Serves San Mateo and Santa Clara counties from Redwood City. Handles trust and probate administration, conservatorships and guardianships, and probate and trust litigation, with seven attorneys certified as specialists in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law. Practicing on the Peninsula since 1987.
San Mateo is in San Mateo County.
More Trust Litigation Firms in San Mateo County
Represents executors, trustees, and beneficiaries across San Mateo, San Francisco, and Santa Clara counties from a downtown Redwood City office near the courthouse, handling probate and trust administration, probate and trust litigation, and estate and gift tax questions. Michael E. Pitts has practiced in San Mateo County for more than 30 years and offers a free half-hour consultation.
Probate in San Mateo County
Probate Court Record
San Mateo County Superior Court - Probate Division
San Mateo County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-1:00 PM
Office
400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063
Website
E-filing
Filing in person
Appointment required
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in San Mateo County →
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in San Mateo County? →Settling an estate in San Mateo 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.
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 Do I Settle a Trust?
Settling a trust in California happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's trust statuteCal. Prob. Code § 15000 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 60 daysCal. Prob. Code §§ 16061.7, 16061.8, 16064, 16460Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
See the Steps
What's Fair Trustee Compensation?
In California, trustee compensation follows "reasonable compensation" (UTC § 708 or equivalent)Cal. Prob. Code §§ 15680-15688Verified Sep 18, 2026View source unless the trust instrument sets a different amount.
Calculate the Fee
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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