You fill out California Form GC-150 by entering the case caption, attorney or party information, the conservatee’s or proposed conservatee’s name, the type of hearing, and the hearing date, time, and department, then serving and filing it under California Probate Code §§ 1822 and 1460. The form is the Notice of Hearing (Guardianship or Conservatorship) issued by the Judicial Council of California, and it tells every interested person when and where the court will decide a petition.
Defective notice is the #1 reason California probate hearings get continued, and according to the Judicial Council’s 2024 Court Statistics Report, conservatorship and guardianship filings exceeded 38,000 statewide last year, meaning a single GC-150 mistake can cost weeks of delay and hundreds in re-noticing fees. Filling it out correctly the first time protects your due-process rights and keeps your case on calendar.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📄 How to complete every box, line, and checkbox on the official Form GC-150
- ⚖️ The legal rules that control who must be served and when, under the California Probate Code
- 🧾 Three real-world scenarios with named people, including an heir, a trustee, and a conservator
- 🚫 The seven biggest mistakes filers make and the exact consequence of each error
- ❓ Ten plain-English FAQs answering the most common questions about service, timing, and proof
What Is California Form GC-150?
California Form GC-150 is the Notice of Hearing (Guardianship or Conservatorship), an official Judicial Council form adopted under California Rules of Court, Rule 7.10. The form gives formal, written notice to every person entitled by law to know about a court hearing in a guardianship or conservatorship case, and it must be used when a hearing is set on a petition, account, report, or motion in those cases.
The form lives inside the probate division of the superior court, but it is not the same as Form DE-120, which is the notice for decedents’ estates and trusts. Mixing up GC-150 and DE-120 is a frequent mistake, and the consequence is rejection at the clerk’s window or by the e-filing portal. The current version is revised January 1, 2020, and you can always pull the latest copy from the California Courts forms page.
GC-150 is a mandatory form when its subject matter applies, meaning a court cannot accept a substitute or a homemade version. The legal authority sits in Probate Code § 1460, which controls notice in guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, and in Probate Code § 1511 for guardianships specifically. A common misconception is that an email or a phone call counts as notice, but California law requires written notice on the approved form, and the consequence of skipping it is a void order.
Who Files Form GC-150?
The petitioner or the petitioner’s attorney files GC-150. In a conservatorship, that is usually the proposed conservator, a relative, or the Public Guardian of the county. In a guardianship, the petitioner is typically a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or family friend seeking authority over a minor’s person or estate.
The clerk of the court does not prepare the form for you, even if the hearing date is set by the court. Self-represented filers must complete and serve GC-150 themselves, or the case will not move forward. A real-world example: when Maria Lopez petitioned to become the conservator of her mother in Riverside County, she assumed the clerk would mail the notice — the court continued the hearing 45 days because Maria had to redo the GC-150 herself.
When Is GC-150 Required?
GC-150 is required every time a hearing is set on a petition or motion in a guardianship or conservatorship case, including the initial petition, accountings, status reports, requests for substituted judgment, and petitions to terminate. The deadline to mail the notice is at least 15 days before the hearing, under Probate Code § 1215 and § 1460(b)(3).
The consequence of missing the 15-day window is a continuance, and in serious cases, a denial of the petition for lack of jurisdiction. A common misconception is that you can serve notice “a few days late” if everyone shows up — but California courts strictly enforce the 15-day rule, and the proposed conservatee’s right to notice is a constitutional due-process issue under Conservatorship of Moore (1986) 185 Cal.App.3d 718.
Line-by-Line Walkthrough of Form GC-150
The form has one page with a caption, six numbered items, and a clerk’s certificate. Each box matters, and skipping even the case-number line will cause a clerk rejection.
Caption Box (Top of Form)
The caption box at the top contains four sub-fields: attorney or party name, attorney’s State Bar number, mailing address, and phone, fax, and email. Self-represented filers write “In Pro Per” where the State Bar number goes. The “Attorney For” line should say “Petitioner”, “Conservator”, or “Guardian” depending on your role.
