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When to consider hiring help, what to look for in a probate attorney, and firms serving San Diego County.
We found 18 estate law firms serving San Diego County. San Diego County is part of the San Diego region.
These firms handle estate administration, will contests, trust litigation, and other probate matters in San Diego County Superior Court - Probate Division.
California uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in San Diego County — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.
Probate attorney fees in California are set by statute as a percentage of the estate's value, so every San Diego County attorney charges the same schedule. Price isn't the variable — experience with the Superior Court - Probate Division and responsiveness are.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Superior Court - Probate Division, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Serves San Diego County through the county probate court, handling probate administration, trust administration, and trust and probate litigation alongside estate planning and elder law. Attorney Vincent M. Casiano is a State Bar certified specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law. Offers a free initial consultation.
Location
4967 Newport Avenue, Suite 12-172San Diego, CA 92107
Phone
(619) 800-6820
Service Area
1 county
San Diego estate, trust, and probate firm handling the full range of estate planning and probate court matters. Serves individuals and families throughout San Diego County with estate plan creation, probate administration, trust litigation, and beneficiary representation.
Location
2139 First Avenue, Suite 200San Diego, CA 92101
Phone
(619) 260-3500
Service Area
1 county
San Diego firm with more than 30 years handling estate planning, probate, trust administration, conservatorships, guardianships, special needs trusts, and trust and probate litigation.
Location
1550 Hotel Circle North, Suite 300San Diego, CA 92108
Phone
(619) 696-7066
Service Area
1 county
San Diego firm in Old Town serving San Diego County with probate administration and trust administration alongside living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and advance healthcare directives. Practicing since 1976 with more than 50 years of combined attorney experience guiding successor trustees and executors through estate settlement.
Location
3990 Old Town Avenue, Suite A-102San Diego, CA 92110
Phone
(619) 683-2545
Established
1976
Service Area
1 county
Estate planning and probate legal services throughout San Diego County. Attorney Shawn Leo handles estate planning, probate, trust litigation, business succession planning, and elder law matters.
Location
503 N Highway 101, Suite BSolana Beach, CA 92075
Phone
(858) 284-1479
Service Area
1 county
Carlsbad boutique serving San Diego County probate court, focused exclusively on probate, trust administration, and estate planning. Guides successor trustees through their duties and deadlines and administers decedent estates on flat-fee pricing, having handled 250+ San Diego County estates since 2021.
Location
1901 Camino Vida Roble, Suite 112Carlsbad, CA 92008
Phone
(760) 278-1116
Established
2021
Service Area
1 county
San Diego firm with offices in San Diego and Vista serving San Diego County with probate, estate administration, trust administration, and conservatorships alongside estate planning. Guides executors and successor trustees through decedent estate and trust administration. Founder Nicole D'Ambrogi is a U.S. Navy veteran who advocates for veterans.
Location
3517 Camino Del Rio S, Suite 406San Diego, CA 92108
Phone
(619) 550-3080
Service Area
1 county
San Diego practice concentrated on probate court representation and trust administration alongside estate planning. Attorney Steven F. Bliss guides executors and successor trustees through decedent estate administration in San Diego County, with qualified probate matters handled on a no-recovery-no-fee basis. Offers a free consultation.
Location
3914 Murphy Canyon RdSan Diego, CA 92123
Phone
(858) 278-2800
Service Area
1 county
San Diego firm with a second Cardiff-by-the-Sea office serving San Diego County through the county probate court with probate and trust administration, contested trust and estate matters, and charitable planning. Guides successor trustees and personal representatives through estate settlement across coastal North County and metro San Diego. Offers a complimentary consultation.
Location
2150 W Washington St, Suite 203San Diego, CA 92110
Phone
(858) 248-2779
Service Area
1 county
These firms are based in other regions but serve San Diego County.
Estate planning and probate law firm with offices in Murrieta and San Diego, serving Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, Hemet, Lake Elsinore, Moreno Valley, Palm Springs, Perris, and Riverside. Offers free consultations by phone or video.
Location
29970 Technology Drive, Suite 217Murrieta, CA 92563
Phone
(951) 304-3431
Established
1998
Service Area
2 counties
Attorney Anthony G. Celaya focuses exclusively on estate planning and elder law, including Medi-Cal planning, serving the Napa Valley since 2004. Has created hundreds of estate plans for individuals and families in Napa, Solano, and Sonoma Counties. Offices in Napa and San Diego. Offers complimentary initial consultations.
