Type
Phone
Address
Stanley Mosk Courthouse (Central)
Civil, probate, mental health
213-830-0803
111 N Hill St, Los Angeles
Criminal Courts Building
Felony criminal
213-974-5411
210 W Temple St, Los Angeles
Family Law Courthouse
Divorce, custody, domestic violence
213-974-5524
111 N Hill St, Los Angeles
Probate Courthouse
Wills, estates, guardianship, conservatorship
213-830-0803
111 N Hill St, Los Angeles
Van Nuys Courthouse (North)
Civil, criminal, family — San Fernando Valley
818-374-2600
14400 Erwin St Mall, Van Nuys
Torrance Courthouse (South)
Civil, criminal, family — South Bay
310-222-8808
825 Maple Ave, Torrance
Pasadena Courthouse (Northeast)
Civil, criminal, family — San Gabriel Valley
626-396-3600
300 E Walnut St, Pasadena
Compton Courthouse (Southeast)
Civil, criminal, family — South LA
310-603-7800
200 W Compton Blvd, Compton
Recommended
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Senior Services
Senior services in LA County are delivered through two parallel systems that often confuse residents. The LA County Aging and Disabilities Department serves older adults and people with disabilities throughout the entire county and administers the Area Agency on Aging programs mandated under the Older Americans Act. These programs include the Elderly Nutrition Program, caregiver support, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program, and the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP). Reach the county AAA Information and Assistance Call Center at 626-414-6439 or 800-510-2020. The county department’s main office is at 510 S. Vermont Avenue, 11th Floor, Los Angeles.
Separately, the City of Los Angeles Department of Aging operates its own network of Multipurpose Senior Centers and programs specifically for residents within city limits, reachable at 213-482-7252. If you live in a city other than the City of LA, including Long Beach, Pasadena, or Santa Monica, your city may also operate independent senior services in addition to what the county provides.
For residents seeking assisted living, memory care, or skilled nursing placement, LA County’s size means options are abundant but navigation is complex. A Place for Mom has advisors who specialize in the LA County market and can help match residents to facilities by location, budget, and care level.
Recommended
Finding senior living in Los Angeles County. A Place for Mom connects families with assisted living, memory care, and independent living options across all areas of LA County from the San Fernando Valley to the South Bay to the San Gabriel Valley. Free guidance, no obligation.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
REGISTRAR-RECORDER/COUNTY CLERK (Deeds, Marriage Licenses)
12400 Imperial Hwy., Norwalk, CA 90650
(800) 201-8999
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Los Angeles County Superior Court, Probate Division (marriage licenses, will and estate case files – see Probate section above)
Local societies
Southern California Genealogical Society (SCGS), Los Angeles/Burbank area – organized 1964; maintains the SCGS Family Research Library.
Los Angeles Public Library – extensive genealogy holdings; also a FamilySearch Center location.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Los Angeles County Superior Court – Probate Division (Central District) Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 N. Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (213) 974-5191 Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Los Angeles County Superior Court is the largest unified trial court in the United States, operating 36 courthouses countywide, but probate matters are centralized at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles regardless of where in the county the decedent lived.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
California recently increased its small-estate thresholds substantially, so check this first – more estates now qualify to skip full probate than in past years.
Small Estate Affidavit (personal property) – for estates with personal property valued at $208,850 or less (for deaths on or after April 1, 2025; this figure holds through March 31, 2028, when it next adjusts for inflation under Probate Code § 890). No court filing needed – present the signed affidavit directly to the bank or institution holding the property. Must wait at least 40 days after the death, and no probate proceeding can already be pending.
Petition to Determine Succession to Real Property, Primary Residence (new since 2025) – for a decedent’s primary California residence valued at $750,000 or less. A Superior Court petition (Judicial Council Form DE-310), not a simple affidavit – requires a 40-day wait, notice to heirs, and a probate referee appraisal.
Affidavit for Real Property of Small Value – for other (non-primary-residence) California real property valued at $69,625 or less (Form DE-305). Requires a 6-month wait.
Formal Probate – required when the estate exceeds these thresholds. California typically uses the Independent Administration of Estates Act (IAEA), which lets the personal representative handle most matters (selling property, paying debts) without a court hearing for each step – reducing the number of required hearings substantially compared to fully supervised administration.
California is a community property state – a surviving spouse already owns their half of community property, and can often use a simplified Spousal Property Petition (Form DE-221) instead of the affidavit or full-probate process.