The plain-English meaning is simple: who is sending this notice and how can the court reach them? The consequence of leaving the address blank is that the clerk will not file the form, because the court cannot mail back a conformed copy. James Carter, a son seeking conservatorship of his father in San Diego, once left his phone number off and missed the court’s call about a tentative ruling, costing him another hearing date.
A common misconception is that you can hand-write the caption on a printout — that is fine, but the writing must be legible in black or blue ink. Smudged or pencil entries are routinely rejected, and the San Diego Superior Court probate filing rules explicitly warn against pencil.
Court Information
Right under the caption, you enter the Superior Court of California, County of _____, plus the street address, mailing address, city and zip, and branch name (for example, “Stanley Mosk Courthouse” in Los Angeles). This tells everyone where to show up.
The consequence of naming the wrong branch is wasted travel and a missed hearing. Many California counties have multiple courthouses that hear probate matters, and the Los Angeles Superior Court probate locations page lists the specific filing windows. Aisha Patel, filing in Los Angeles, listed the wrong branch and her relatives drove 30 miles to the wrong courthouse.
Case Name and Number
The case name reads either “Conservatorship of the Person and Estate of [Name]“ or “Guardianship of [Minor’s Name]“. The case number comes from the clerk after you file the petition (Form GC-310 for conservatorships or GC-210 for guardianships).
If you do not yet have a case number — for example, you are filing the very first petition — the clerk assigns one at filing, and you must update GC-150 before mailing it out. The consequence of mailing a GC-150 with a blank case number is that recipients cannot look up the case online, and any objections they file may be misrouted.
Item 1: NOTICE Is Given That
Item 1 is a fill-in-the-blank: “__________ (name) has filed”. You enter the petitioner’s full legal name and check whether the filing is a petition, report, account, or other, then briefly describe the filing — for example, “Petition for Appointment of Probate Conservator of the Person and Estate.”
Be precise. Writing only “Petition” is too vague, and the recipient cannot tell what the hearing is about, which violates the spirit of Probate Code § 1822. The consequence of vagueness is that the proposed conservatee or interested party can later argue the notice was inadequate and ask the court to vacate the order.
Item 2: Hearing Date, Time, and Department
Item 2 lists the hearing date, time, department, and room number, plus the courthouse address if it differs from the caption. Get this exactly right — copy it directly from the clerk’s-issued Notice of Case Assignment or the court’s online calendar.
The plain-English consequence of an incorrect time is that family members may show up at 8:30 a.m. when the hearing is at 1:30 p.m., and the court can dismiss the petition for failure to appear. A common misconception is that “department” means a department store — in California, department means the assigned courtroom, like Department 9.
Item 3: Confidential Supplemental Information (Conservatorship Only)
Item 3 is checked only when the filing is a petition for appointment of a conservator that is accompanied by a Confidential Supplemental Information form (GC-312). It alerts the proposed conservatee that confidential medical and financial information has been filed under seal.
The consequence of forgetting to check Item 3 when GC-312 is in fact filed is that the proposed conservatee may not realize sensitive information is in the court record, undermining due process. This box does not apply in guardianship cases — leaving it unchecked there is correct.
Item 4: Right to Support Person
Item 4 informs the proposed conservatee or limited conservatee of the right to be represented by a support person under Probate Code § 1828.5. You generally do not need to alter this language — it is pre-printed and statutory.
A common misconception is that “support person” means an attorney; it does not. A support person is a friend, advocate, or family member who helps the proposed conservatee understand and participate. Failure to include this notice can be grounds for the court to vacate the appointment.
Clerk’s Certificate of Posting (If Applicable)
When the law requires posting (such as a notice of sale of real property), the clerk’s certificate at the bottom is completed by court staff. Filers leave it blank.
The consequence of writing in this section yourself is form rejection. Always let the clerk handle this box.
