2024 California Rules of Court
Rule 7.51. Service of notice of hearing
(a) Direct notice required
(1) Except as otherwise permitted in the Probate Code, a notice sent by mail under Probate Code section 1220 must be mailed individually and directly to the person entitled to notice.
(2) A notice mailed to a person in care of another person is insufficient unless the person entitled to notice is an adult and has directed the party giving notice in writing to send the notice in care of the second person.
(3) Notices mailed to more than one person in the same household must be sent separately to each person.
(b) Notice to attorney
If a notice is required or permitted to be given to a person who is represented by an attorney of record in the proceeding, the notice must be sent as required in Probate Code section 1214.
(c) Notice to guardian or conservator
(1) When a guardian or conservator has been appointed for a person entitled to notice, the notice must be sent to the guardian or conservator.
(2) A copy of the notice must also be sent to the ward or conservatee unless:
(A) The court dispenses with such notice; or
(B) Under Probate Code section 1210 in a decedent's estate proceeding, the notice is personally served on a California- resident guardian or conservator of the estate of the ward or conservatee.
(Subd (c) amended effective January 1, 2004.)
(d) Notice to minor
Except as permitted in Probate Code section 1460.1 for guardianships, conservatorships, and certain protective proceedings under division 4 of the Probate Code, notice to a minor must be sent directly to the minor. A separate copy of the notice must be sent to the person or persons having legal custody of the minor, with whom the minor resides.
(e) Notice required in a decedent's estate when a beneficiary has died
(1) Notice when a beneficiary dies after the decedent
Notice must be sent to the personal representative of a beneficiary who died after the decedent and survived for a period required by the decedent's will. If no personal representative has been appointed for the postdeceased beneficiary, notice must be sent to his or her beneficiaries or other persons entitled to succeed to his or her interest in the decedent's estate.
(2) Notice when a beneficiary of the decedent's will dies before the decedent
When a beneficiary under the will of the decedent died before the decedent or fails to survive the decedent for a period required by the decedent's will, notice must be sent to the persons named in the decedent's will as substitute beneficiaries of the gift to the predeceased beneficiary. If the decedent's will does not make a substitute disposition of that gift, notice must be sent as follows:
(A) If the predeceased beneficiary is a "transferee" under Probate Code section 21110(c), to the issue of the predeceased beneficiary determined under Probate Code section 240 and to the residuary beneficiaries of the decedent or to the decedent's heirs if decedent's will does not provide for distribution of the residue of the estate.
(B) If the predeceased beneficiary is not a "transferee" under Probate Code section 21110(c), to the residuary beneficiaries of the decedent or to the decedent's heirs if decedent's will does not provide for distribution of the residue of the estate.
(f) Notice when Indian Child Welfare Act may apply
If the court or the petitioner knows or has reason to know, as described in section 224.2(d) of the Welfare and Institutions Code, that an Indian child is the subject of a guardianship or specified conservatorship proceeding, notice must be given as prescribed in rule 7.1015(e).
(Subd (f) adopted effective January 1, 2022.)
Rule 7.51 amended effective January 1, 2022; adopted January 1, 2003; previously amended effective January 1, 2004.
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