Serves Contra Costa and Alameda counties from Walnut Creek, handling probate and trust administration alongside estate planning and bankruptcy. David A. Arietta opened the practice in 1999 and is certified by the California Board of Legal Specialization as a specialist in both bankruptcy law and estate planning, trust, and probate law.
Concord is in Contra Costa County.
More Probate Firms in Contra Costa County
Walnut Creek firm serving Contra Costa and Alameda counties. Probate work covers court filings and hearings, creditors' claims, inventory and appraisals, court accountings, and distribution, alongside trust administration, conservatorship petitions, and special needs trusts. Represents trustees, personal representatives, beneficiaries, and heirs in will contests and trust disputes.
Serves Marin County from San Rafael, with offices across Northern and Southern California and statewide service by phone and video. Handles probate, trust administration, and Medi-Cal and elder law matters alongside estate and tax planning. Founder Jim Cunningham heads the San Rafael office and is a State Bar certified specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law.
Estate planning and elder law firm in Walnut Creek serving Contra Costa and Alameda counties. Guides executors and administrators through California probate and handles trust administration, conservatorships, and Medi-Cal and long-term-care planning, with a strong special needs practice. Founding attorney Aaron Feldman brings over 35 years of legal experience.
East Contra Costa firm in Pittsburg, with additional offices in San Diego and San Mateo, that administers decedents' estates through court probate and settles revocable living trusts after a death for successor trustees. It also handles estate litigation and Medi-Cal and veterans-benefit planning for families facing elder care.
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.
Probate in Contra Costa County
Probate Court Record
Contra Costa County Superior Court - Probate Division
Contra Costa County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Office
725 Court Street, Martinez, CA 94553
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Contra Costa County →
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Contra Costa County? →Settling an estate in Contra Costa 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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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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Do I Need Probate?
In California, estates valued at $208,850Cal. Prob. Code § 13100Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less skip probate with the Small Estate AffidavitCal. Prob. Code § 13100Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, 40 daysCal. Prob. Code § 13100Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death.
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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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Can I Self-File Probate?
In California, informal probate is not availableCal. Prob. Code §§ 8005 (hearing on the petition), 8006 (court admits the will and appoints the personal representative); no registrar or clerk informal probate trackVerified Sep 8, 2026View source, so self-filing means a formal court petition rather than a registrar filing.
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