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Yes! You can use AI to fill out Judicial Council of California Form DE-111, Petition for Probate (Probate—Decedents Estates)

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Judicial Council of California Form DE-111, Petition for Probate (Probate—Decedents Estates), page 1
Complex · 71/100Form Complexity Index

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What this form asks for

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Form DE-111 is the standard California probate petition filed in Superior Court to start a formal probate proceeding for a deceased person’s estate. It tells the court key facts about the decedent (death, residence, heirs/beneficiaries), the existence and status of any will/codicils (including lost will allegations), and the estimated value of estate property. The petition also asks the court to appoint an executor/administrator (or special administrator) and to issue Letters (Testamentary/Administration/Special Administration) so the personal representative has legal authority to act. It is important because the court generally cannot appoint a personal representative or authorize estate administration without a properly completed and filed petition.
Fillable fields177
Pages4
Sections46
Tables and lists1
Questions that depend on earlier answers36
Form Complexity IndexComplex, 71/100

The AI checks your answers before you download

18 checks built for this form, so a wrong date or a missing answer is caught before anyone else sees it.

Court Venue Identification Completeness (County/Branch/Addresses)

Validates that the SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA county is provided and that the branch name, street address, city, ZIP code, and mailing address fields are complete enough to identify the filing venue. This is important because probate petitions must be filed in the correct county and routed to the correct courthouse location. If missing or inconsistent, the submission should be rejected or flagged for correction because it may be filed in the wrong venue or be unprocessable by the clerk.

Case Number and Hearing Details Format (If Provided)

Checks that the case number (if already assigned) matches the court’s expected format and that hearing date/time and department fields are either all blank (for initial filing) or all populated with valid values. This prevents partial scheduling data that can cause miscalendaring or failed docket matching. If validation fails, the system should require correction or treat the filing as an initial petition without hearing details (per configured business rules).

Attorney/Party Contact Block Completeness and Formatting

Ensures the filer is identified as either an attorney or a party without attorney and that the name and address fields are present and structured (street, city, state, ZIP). Validates phone and fax numbers (if provided) are in a valid US format and that email (if provided) is syntactically valid. If invalid or incomplete, the petition may not be serviceable and the court may be unable to contact the filer; the submission should be flagged and returned for correction.

State Bar Number Required When Attorney Is Listed

If an attorney is named, validates that a State Bar number is present and matches a numeric pattern consistent with California bar numbers (and optionally cross-checks against a bar registry if available). This is important for attorney authentication and proper court record indexing. If missing/invalid, the system should block submission or require the filer to correct the attorney identification section.

Estate and Decedent Name Presence and Consistency

Validates that the 'ESTATE OF (name)' and 'DECEDENT (name)' fields are populated and consistent (e.g., the estate name should correspond to the decedent’s legal name). This prevents miscaptioned cases and indexing errors in court systems. If inconsistent or blank, the petition should be rejected or routed to manual review to avoid creating a case under the wrong party.

Decedent Date of Death and Place of Death Validation

Checks that the date of death is a valid date (not in the future, and not unreasonably old if system rules apply) and that the place of death is provided as a recognizable location (city/county/state or equivalent). This information is essential to establish jurisdiction and to support probate administration. If missing or invalid, the petition should be flagged because the court cannot confirm basic eligibility and venue facts.

And 12 more checks
  • Residency/Venue Logic for Decedent (Resident vs Nonresident)
  • Citizenship Field Dependency (Non-U.S. Country Required When Indicated)
  • Petition Type Selection (Mutually Exclusive Primary Relief Requested)
  • Personal Representative Appointment Section Completeness
  • Will/Intestacy Consistency (Will Admitted vs Intestate)
  • Will and Codicil Date Format and Presence When Will Is Referenced
  • Lost Will Attachment Requirement and Explanation Dependency
  • Bond Election and Amount Validation (Including Blocked Account Deposits)
  • Estate Value Arithmetic and Non-Negative Currency Checks
  • Heirship/Survivor Boxes Logical Consistency and Required Listing in Item 8
  • Item 8 Person Entries Structure (Name/Relationship/Age/Address) and Age Validity
  • Signature, Verification, and Date Requirements (All Petitioners Sign)

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How to Fill Out DE-111 Online for Free in 2026

What the AI walks you through.

