Santa Cruz firm handling probate and trust administration and estate and trust litigation across Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Clara Counties, representing executors, trustees, and beneficiaries in distribution and conservatorship disputes. Partner Steven Penrose has been a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law since 2004.
Santa Cruz is in Santa Cruz County.
Probate in Santa Cruz County
Probate Court Record
Santa Cruz County Superior Court - Probate Division
Santa Cruz County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-3:00 PM
Office
701 Ocean Street, Room 110, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Website
E-filing
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Santa Cruz County →
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Santa Cruz County? →Settling an estate in Santa Cruz 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.
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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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