How to Serve Form GC-150
Filling out the form is only half the job — you must serve it correctly. Service in conservatorship and guardianship cases follows a hybrid rule under Probate Code §§ 1460, 1511, and 1822.
Personal Service vs. Mail
The proposed conservatee must be personally served with the GC-150, the citation, and a copy of the petition at least 15 days before the hearing under § 1824. For minors aged 12 and older in a guardianship, § 1511(b) also requires personal service.
All other relatives — spouses, adult children, parents, siblings — receive notice by first-class mail, also at least 15 days before the hearing. The plain-English reason for the split: people whose liberty or custody is at stake get the strongest form of notice, while extended family gets a written heads-up.
Who Must Be Served
For a conservatorship, you must serve the proposed conservatee, the spouse or registered domestic partner, and all relatives within the second degree (parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, and grandparents). For a guardianship, you serve the parents, anyone with legal custody, and grandparents.
The consequence of missing a relative is that the court will continue the hearing or, worse, void any order entered. Daniel Nguyen in Sacramento forgot to mail GC-150 to his estranged uncle and the judge continued the case 30 days, requiring an amended Notice of Hearing Proof of Service (GC-020).
Proof of Service: Form GC-020
After mailing or personal service, the server signs the Proof of Service of Notice of Hearing (Form GC-020) and you file it with the court before the hearing. The server must be 18 or older and not a party to the case.
A common misconception is that the petitioner can serve themselves — they cannot. A neutral adult must do the mailing or personal service. Filing GC-020 late or signed by a party is grounds for continuance.
Three Real Scenarios With Examples
Different facts trigger different boxes on GC-150. Here are three of the most common situations in California probate practice.
Scenario 1 — Initial Conservatorship Petition
Maria Lopez files Form GC-310 to become conservator of her mother, Elena Lopez, in Riverside County. The court sets a hearing on June 10, 2026, in Department 9 at 8:30 a.m. Maria fills out GC-150 with her own name in the caption (In Pro Per), checks Item 3 because she filed a GC-312, and personally serves Elena and mails to Elena’s two siblings.
| What Maria Does | Effect on the Case |
|---|---|
| Lists hearing as June 10, 2026, 8:30 a.m., Dept. 9 | Court accepts notice as timely |
| Personally serves Elena 16 days before hearing | Satisfies Probate Code § 1824 |
| Mails GC-150 to Elena’s siblings 16 days out | Satisfies Probate Code § 1822 |
| Files GC-020 proof three days before hearing | Court can confirm jurisdiction |
Scenario 2 — Guardianship of a Minor
James Carter, a grandfather in San Diego, petitions for guardianship of his 14-year-old grandson Tyler Carter after Tyler’s mother passes away. James personally serves Tyler (because Tyler is over 12) and the boy’s father, and mails the notice to Tyler’s grandparents on the maternal side.
| Action by James | Result |
|---|---|
| Personally serves Tyler at 14 years old | Complies with § 1511(b) |
| Personally serves the surviving father | Required under § 1511(a) |
| Mails GC-150 to maternal grandparents | Satisfies notice to relatives |
| Forgets to list Department on GC-150 | Court continues hearing 30 days |
Scenario 3 — Annual Conservator’s Account
Aisha Patel serves as conservator for her aunt, Rina Patel. She files an annual account on Form GC-400 and must use GC-150 to give notice of the hearing on the account. She mails the GC-150 to Rina’s children and to Rina herself, because Rina is still alive and entitled to notice.
| Step Aisha Takes | Practical Outcome |
|---|---|
| Describes Item 1 as “First Account Current” | Recipients understand the purpose |
| Mails notice 16 days before hearing | Meets the 15-day rule |
| Attaches a copy of GC-400 to the mailing | Allows objections under § 2620 |
| Files GC-020 the day after mailing | Establishes timely service record |
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out GC-150
Errors on GC-150 are responsible for thousands of probate continuances every year in California. Each mistake below has a direct consequence.