  1. Select the type of petition requested on DE-111 (e.g., probate of will, letters of administration, special administration, lost will) and enter the Superior Court county/branch, case caption (Estate of), and hearing information if known.
  2. Enter petitioner and attorney/party information, then provide decedent details (date/place of death, residence, citizenship, and address at time of death) and confirm venue in the filing county.
  3. Identify the requested personal representative (executor/administrator/special administrator), state eligibility/residency, and indicate whether the appointment is based on a will, intestacy, nomination, or priority (adding required attachments for nominations/priority explanations).
  4. Provide will/codicil information (dates, whether self-proving, whether originals are attached, and if a will/codicil is lost include the required statement/copy and reasons rebutting the Probate Code § 6124 presumption).
  5. Complete the estate value section by estimating personal property, real property (gross and net of encumbrances), and any annual gross income figures, then total the amounts as required by the form.
  6. Address bond and IAEA requests: indicate whether bond is waived or should be fixed, provide reasons/waivers as attachments when required, and check whether authority under the Independent Administration of Estates Act is requested (full or limited).
  7. List all required persons (heirs, beneficiaries, and others referenced by the form) with names/relationships/ages/addresses, attach continuation pages as needed, then sign and verify under penalty of perjury (all petitioners sign; one may verify) and generate a filing-ready PDF for court submission.

Common Mistakes in Completing DE-111

The ones the AI is built to catch.

