Probate in Kern County

Probate Court Record

Kern County Superior Court - Probate Department

Kern County

Phone

1-661-610-6000 (option 1, then option 5 for Probate)

Hours

Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM; Friday 8:00 AM-noon

Office

2100 College Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93305

Filing in person

Walk-ins accepted

Self-represented filing

Allowed

Self-help forms

How to file probate in Kern County →

Verified October 15, 2026 · Source

Do I need a lawyer for probate in Kern County? →Settling an estate in Kern County →

Probate Litigation Firms Serving Kern County

Roseville firm handling probate and decedent estate administration, including ancillary probate, plus trust administration, conservatorships, and litigation in those areas — will contests and beneficiary disputes. Marlene Sanborn, a retired Air Force flight engineer, opened the firm in 2006 and has practiced law in California since 1998.

Solo PracticeSince 2006Serves 13 countiesFree consultationEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+2

Serves San Diego County and Southern California from Newport Avenue in San Diego, centered on probate and trust disputes. Handles probate and trust administration, contested wills and accountings, trustee removal, and breach-of-fiduciary-duty claims, plus elder law and Medi-Cal planning. Vincent M. Casiano is a State Bar certified specialist; the first 30-minute consultation is free.

Solo PracticeServes the whole stateFree consultationEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+4

Serves Orange County and San Diego from offices in Irvine and San Diego, and takes probate and trust litigation statewide. Handles trust and will contests, trustee misconduct and accounting disputes, conservatorship fights, and elder financial abuse claims, with probate and trust administration alongside. Founded in 2005; often brought in as trial counsel when an estate plan breaks down.

Since 2005Serves the whole stateTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust LitigationConservatorshipElder Abuse

San Diego estate, trust, and probate firm in Bankers Hill, with clients throughout California. Guides executors and administrators through probate — identifying assets and debts, paying creditors, distributing to beneficiaries — and handles trust administration, beneficiary representation, fiduciary duty disputes, and conservatorships and guardianships.

Serves the whole stateEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+3

Serves beneficiaries, trustees, and executors from Riverside, with offices in Temecula and San Diego and cases in probate courts across California. The practice centers on contested trust and probate matters — disputed accountings, trustee removal, and beneficiary claims against a fiduciary — alongside probate administration. Case assessment and a qualifying phone consultation are free.

Serves the whole stateFree consultationVirtual consultationsProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation

Yuba City firm serving Sutter, Yuba, and Placer Counties since 1983, with a second office in Roseville. Handles probate, trust administration, and conservatorship and guardianship matters, and represents beneficiaries and fiduciaries in probate and trust disputes across California. Also prepares revocable and irrevocable trust-based estate plans.

Since 1983Serves the whole stateEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+2

All 24 California probate litigation firms serving Kern 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.

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Revocable Living Trust

Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.

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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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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 Does Probate Cost?

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.

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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.

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What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?

In California, creditors have 4 monthsCal. Prob. Code § 9100 — later of 4 months from letters or 60 days from mailed/personal notice of administrationVerified Sep 8, 2026View source from the personal representative's appointment to present claims; late claims are barred.

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How Do I Settle an Estate?

Settling an estate in California: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 120 daysCal. Prob. Code §§ 8800-8804, 8900-8903Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 4 monthsCal. Prob. Code §§ 9050-9054, 9100-9104, 9150, 9153, 9256, 9353, 11420; CCP § 366.2Verified Oct 18, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 9 months to 12 months.

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How Much Can an Executor Charge?

California sets executor compensation by statute — about $13,000 on a $500,000 estate, roughly 2.6%Cal. Prob. Code § 10800Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.

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