Location
960 School St.Napa, CA 94559
Phone
(707) 754-0977
Service Area
4 counties
Serves Orange County, Los Angeles, and San Diego from Irvine, focusing on probate, trust, and elder-law disputes. Handles trust and will contests, trustee misconduct and accounting disputes, conservatorship fights, and elder financial abuse claims, with trust and estate administration support. Three attorneys are State Bar certified specialists in Estate Planning, Trusts and Probate Law.
Location
18400 Von Karman Ave, Suite 550Irvine, CA 92612
Phone
(866) 330-0578
Established
2005
Service Area
5 counties
Inland Empire firm with offices in Corona, Riverside, Temecula, Newport Beach, and San Diego. Through its Sandoval Legacy Group division it handles probate, trust administration, conservatorships, and special needs planning across Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, San Diego, and Los Angeles Counties. Offers a free telephonic consultation.
Location
1897 California AveCorona, CA 92881
Phone
(855) 827-6639
Service Area
4 counties
For nearly 75 years, helping families in the San Joaquin Valley and beyond build effective estate plans and handle complex probate matters. Offices in Bakersfield, Fresno, San Diego, and Santa Barbara providing cost-effective probate and estate administration services. Nancy L. Oehler is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, & Probate Law.
Location
10000 Stockdale Hwy, Suite 200Bakersfield, CA 93311
Phone
(661) 485-2100
Established
1951
Service Area
4 counties
Trusted probate attorneys serving California since 1998. Founded by Phil Lemmons with a mission to protect both inheritances and relationships. Offices throughout Southern California and statewide. Handles estate planning, trust administration, probate, conservatorship, guardianship, elder abuse, and trust litigation matters.
Location
10221 Slater Ave, Ste 106Fountain Valley, CA 92708
Phone
(800) 840-1998
Established
1998
Service Area
7 counties
Industry-leading estate, trust, and probate attorney serving clients in Irvine and surrounding Orange County communities including Newport Beach and Laguna Beach. Over 150 years of combined experience. Founded in 2015.
Location
2601 Main Street, Suite 1200Irvine, CA 92614
Phone
(949) 501-4800
Established
2015
Service Area
1 county
Boutique estate planning and probate firm led by Marivel M. Zialcita with over 20 years of experience. Provides personalized estate planning, trust administration, probate, and conservatorship services. Avvo Client's Choice Award recipient. Offices in Claremont and San Diego.
Location
341 W 1st St, Ste 100Claremont, CA 91711
Phone
(909) 256-6702
Service Area
2 counties
Statewide probate and trust litigation firm headquartered in Los Angeles, representing trustees, executors, heirs, and beneficiaries in will contests, trust disputes, and breach-of-fiduciary-duty claims. Offices in Los Angeles, Pasadena, Orange County, San Diego, the Bay Area, and Fresno. Free consultation.
Location
901 Bringham AveLos Angeles, CA 90049
Phone
(424) 320-9444
Service Area
7 counties
Not every estate needs one. Simple estates, small estates under the affidavit threshold, and states with informal probate can often be handled without counsel. Contested wills, out-of-state property, and business interests usually need an attorney. The California self-filing assessment scores whether this estate can be handled without one.
California sets probate attorney fees by statute. San Diego County attorneys charge the same schedule as the rest of the state — there is no county-level variation. Use the probate cost calculator to see the dollar amount for your estate size.
Files the petition, publishes required notices, helps with the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. The attorney represents the personal representative, not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if disputes arise.
Referrals from an estate planning attorney you already work with are the best source. Bar association directories are second. Avoid attorneys who won't quote a fee structure up front or who won't explain whether your estate qualifies for simplified procedures.
Yes — by avoiding probate altogether. A revocable living trust removes the estate from court jurisdiction, which removes the need for a probate attorney at settlement time. Create a revocable trust online for about what one hour of probate-attorney time costs.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to discuss your situation and verify their current practice areas and availability. Information last verified: June 2026.
San Diego County
1100 Union Street, 3rd Floor
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone:
619-844-2676Hours:
Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
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