Chapter 1. Proceedings To Establish Death of California Probate Code >> Division 2. >> Part 4. >> Chapter 1.

If title to or an interest in real or personal property is affected by the death of a person, another person who claims an interest in the property may commence proceedings pursuant to this chapter to establish the fact of the death.

(a) Proceedings under this chapter shall be commenced in the superior court of the county of which the decedent was a resident at the time of death or in the superior court of any county in which the property is located.
  (b) Proceedings under this chapter shall be commenced by filing a petition that sets forth all of the following information:
  (1) The jurisdictional facts.
  (2) A particular description of the affected property and of the interest of the petitioner in the property.

If proceedings for the administration of the decedent's estate are pending, proceedings under this chapter may be combined with the administration proceedings in the following manner:
  (a) The petition shall be filed in the administration proceedings by the person affected or by the personal representative.
  (b) The petition shall be filed at any time before the filing of a petition for final distribution. The petition may be included in a petition for probate of the will of the decedent or for letters.
  (c) The petition shall be filed without any additional fee.

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), notice of the hearing shall be given as provided in Section 1220.
  (b) If the person who commenced the proceedings files an affidavit with the petition stating that the person has no reason to believe there is any opposition to, or contest of, the petition, the court may act ex parte.

(a) The petition and supporting affidavits may be received in evidence and acted upon by the court with the same force and effect as if the petitioner and affiants were personally present and testified to the facts set forth.
  (b) The court may render judgment establishing the fact of the death. The judgment is prima facie evidence of the fact of the death. The presumption established by this subdivision is a presumption affecting the burden of producing evidence.