- Using DE-120 instead of GC-150 — The clerk rejects the filing because DE-120 is for decedents’ estates, not guardianship or conservatorship matters
- Leaving the case number blank — Recipients cannot find the case, and any objection they file may be misdocketed, harming due process
- Writing only “Petition” in Item 1 — Vague descriptions violate § 1822 and let opposing parties later void the order
- Mailing instead of personally serving the proposed conservatee — The court loses jurisdiction over the conservatee under § 1824, dismissing the petition
- Serving fewer than 15 days before the hearing — The judge continues the matter, sometimes for 30 to 60 days, delaying urgent relief
- Letting the petitioner serve the notice — A party cannot serve their own papers; the proof of service is invalid and must be redone
- Forgetting to file GC-020 proof of service — Without proof in the file, the court cannot make findings of proper notice and will not hear the case
- Listing the wrong courthouse branch — Family appears at the wrong location, missing the hearing entirely
- Using pencil or illegible handwriting — Many counties reject the form at the filing window
- Skipping Item 3 when GC-312 is filed — The proposed conservatee is not warned about confidential filings, breaching due process
Do’s and Don’ts of GC-150
Following the rules of the road keeps your case on calendar.
- Do download the latest version from the California Courts forms page because outdated versions are sometimes rejected
- Do double-check the hearing date against the court’s online calendar before mailing
- Do keep a copy of every page you serve, since you will need it for GC-020 and any objections
- Do use a third-party adult server to maintain neutrality and meet Code of Civil Procedure § 1013
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Do review the local rules in counties like Alameda and Orange, which add filing nuances
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Don’t sign GC-020 yourself if you are the petitioner, because parties cannot serve their own papers
- Don’t wait until the last minute to mail, because postal delays can push you under 15 days
- Don’t rely on email or text alone, because California still requires paper service in most probate notices
- Don’t forget to update the case number after the clerk assigns one
- Don’t file the GC-150 without first reading the self-help probate guide, because most counties expect petitioners to know the basics
Pros and Cons of Self-Filing GC-150
Filing without an attorney is allowed in California, but it carries trade-offs.
- Pro: Saves $500 to $2,000 in attorney fees that would otherwise be charged for a routine notice
- Pro: Builds your understanding of the case so you can spot issues with later filings
- Pro: Court self-help centers, including the California Courts Self-Help Center, provide free guidance
- Pro: The form itself is short, only one page with six numbered items
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Pro: You control the timeline and avoid attorney scheduling delays
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Con: A single notice mistake can delay the case 30 to 60 days, which is a heavy price in urgent cases
- Con: You cannot personally serve your own papers, so you must coordinate with a third-party adult
- Con: Local rules vary by county, and missing a local rule can lead to rejection
- Con: Conservatorships often involve LPS conservatorship rules under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act that overlap with GC-150 timing
- Con: If a contested issue arises, you may need to hire counsel midstream, costing more than starting with one
Filing Fees and Where to File
The petition fee is generally $435 for opening a guardianship or conservatorship case, per the Statewide Civil Fee Schedule. The GC-150 itself carries no separate fee — it is filed with the petition or as a follow-up document.
If you cannot afford the fee, you can file Form FW-001 (Request to Waive Court Fees) under Government Code § 68631. The consequence of skipping the fee waiver when you qualify is paying out-of-pocket money you do not need to spend; the consequence of falsely claiming hardship is fee recovery and potential perjury exposure.
Most counties now require electronic filing in probate. For example, Los Angeles requires e-filing for represented parties and allows it for self-represented filers. Check your county’s rules before printing paper copies.
Court Rulings That Shape GC-150 Practice
California courts repeatedly enforce the 15-day notice rule strictly. In Conservatorship of Moore (1986) 185 Cal.App.3d 718, the court held that defective notice voids a conservatorship order because the proposed conservatee has a constitutional right to be heard.
In Estate of Sapp (2019) 36 Cal.App.5th 86, the court underscored that interested parties must receive meaningful written notice — vague descriptions of the petition fail this test. The plain-English consequence is that Item 1 of GC-150 should describe the relief sought in clear, specific words, not legal shorthand.
