Free California forms for planning an estate or settling one: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed, and the probate forms an executor files.
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
In California, a will is signed before 2Cal. Prob. Code § 6110Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and the witnesses sign an affidavit at probate instead of a self-proving affidavitCal. Prob. Code § 6110Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
California allows a choice for a healthcare power of attorney: 2Cal. Prob. Code § 4701Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses or a notary.
California requires explicit durability language for a power of attorney to survive incapacityCal. Prob. Code §§ 56, 4053, 4120, 4121, 4122, 4123, 4124, 4127, 4128, 4129, 4130, 4150, 4152, 4200, 4230, 4264, 4300, 4401, 4402, 4450, 4451, 4452, 4453, 4455, 4456, 4457, 4459, 4461, 4462, 4463, 4464, 4465; Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1095, 1189, 1556, 2356, 2933; Cal. Fam. Code § 6500; AB 2199 (Stats. 2026, ch. 47) §§ 4401, 4466 eff. 2027-01-01 per Cal. Const. art. IV § 8(c)(1); verified against leginfo.legislature.ca.gov 2026-07-14, re-verified 2026-09-18; Cal. Prob. Code §§ 3, 872, 879.1, 879.2, 4054, 4409 and Stats. 2024, ch. 799 (SB 1458) read 2026-10-11Verified Sep 18, 2026View source, and it is signed before 2Cal. Prob. Code §§ 56, 4053, 4120, 4121, 4122, 4123, 4124, 4127, 4128, 4129, 4130, 4150, 4152, 4200, 4230, 4264, 4300, 4401, 4402, 4450, 4451, 4452, 4453, 4455, 4456, 4457, 4459, 4461, 4462, 4463, 4464, 4465; Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1095, 1189, 1556, 2356, 2933; Cal. Fam. Code § 6500; AB 2199 (Stats. 2026, ch. 47) §§ 4401, 4466 eff. 2027-01-01 per Cal. Const. art. IV § 8(c)(1); verified against leginfo.legislature.ca.gov 2026-07-14, re-verified 2026-09-18; Cal. Prob. Code §§ 3, 872, 879.1, 879.2, 4054, 4409 and Stats. 2024, ch. 799 (SB 1458) read 2026-10-11Verified Sep 18, 2026View source witnesses or a notary.
In California, a pour-over will is signed before 2Cal. Prob. Code § 6110Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.
In California, a revocable transfer on death deed is signed before a notaryCal. Prob. Code 5600-5698Verified Oct 18, 2026View source and 2Cal. Prob. Code 5600-5698Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, then recorded with the county before the owner's deathCal. Prob. Code 5600-5698Verified Oct 18, 2026View source, within 60 daysCal. Prob. Code 5600-5698Verified Oct 18, 2026View source of notarization.
Free calculators and checklists for planning or settling an estate in California: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay, and inheritance taxes.
In California, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees set by statute as a percentage of the gross estateCal. Prob. Code § 10810Verified Sep 8, 2026View source; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
Probate in California takes 9 months to 12 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees set by statute as a percentage of the gross estateCal. Prob. Code § 10810Verified Sep 8, 2026View source; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
An attorney-prepared revocable trust in California runs $4,320Estimate: 10 hours at $432, Clio's California Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $6,480Estimate: 15 hours at $432, Clio's California Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source and a simple will $1,329Estimate: 3 hours at $443, Clio's California Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,658Estimate: 6 hours at $443, Clio's California Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
Probate on a $500,000 estate in California costs an estimated $27,235Cal. Prob. Code § 10810Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees are statutory (set by law)Cal. Prob. Code § 10810Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
California automatically revokes an ex-spouse as beneficiary at divorceCal. Prob. Code § 5040Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; employer plans under ERISA follow federal rules either way, so a 401(k) beneficiary changes only by a new designation.
Probate on a $500,000 estate in California costs an estimated $27,235Cal. Prob. Code § 10810Verified Sep 8, 2026View source and takes 9 months to 12 months for a simple estate, with attorney fees set by statute as a percentage of the gross estateCal. Prob. Code § 10810Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Estates under $208,850Cal. Prob. Code § 13100Verified Sep 8, 2026View source can use a small-estate procedure instead.
219 estate planning firms in California, by county and firm type.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to discuss your situation and verify their current practice areas and availability.
