Fairfield firm serving Solano and Contra Costa counties. Guides families through the California probate process in the Solano County court, advises trustees and beneficiaries during trust administration, and represents parties in contested will and trust proceedings. The practice also covers estate planning, guardianships, elder abuse, and family law.
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 →
Probate Firms Serving Contra Costa County
Serves San Francisco, San Mateo, and the surrounding Bay Area from downtown San Francisco. Handles probate and trust administration through asset distribution and title transfers, plus conservatorships and trust and estate litigation. Principal Sheila Robello holds an LLM in taxation and is a State Bar certified specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law.
Boutique Uptown Oakland practice serving Alameda County executors and successor trustees. Settles a decedent's estate whether or not a court proceeding is required, advises beneficiaries of estates and trusts, and represents fiduciaries appointed to administer estates, trusts, and conservatorships. The practice traces to a firm founded in Oakland in 1948.
Serves executors, heirs, and trustees in Oakland and across Alameda County from Harrison Street downtown. A boutique built around the probate process and trust administration, with estate planning, Medi-Cal planning, and first-party special needs trusts alongside. Founder Mike Broad has practiced in the East Bay since 1986.
Oakland boutique focused exclusively on trust and estate law, serving Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco Counties. Represents trustees and personal representatives through probate and trust administration, including special needs trusts, and handles gift and estate tax planning. Partners Carolyn Henel and Agnieszka Adams are Certified Specialists in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law.
South Lake Tahoe office serving El Dorado County and the Bay Area with trust and probate administration, trust and probate litigation, and wealth succession planning alongside estate planning. Attorney Jean-Claude Mallein is a dual Certified Specialist in Taxation Law and in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, certified by the California Board of Legal Specialization.
All 49 California probate firms serving 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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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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