California uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in San Mateo 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 Mateo 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.
FirmRedwood City, CA
Since 1987 · Serves 2 counties
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbate Litigationand 3 more
- Office
- 333 Twin Dolphin Drive, Suite 350Redwood City, CA 94065
FirmSan Francisco, CA
Serves 5 counties
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbate Litigationand 2 more
- Office
- 177 Post St, Suite 600San Francisco, CA 94108
FirmSan Jose, CA
Serves 2 counties
Represents estate administrators and executors across Santa Clara County from The Alameda in San Jose, carrying estates through the county's probate court. Handles the work the role requires: inventorying assets, settling creditor debts, estate tax filings, accountings, and distribution to heirs. Founder Richard Gorini is a member of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 2 more
- Office
- 1666 The AlamedaSan Jose, CA 95126
FirmSan Francisco, CA
Serves 4 counties
Serves Bay Area families from downtown San Francisco, with probate filed in the San Francisco, Alameda, and San Mateo County Superior Courts. Handles probate from the petition through inventory, creditor claims, and final distribution, alongside Medi-Cal and elder law planning and asset protection. Founder Jay Greene is both a licensed attorney and a CPA.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationProbateElder Lawand 2 more
- Office
- 447 Sutter Street, Ste 435San Francisco, CA 94108
FirmSan Francisco, CA
Since 2009 · Serves 5 counties
Bay Area trusts and estates practice serving San Francisco and the North Bay from offices in San Francisco and Sonoma. Attorney Amy Harrington handles trust and probate administration, conservatorships, and will and trust contests, and is frequently appointed to serve as administrator, trustee, partition referee, and receiver.
PracticesEstate PlanningEstate AdministrationTrust AdministrationProbateand 5 more
- Office
- One Embarcadero, Suite 1200San Francisco, CA 94111
Solo PracticeRedwood City, CA
Serves 3 counties
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.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 3 more
- Office
- 600 Allerton Street, Suite 200Redwood City, CA 94063
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
