Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in California

The person who has custody of the will is SUPPOSED to lodge the will with the court within 90 days of discoverying the testators death. If the will is lodged you may be able to view the will. The court in the California county where the decedent lived and died has jurisdiction over the probate. If the estate is less than $100,000 no court supervision is required. The only other way to determine if you are an heir is to petition the court to determine "heirship". If things go as they should (which they often don't) the person who has possession of the will should notify the named executor and if no executor then the beneficiaries/close family members.