Sherman Oaks solo practice serving Los Angeles County plus Ventura and San Bernardino, including the San Fernando, San Gabriel, and Pomona Valleys. Sara Polinsky has practiced exclusively in estate planning and elder law since 1998, handling trust administration, probate, planning for incapacity, and Medi-Cal long-term-care eligibility.
Probate in Ventura County
Probate Court Record
Ventura County Superior Court - Probate Division
Ventura County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM (except holidays)
Office
4353 East Vineyard Avenue, Oxnard, CA 93036
Website
E-filing
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Ventura County →
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Ventura County? →Settling an estate in Ventura County →
Probate Firms Serving Ventura County
Santa Barbara firm handling probate, trust administration, and trust litigation across Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo Counties. Guides executors and administrators through probate in approximately 9-10 months. Veteran-owned, with in-person, phone, and virtual consultations and a free initial consultation.
Santa Barbara firm serving the Central Coast and Los Angeles area since 1973, representing individuals, families, and fiduciaries in probate and trust administration and in will and trust contests across Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, and Los Angeles Counties. Over 160 years of combined trust and estate administration experience.
Serves Los Angeles and Ventura county families from Glendale, handling probate and trust administration when a loved one passes away. The firm guides personal representatives through settling the estate in probate court and walks successor trustees through post-death trust administration, alongside special-needs and elder-law matters. Offers a free initial consultation.
Bakersfield firm serving Kern County and the San Joaquin Valley since 1953, with offices in Fresno, Pasadena, Encinitas, and Santa Barbara. Handles probate and estate administration, including for personal representatives living outside California, plus trust administration and probate and trust disputes. Practice group leader Nancy L. Oehler is a certified specialist in trust and probate law.
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.
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
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.
See the Steps
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
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.
Check the Rules
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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