Santa Rosa trusts, estates, and elder law practice serving Sonoma County, with offices in Huntington Beach and San Diego. Handles probate, trust administration, and disputed estate and trust matters, including family conflict after a death. Barry Adams is a State Bar certified specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law and founded the Elder Law Clinic at Empire Law School.
Newport Beach is in Orange County.
More Probate Litigation Firms in Orange County
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.
Anaheim firm handling Orange County probate administration for executors and personal representatives: court filings and deadlines, locating and appraising estate assets, resolving debts and liabilities, and estate tax compliance. It also litigates contested wills and beneficiary disputes, and offers a free consultation.
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.
Irvine firm with a second office in Carlsbad, serving Orange County and San Diego County families through probate, trust administration, and trust and estate litigation, including inheritance disputes and elder abuse claims. Its attorneys report more than 150 years of collective experience; the firm practised as Law & Stein, LLP before adding partner Shauna R. Anderson.
Irvine firm practicing exclusively in estate planning, asset protection, probate, and trust administration for Orange County families. John L. Wong is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.
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.
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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.
Calculate Costs
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
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.
Check the Rules
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.
Calculate the Fee