Leaving the court caption and case information incomplete or inconsistent
People often skip the top caption fields (county, branch name, street/mailing address, estate name, and case number) or fill them inconsistently across pages. This happens because filers assume the clerk will “look it up” or because they copy information from another case. Missing or mismatched caption information can delay filing, cause documents to be misfiled, or require re-submission. Use the exact county/branch for the filing location, keep the “ESTATE OF (name)” and decedent name identical everywhere, and add the case number once assigned.
Selecting the wrong petition type (probate vs. letters vs. lost will vs. special administration)
DE-111 contains multiple checkboxes for different relief (Probate of Will, Letters of Administration, Letters Testamentary, Special Administration, Lost Will, and IAEA authority), and filers frequently check the wrong box or check conflicting options. This usually happens when people confuse “executor” vs. “administrator,” or assume a will automatically means “letters testamentary” without confirming who is nominated and able to serve. Choosing the wrong petition type can lead to continuances, amended petitions, or issuance of the wrong letters. Confirm whether there is a valid will, whether an executor is named and willing/able to act, and whether you truly need special administration or a lost-will proceeding before checking boxes.
Incorrect decedent death details and residency/place-of-death entries
A common error is entering an incorrect date of death, omitting the place of death, or misunderstanding the residency question (resident of the county vs. nonresident with property in the county). This happens because filers rely on memory instead of the death certificate or do not understand that venue depends on residence or property location. Errors can create venue challenges, require amendments, or delay issuance of letters. Use the death certificate for the date/place of death and provide the full residence address at time of death; if nonresident, clearly specify the county property location that supports filing there.
Failing to properly identify and attach the will/codicils (including translations and typed copies)
People often state there is a will but forget to attach copies, omit codicils, fail to include typed copies of handwritten documents, or skip English translations for foreign-language documents. This happens because they assume the court only needs the original later or they do not realize every referenced testamentary document must be provided. Missing attachments can result in rejection, continuance, or inability to admit the will to probate. Attach copies of the will and all codicils, include typed copies of handwritten instruments, and provide certified/competent translations when required.
Misunderstanding the “lost will” requirements and not rebutting the presumption of revocation
When the original will is missing, filers frequently check the “lost will” box but do not include a copy or a statement of the testamentary words, and they fail to explain why the presumption in Probate Code § 6124 does not apply. This happens because people think “lost” simply means “we can’t find it,” without realizing the court requires specific proof. Inadequate lost-will support can lead to denial of probate of the will and the estate proceeding as intestate. Provide the required attachment: a copy or detailed statement of the will’s contents and a clear factual explanation (with supporting declarations if available) showing the will was not revoked.
Bond section errors (requesting waiver without valid basis or missing required waivers/attachments)
Filers often check “bond not be required” without meeting one of the listed statutory/waiver conditions, or they claim beneficiaries/heirs waived bond but do not attach the signed waivers as required (Attachments 3e(2) or 3e(3)). This happens because bond is confusing and people assume a will automatically waives bond or that verbal family agreement is enough. Incorrect bond handling can delay issuance of letters or result in the court ordering bond anyway. Only request a bond waiver if the will waives it or all required adults have signed written waivers, and attach the waivers or explain the bond amount deviation in the specified attachment.
Estate value calculations entered incorrectly (gross vs. net, encumbrances, subtotals, and totals)
A frequent mistake is mixing up gross fair market value and net value of real property, forgetting to subtract encumbrances, leaving subtotals blank, or entering inconsistent totals across the personal property/real property sections. This happens because people use informal estimates, confuse equity with value, or do not follow the add/subtract instructions on the form. Incorrect valuations can affect bond amounts, publication/notice expectations, and court review, and may require amended petitions. Use reasonable date-of-death estimates, list encumbrances separately, complete each subtotal line, and double-check that totals equal the sum of the referenced line items.
Publication section mistakes (wrong newspaper, missing selection, or misunderstanding who arranges publication)
People often leave the publication item blank, list a newspaper that is not approved for probate notices in the county, or check both “Publication requested” and “Publication to be arranged.” This happens because filers assume any local paper works or do not realize publication is a required procedural step tied to the hearing. Errors can cause continuances if notice is defective or not timely. Confirm the court-approved adjudicated newspaper for the county, select only one publication option, and ensure publication is arranged early enough to meet statutory timing.
Heirship/survivor checkboxes completed inconsistently or without completing the required combinations
The survivor section requires specific combinations (e.g., check (1) or (2) and (3) or (4), etc.), and filers frequently check contradictory boxes (e.g., “no spouse” and “spouse”) or fail to complete the required set. This happens because the layout is dense and people skim, or they misunderstand terms like “issue,” “predeceased,” and “registered domestic partner.” Inconsistent heirship statements can trigger court questions, require amendments, and delay appointment. Carefully follow the “check items …” instructions, use the legal definitions, and verify family status with records (marriage/divorce, domestic partnership, birth/adoption) before selecting boxes.
Omitting required interested persons in Item 8 (names, relationships, ages, and addresses)
Item 8 requires listing all persons mentioned in the will/codicils, all heirs identified by the earlier checkboxes, and certain trust beneficiaries when the trustee and personal representative are the same person; filers often list only “closest” relatives or omit ages/addresses. This happens because people do not know all relatives, assume unknowns can be ignored, or do not realize the court expects “reasonably ascertainable” information. Missing interested persons can lead to defective notice, objections, and continuances. List everyone required, include complete mailing addresses and ages (or best estimates), and if information is unknown, document diligent efforts and use an attachment to explain what is not reasonably ascertainable.
Signature and verification problems (missing petitioner signatures, missing perjury declaration date, or wrong signer)
Filers commonly forget that all petitioners must sign, omit the verification language/date, or sign in the wrong place (attorney signature vs. petitioner signature). This happens because the form spans multiple pages and the signature instructions are easy to miss. Missing or improper signatures can cause rejection or require re-filing, delaying the hearing and issuance of letters. Ensure every petitioner signs where required, one petitioner (at minimum) properly verifies under penalty of perjury with a date and printed name, and include additional petitioner signatures after the last attachment if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions About DE-111

 

