Irvine firm across from John Wayne Airport, with a second office in Torrance, serving California beneficiaries, heirs, and fiduciaries in trust and probate disputes — trust contests, trustee removal and defense, will contests, and accounting disputes — alongside probate and trust administration. Founded by Phillip Lemmons in 1998.
Newport Beach is in Orange County.
More Guardianship Firms in Orange County
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.
Serves South Bay, Los Angeles County, and Orange County executors, administrators, and beneficiaries from Torrance and Irvine, taking a personal representative from the opening petition through to distribution. Also handles conservatorships, guardianships, and contested probate matters. Free initial consultation, conducted by Zoom.
Irvine practice serving Orange County and the rest of Southern California with probate and trust administration, trust review and litigation, guardianships, and conservatorships alongside estate and estate-tax planning. W. Bailey Smith is certified by the State Bar of California as a specialist in estate planning, trust and probate law and was admitted in 1971.
Probate in Orange County
Probate Court Record
Orange County Superior Court - Probate Division
Orange County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
3390 Harbor Boulevard, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Website
E-filing
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Orange County →
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Orange County? →Settling an estate in Orange County →
Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in California
Free California forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for California.
Free
Last Will and Testament
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.
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Free
Healthcare Power of Attorney
California allows a choice for a healthcare power of attorney: 2Cal. Prob. Code § 4701Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses or a notary.
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Free
Financial Power of Attorney
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 Oct 21, 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.
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Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in California
Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in California: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool for California.
How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?
In California, four years at a public university cost about $99,700NCES Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 330.20, public 4-year in-state tuition, fees, room and board, academic year 2022-23Verified Oct 17, 2026View source and the cost of living is 11% above the U.S. averageBEA Regional Price Parities, all items, by state, 2024Verified Oct 17, 2026View source; no state estate or inheritance tax appliesNo state estate, inheritance, or gift tax; prohibited by Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code § 13301 (voter Prop 6, 1982). California Estate Tax Return no longer required for decedents dying on/after Jan. 1, 2005 (CA State Controller's Office).Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Calculate the Amount
What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?
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.
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Who Inherits Without a Will?
California is a community property state, so the surviving spouse already owns half of what the couple acquired during the marriage. Without a will in California, descendants divide what passes to them per capita with representationCal. Prob. Code § 240Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, and an heir must survive the decedent by 120 hoursCal. Prob. Code § 6403(a)Verified Oct 21, 2026View source to inherit.
Check the Rules
