Serves Merced, Mariposa, and Stanislaus counties from Merced, with offices in San Jose, Modesto, and Mariposa. Represents trustees and executors on full and summary probate, sub-trust funding, fiduciary accountings, estate tax returns, and post-death tax planning, and handles probate, trust, and estate litigation. One of the few firms with a Mariposa County office.
Morgan Hill is in Santa Clara County.
More Probate Litigation Firms in Santa Clara County
Represents estate administrators and executors across Santa Clara County from The Alameda in San Jose, carrying estates through the county's probate court. Handles the work the role requires: inventorying assets, settling creditor debts, estate tax filings, accountings, and distribution to heirs. Founder Richard Gorini is a member of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.
San Jose solo practice representing executors and administrators of Santa Clara County estates, serving San Jose, Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Gatos, Morgan Hill, Santa Clara, Saratoga, and Sunnyvale. Handles probate and trust administration, will and trust litigation, guardianships, and special needs planning alongside revocable living trusts and wills. Offers a free consultation.
Represents Santa Clara County executors, administrators, and beneficiaries in probate and trust administration from its Los Gatos office, plus trust litigation, will contests, removal of an executor or trustee, and financial elder abuse claims. Kai H. Wessels, admitted in 1985, provides all services in German for dual-citizenship families. Free initial consultation.
Campbell boutique serving Santa Clara County and the broader Bay Area with probate and estate administration, trust administration, and trust and probate litigation alongside estate planning. Represents successor trustees and beneficiaries in trust contests, breach-of-fiduciary-duty claims, and trustee removal petitions. Free telephone consultation for new matters.
Los Gatos firm with Santa Clara, Oakland, and Los Angeles offices, serving Santa Clara, Alameda, and Los Angeles Counties. Handles probate and estate administration, trust administration, and trust and estate litigation including trustee accountings and removal, plus guardianships and conservatorships. The whole process can be completed virtually.
Probate in Santa Clara County
Probate Court Record
Santa Clara County Superior Court - Probate Division
Santa Clara County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Thursday 8:30 AM-3:00 PM; Friday 8:30 AM-noon
Office
191 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113
Website
E-filing
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Santa Clara County →
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Santa Clara County? →Settling an estate in Santa Clara 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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