If using the small estate affidavit (personal property)
Wait at least 40 days after the death.
Confirm total qualifying California personal property (excluding trust assets, joint tenancy, POD/TOD accounts, and beneficiary-designated accounts) is $208,850 or less, using date-of-death values.
Complete the affidavit under Probate Code § 13100, listing the property.
Present it with a certified death certificate directly to the bank or institution – no court filing required. Note: collecting property this way makes you personally liable for the decedent’s unsecured debts up to the value received (Prob. Code § 13109).
IF USING THE PRIMARY RESIDENCE PETITION OR SMALL REAL PROPERTY AFFIDAVIT
Confirm the property qualifies (primary residence ≤ $750,000, or other real property ≤ $69,625) and the applicable waiting period has passed (40 days for the primary-residence petition; 6 months for the small real property affidavit).
File the petition (Form DE-310) or affidavit (Form DE-305) with the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Probate Division.
A probate referee appraises the property; heirs receive notice.
Once approved, the property transfers without full probate administration.
If formal probate is required
Deliver the original will (if any) to the court clerk within 30 days of learning of the death (Prob. Code § 8200) – this is a legal obligation even before a petition is filed.
File a Petition for Probate (Form DE-111) to admit the will and request appointment as personal representative.
The court issues Letters Testamentary (Form DE-150) or Letters of Administration.
If Independent Administration authority is granted, the personal representative can act on most matters without separate court hearings; otherwise, each major step requires court approval.
Notice to creditors and an inventory/appraisal (with a probate referee) follow, along with payment of debts and taxes.
The estate closes with a final petition for distribution, and remaining assets go to the beneficiaries.
What it costs
Small estate affidavit / real property affidavits: no court filing fee for the personal-property affidavit; filing fees apply to the DE-310 primary-residence petition and DE-305 small real property affidavit.
Formal probate filing fee: several hundred dollars, varying somewhat by county and case type; Los Angeles County publishes its current fee schedule with the court.
Personal representative and attorney compensation: California sets statutory fee schedules based on the size of the estate (a percentage that declines as the estate grows) under Prob. Code §§ 10800–10810 – unlike many states, this is a fixed formula rather than a vague “reasonable” standard.
No California state estate tax or inheritance tax.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
4700 Ramona Blvd., Monterey Park, CA 91754
(213) 229-1700
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
REGISTRAR-RECORDER/COUNTY CLERK (Deeds, Marriage Licenses)
12400 Imperial Hwy., Norwalk, CA 90650
(800) 201-8999
Registrar-Recorder
(800) 815-2666
CA Voter Registration
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Dept
(213) 240-8000
Social Services
(213) 744-7777
Mental Health
(800) 854-7771
Medi-Cal
(800) 300-1506
Safety Net
LAC+USC Medical Center; Harbor-UCLA; Olive View-UCLA; Rancho Los Amigos
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: LA County Department of Public Health – (888) 700-9995 | publichealth.lacounty.gov
Services: Comprehensive county health department; immunizations; WIC; STI/HIV (LA County is one of the epicenters of US HIV/AIDS epidemic); behavioral health; environmental health; restaurant inspections; jail health; epidemiology; maternal health; lead poisoning prevention
Hospitals: LA County+USC Medical Center (largest public hospital in the US and one of the busiest emergency rooms – Level I trauma; county safety-net); Harbor-UCLA; Olive View-UCLA; Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital; Cedar-Sinai; UCLA Medical Center; USC Keck; Children’s Hospital LA; Providence; Dignity Health; Kaiser Permanente; Adventist Health; multiple academic medical centers
Notes: LA County DPH is one of the largest local health departments in the US; the county’s healthcare safety net (LA+USC, Harbor-UCLA, Olive View-UCLA, MLK Community Hospital) serves enormous uninsured and underinsured populations; LA has been a center of HIV/AIDS since the beginning of the epidemic; mental health services are dramatically underfunded relative to demand; homelessness creates massive public health challenges; air quality (LA Basin smog) is a chronic public health issue despite dramatic improvements since the 1970s; health disparities between wealthy communities (Beverly Hills, Santa Monica) and low-income communities (Compton, South LA) are extreme
Editorial independence: CountyOffices maintains strict editorial independence from our affiliate partners. Our content is researched from official government sources. Affiliate relationships do not influence our recommendations or the information we publish.
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