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219 firms
FirmModesto, CA
Modesto firm serving Stanislaus, Merced, San Joaquin, Tuolumne, Calaveras, and Fresno Counties with probate administration, trust administration, and estate and gift tax planning alongside wills and trusts. Offers a free consultation on all new probate matters.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax Planning
FirmSan Luis Obispo, CA
San Luis Obispo firm in an office across from the courthouse, handling probate, trust administration and termination, and post-death asset transfers across the Central Coast from the Five Cities to Santa Maria. Also drafts special needs trusts and handles conservatorships. Free consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax Planningand 2 more
FirmCarlsbad, CA
Carlsbad boutique serving San Diego County probate court, focused exclusively on probate, trust administration, and estate planning. Guides successor trustees through their duties and deadlines and has administered 250+ San Diego County estates since the firm was founded in 2021. Free video or phone consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate
FirmTorrance, CA
Torrance and Pasadena firm serving Los Angeles and Orange County families with probate and estate administration, trust administration, and conservatorships, plus estate and trust litigation and beneficiary representation when disputes arise. Free consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 3 more
FirmRedding, CA
Redding firm serving Shasta County with trust administration and probate and small estate administration alongside estate planning and conservatorships. DeAnne Parker is a California Certified Legal Specialist in Estate Planning, Trusts, and Probate Law, and Alan Cox is a Redding native with more than two decades in practice in the North State.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateConservatorship
Solo PracticeSacramento, CA
Sacramento probate attorney whose personal practice is 100% probate court work, serving all counties of California since 1994 and Of Counsel with CunninghamLegal. John Palley is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law and has completed over 2,000 California probate estates. Free consultation, with Zoom and phone meetings statewide.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 3 more
FirmDavis, CA
Davis firm serving Yolo, Sacramento, Solano, Placer, Colusa, El Dorado, and Yuba Counties with probate administration and conservatorships alongside estate planning and special needs planning. Keith Banks was previously probate clerk and attorney-unit research assistant at the Yolo Superior Court. Formed in 2019 by the merger of two Yolo County firms.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateConservatorshipSpecial Needs Planning
FirmSanta Barbara, CA
Santa Barbara firm handling probate, trust administration, and trust litigation across Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo Counties. Guides executors and administrators through probate in approximately 9-10 months. Veteran-owned, with in-person, phone, and virtual consultations and a free initial consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTrust Litigation
FirmSanta Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz firm handling probate and trust administration and estate and trust litigation across Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Clara Counties, representing executors, trustees, and beneficiaries in distribution and conservatorship disputes. Partner Steven Penrose has been a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law since 2004.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 3 more
Solo PracticeEureka, CA
Eureka boutique serving Humboldt County, focused exclusively on probate, trust administration, and estate planning. Angela Petrusha, a lifelong Humboldt County resident, established the firm in 2015 and represents successor trustees and executors through administration. The office is by appointment and is taking new clients by waiting list only as of September 2026.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate
Solo PracticeFresno, CA
Fresno firm serving Fresno County and the Central Valley with probate and trust administration alongside estate planning. Guides executors and trustees through inventories, tax returns, and distribution, and handles conservatorships, tax planning, and asset protection. Runs free Fundamentals of Estate Planning workshops.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax Planningand 2 more
FirmMurphys, CA
Murphys firm with offices in Sonora and Modesto, serving Calaveras, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, and Merced Counties with probate and trust administration alongside estate planning. Appears regularly in the Calaveras County Superior Court in San Andreas. Founding partner Jay Pink is an attorney, CFP, and CPA.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate
Solo PracticeVisalia, CA
Visalia firm serving Tulare County and the Central Valley with probate petitions and court filings, trust administration support for trustees, and estate planning. Also handles special needs planning and Medi-Cal and elder law matters. Free initial call.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 4 more
FirmEl Centro, CA
Handles estate planning and probate for families across Imperial County from its El Centro office, including wills, trusts, estate administration, and the title and real-property questions that arise in settling an estate. Attorney Patrick M. Pace has practiced probate and real estate law in the county for more than 40 years.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbate
Solo PracticeRedwood City, CA
Represents executors, trustees, and beneficiaries across San Mateo, San Francisco, and Santa Clara counties from a downtown Redwood City office near the courthouse, handling probate and trust administration, probate and trust litigation, and estate and gift tax questions. Michael E. Pitts has practiced in San Mateo County for more than 30 years and offers a free half-hour consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 3 more
Solo PracticeFresno, CA
Fresno solo practice that guides personal representatives through California probate, validating the will, confirming the personal representative, settling debts, and overseeing distribution of estate assets, and handles trust administration for surviving families. Philip M. Flanigan has represented Fresno-area clients since 1998 and also takes conservatorship, Medi-Cal, and elder-law matters.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 4 more
Solo PracticeEureka, CA
Serves Humboldt, Del Norte, Mendocino, and Trinity counties from Eureka in wills, trusts, probate, and estate administration, including numerous will and trust contests and other complex probate litigation. James D. Poovey is certified as a specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California and is one of only several attorneys so certified in Humboldt County.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation
Solo PracticeHollister, CA
Hollister and Morgan Hill firm serving San Benito, Santa Clara, and Monterey Counties, focused solely on probate, trust administration, and estate planning. Barbara Pretlove is a California Bar Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Probate, and Trust Administration and has practiced in the area since 2013. Offers in-person and remote service.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbate
Solo PracticeLos Angeles, CA
Los Angeles solo practice handling probate administration, trust administration, and probate and trust litigation alongside estate planning and post-death tax matters. Mitchell Port worked earlier as an IRS attorney in the Office of Chief Counsel and as a revenue and collection officer, and has over 40 years in practice. Offers a free phone consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 5 more
Solo PracticeRedlands, CA
Redlands boutique serving San Bernardino and Riverside Counties with probate administration, contested and uncontested probate, trust administration, and estate planning. R. Sam Price is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law with over 23 years in practice and is the author of The 6-Stage Probate Process. Free consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 3 more