Probate in San Diego County

Probate Court Record

San Diego County Superior Court - Probate Division

San Diego County

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-4:00 PM

Office

1100 Union Street, 3rd Floor, San Diego, CA 92101

Filing in person

Walk-ins accepted

Self-represented filing

Allowed

Self-help forms

How to file probate in San Diego County →

Verified October 15, 2026 · Source

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

Probate Litigation Firms Serving San Diego County

Bakersfield boutique serving Kern and Tulare counties from offices in Bakersfield and Visalia, and probate matters throughout California. Supports executors and administrators through California probate and represents heirs, excluded heirs, and fiduciaries in estate disputes, including will contests, breach-of-fiduciary-duty claims, and trust-distribution litigation.

Serves the whole stateEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust LitigationAsset Protection

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

Serves San Bernardino, Los Angeles, and Riverside counties from Upland, and takes probate work throughout California. Handles probate administration, Heggstad petitions for assets left out of a trust, trust administration, conservatorships, and estate and trust litigation over executor misconduct and will disputes. Offers a free consultation.

Since 2004Serves the whole stateFree consultationVirtual consultationsEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+2

Solo practice in downtown San Bernardino serving San Bernardino County and clients across California. Mathew Alden takes estates through probate, including probate without a will, advises people seeking or facing removal as estate executor, and litigates will and trust contests and executor fraud claims. Offers free consultations for most cases.

Solo PracticeServes the whole stateFree consultationEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation

Riverside practice serving Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, and Los Angeles counties. Handles probate and estate administration, trust administration, trust and will litigation, spousal property petitions, conservatorships, and guardianships. Kristine M. Borgia is a State Bar of California certified specialist in trust, estate planning, and probate law, and is fluent in Spanish.

Solo PracticeServes the whole stateFree consultationEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+5

Mather trust and estate litigation practice serving Greater Sacramento and clients throughout California, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, and Napa. Represents heirs and beneficiaries in will contests, trust accounting disputes, probate litigation, and elder financial abuse claims. Michael Hackard has practiced since 1976 and led his own firm since 1983.

Solo PracticeSince 1983Serves the whole stateFree consultationVirtual consultationsProbateProbate LitigationTrust LitigationElder Abuse

All 27 California probate litigation firms serving San Diego 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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