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How does the AI fill out DE-111?
You answer a few questions in plain words, or upload a document you already have. The AI reads what you give it and puts each answer into the right field of DE-111, on every page, in seconds. It checks the answers against the form's own rules, and you review and change anything before you download, print or sign.
What happens to my information?
It is encrypted in transit and at rest, and it is never used to train AI.
How complex is DE-111 to fill out?
DE-111 has a Form Complexity Index of 71 out of 100, in the complex tier: 177 fillable fields across 4 pages. Instafill.ai's AI fills it in under a minute, with every field there for you to review before you download.
What is Judicial Council form DE-111 (Petition for Probate) used for?
Form DE-111 is used to ask the California Superior Court to open a probate case for a deceased person’s estate. It can request that a will be admitted to probate and that the court appoint a personal representative and issue Letters (authority to act for the estate).
Who should file DE-111?
A person entitled to be appointed (such as the named executor in the will, an heir, or a nominee of someone with priority) typically files this petition. If there are multiple petitioners, all petitioners must sign the petition.
What types of probate requests can I make on this form?
DE-111 can be used to request probate of a will, Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration (if there is no will), Letters of Administration with Will Annexed, or Letters of Special Administration (including with general powers). It can also request authorization under the Independent Administration of Estates Act (IAEA) with full or limited authority.
What information about the decedent is required in the petition?
You must provide the decedent’s date and place of death, residence at the time of death, and whether the decedent was a resident of the county where you are filing (or a nonresident who left property in that county). The form also asks about citizenship if the decedent was a citizen of a country other than the United States.
Do I need to attach the will and codicils to DE-111?
Yes—if there is a will and/or codicils, you generally attach copies as indicated in the form (including typed copies of handwritten documents and English translations of foreign-language documents). The original will is typically lodged with the court per local filing rules, while the petition references and attaches copies as required.
What if the original will is lost—can I still file this petition?
Yes—the form includes options for a “Lost Will” petition. You must attach a copy of the lost will/codicil or a written statement of the testamentary words (or their substance) and explain why the presumption of revocation under Probate Code section 6124 does not apply.
How do I choose between executor, administrator, and administrator with will annexed?
If there is a will naming an executor who will serve, you request appointment of an executor. If there is no will (intestate), you request an administrator; if there is a will but no executor can or will act, you request an administrator with will annexed.
What is a special administrator, and when would I request one on DE-111?
A special administrator is a temporary personal representative appointed to handle urgent estate matters before a general personal representative is appointed. If you request a special administrator, you must state the grounds and the powers requested in an attachment (as the form directs).
What is the Independent Administration of Estates Act (IAEA), and what does “full” vs. “limited” authority mean?
IAEA allows the personal representative to administer the estate with reduced court supervision. “Full authority” generally permits more actions without prior court approval (subject to notice requirements), while “limited authority” requires court approval for certain transactions; the petition asks you to request one or the other.
How do I complete the section about the estate’s property values?
You must estimate the character and value of the estate, including personal property, gross fair market value of real property, encumbrances, and net value of real property. The form also asks for annual gross income from real and personal property and totals/subtotals based on the amounts you enter.
When is a bond required, and how can I request that bond be waived?
Bond may be required to protect the estate unless it is waived or not required by law. The form lists common reasons bond may be waived (for example, the will waives bond, all adult beneficiaries/heirs waive bond, or the personal representative is a corporate fiduciary or exempt government agency), and you must attach the required waivers or explanations where indicated.
What does it mean to allow deposits in a blocked account, and when is it used?
A blocked account is a restricted bank account where estate funds cannot be withdrawn without a court order. If requested, you must specify the financial institution and location, and the form indicates that receipts will be filed to confirm the deposit.
Do I have to publish notice of the probate hearing, and how do I fill out the publication section?
In most probate cases, notice of the hearing must be published in an adjudicated newspaper. The form asks you to list the newspaper name and indicate whether publication is requested, will be arranged by the petitioner, or is to be arranged in another way (depending on local practice).
How do I list heirs and relatives in the survivorship sections (spouse, children, parents, next of kin)?
You check the boxes that match the decedent’s family situation (spouse/partner, children/issue, parents, grandparents, next of kin, etc.). Then you list names, relationships, ages, and addresses of the required persons on the next page (or on Attachment 8 if more space is needed).
Where do I file DE-111 and what else should I submit with it?
You file it in the Superior Court of California in the county identified on the form (generally where the decedent lived or where property is located). You typically submit the petition, required attachments (will/codicils, nominations, bond waivers, lost-will statements, Attachment 8 heir list), and any local court forms and filing fees required by that county.
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