In Conservatorship of Christopher A. (2006) 139 Cal.App.4th 604, the court reinforced that personal service on the proposed conservatee cannot be replaced by mail, even if the proposed conservatee is in a care facility. The consequence is that conservators must arrange personal service even when it is logistically difficult.
Key Entities Involved in a GC-150 Filing
Several people and offices interact with the GC-150 form, and each has a defined role.
The petitioner prepares and signs the form. The proposed conservatee or minor ward is entitled to the highest level of notice. The clerk of the court issues the case number and the Notice of Case Assignment and may post the notice when posting is required. The court investigator, appointed under Probate Code § 1826, interviews the proposed conservatee and reviews whether GC-150 service was proper.
The judge presides over the hearing and confirms on the record that proper notice was given before ruling. The county Public Guardian may be the petitioner in cases of indigent or unrepresented adults. Statewide oversight is provided by the Judicial Council of California, which publishes and updates the form.
County-Specific Nuances
Although GC-150 is a statewide Judicial Council form, counties layer on local rules. Los Angeles County Local Rule 4.3 requires probate notes to be reviewed online before the hearing, and counsel must address each note. San Francisco’s probate department requires a courtesy copy of the GC-150 and proof of service delivered to the courtroom clerk one week before the hearing.
Orange County uses a tentative-ruling system, meaning the GC-150 description in Item 1 must align with the petition’s exact title or the tentative will mark the case “off-calendar.” The consequence of ignoring local rules is being dropped from the calendar even when statewide rules are met.
FAQs
Is California Form GC-150 mandatory?
Yes. GC-150 is a mandatory Judicial Council form under California Rules of Court, Rule 7.10, and courts will not accept substitute notices for guardianship or conservatorship hearings.
Do I have to personally serve the proposed conservatee?
Yes. Under Probate Code § 1824, the proposed conservatee must be personally served with the citation, the petition, and the GC-150 at least 15 days before the hearing.
Can I email Form GC-150 to relatives?
No. Email service is not authorized for most probate notices unless the recipient has consented in writing under CCP § 1010.6; first-class mail is the standard.
Is there a filing fee for GC-150 by itself?
No. GC-150 carries no standalone fee, but the underlying petition typically costs $435 according to the Statewide Civil Fee Schedule.
Do I file GC-150 before or after I get a hearing date?
No, you cannot file it before the hearing date is set, because Item 2 requires the date, time, department, and address from the court’s case-assignment notice.
Can the petitioner sign the proof of service?
No. Under CCP § 1013, the person serving must be at least 18 and not a party, so the petitioner cannot sign GC-020.
Is GC-150 the same as DE-120?
No. GC-150 is for guardianship and conservatorship matters, while DE-120 is for decedents’ estates and trusts under separate Probate Code sections.
Can I serve a minor under 12 in a guardianship?
No, personal service on a minor under 12 is not required, but you must personally serve minors aged 12 or older under Probate Code § 1511(b).
Does a fee waiver apply to GC-150 service costs?
Yes. A granted Form FW-001 fee waiver waives initial filing fees and may cover sheriff service costs under Government Code § 68631.
Can I fix a mistake on GC-150 after mailing?
Yes, but you must serve a corrected GC-150 and start the 15-day clock over, then file an amended Form GC-020 proof of service before the hearing.
Is virtual appearance allowed at the GC-150 hearing?
Yes. Many California courts permit remote appearances under CCP § 367.75, but you must check the local courtroom rules and note any virtual instructions on the GC-150 if required.
Does GC-150 expire if the hearing is continued?
No, but if the continuance is more than a short clerk-set date, courts often require a new GC-150 with the updated date and renewed 15-day notice to all parties.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out California Form GC-120 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form GC-200 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form GC-205 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form GC-240 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form GC-275 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form GC-385 (w/Examples) + FAQs