📞 (480) 757-9989 · Mon–Fri 8am–6pm PT
hello@californialegal.guide
HomeAreas of Law › Estate Planning

Estate Planning Attorneys in California

Wills, trusts, probate, trust administration, trust litigation 12,704 pre-screened attorneys across 50 counties.

Free Legal Guides
Estate Planning in California: A Complete Guide →

The building blocks of a California estate plan — wills, living trusts, probate, and planning for incapacity.

California Wills Explained →

What makes a California will valid, how holographic wills work, and what a will can and cannot do.

What Is Estate Planning in California?

California estate planning attorneys draft wills and trusts and handle probate under the Probate Code.

When Do You Need a Estate Planning Attorney in California?

You may need a estate planning attorney in California when your situation involves wills, trusts, probate.

California Estate Planning Sub-Specialties

Estate Planning covers several distinct case types in California, each with its own legal framework. Below are the most common sub-specialties.

Wills

Wills matters in California fall within the broader Estate Planning practice area. California-licensed attorneys experienced in wills cases handle the related procedural, substantive, and evidentiary questions specific to this subspecialty.

Trusts

Trusts matters in California fall within the broader Estate Planning practice area. California-licensed attorneys experienced in trusts cases handle the related procedural, substantive, and evidentiary questions specific to this subspecialty.

Probate

Probate matters in California fall within the broader Estate Planning practice area. California-licensed attorneys experienced in probate cases handle the related procedural, substantive, and evidentiary questions specific to this subspecialty.

Trust Administration

Trust Administration matters in California fall within the broader Estate Planning practice area. California-licensed attorneys experienced in trust administration cases handle the related procedural, substantive, and evidentiary questions specific to this subspecialty.

Trust Litigation

Trust Litigation matters in California fall within the broader Estate Planning practice area. California-licensed attorneys experienced in trust litigation cases handle the related procedural, substantive, and evidentiary questions specific to this subspecialty.

Costs and Timeline

Estate planning in California is usually flat-fee: $1,000–$5,000+ depending on complexity. California's small-estate affidavit (Prob. Code § 13100) covers personal property up to $239,700 for deaths on or after April 1, 2026. Formal probate, when required, commonly takes 9–18 months.

California Laws and Statutes

California estate planning is governed by the California Probate Code — § 6110 (execution of wills), § 13100 et seq. (small-estate affidavit), and § 4670 et seq. (advance health care directives).

Estate Planning Attorneys by County

Pre-screened estate planning attorneys serving each California county. Counts reflect active State Bar of California members with offices in-county. Each county links to a full directory page for the matching practice area.

📍 Los Angeles County 2,435 attorneys
Melvin Stanley Spears — Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP, Beverly HillsRichard Alan Stone — Los AngelesAvram Salkin — Hochman Salkin Rettig et al, Beverly Hills
View all 2,435 Los Angeles estate planning attorneys →
📍 Orange County 1,363 attorneys
Thomas J. O'Keefe — Thomas J O'Keefe Inc, San ClementeGary Edmund Mordock — San ClementeHoward Brief — Seal Beach
View all 1,363 Orange estate planning attorneys →
📍 San Diego County 1,113 attorneys
George S Delafield — Law Ofc George S Delafield, San DiegoVictor Eugene Bianchini — Signature Resolution, San DiegoWilliam Walsh IV — Oceanside
View all 1,113 San Diego estate planning attorneys →
📍 San Francisco County 610 attorneys
Philip Foster Spalding — Friedman McCubbin Law Group, LLP, San FranciscoRichard Melone Bryan — Bryan * Hinshaw, a Prof. Corp., San FranciscoJeremiah F Hallisey — Hallisey and Johnson, PC, San Francisco
View all 610 San Francisco estate planning attorneys →
📍 Santa Clara County 564 attorneys
Arthur L Cohen — SunnyvaleGary Vincent Giannini — San JoseTimothy Leigh Ruschin — San Jose
View all 564 Santa Clara estate planning attorneys →
📍 Alameda County 439 attorneys
Edward Emilio Martins — HaywardJames P McBride — HaywardSteven Peter Small — Alameda
View all 439 Alameda estate planning attorneys →
📍 Contra Costa County 426 attorneys
Thomas Herbert Burcham — LafayettePeter Emanuel Lippett — Law offices of Peter Lippett, LafayetteJohn Lawrence McDonnell Jr — Law Offices of John L. McDonnell, Jr., Orinda
View all 426 Contra Costa estate planning attorneys →
📍 Sacramento County 408 attorneys
David Lee Kelly — The Burton Law Firm, SacramentoPolly Welsh McGilvray — Welsh & McGilvray, SacramentoRobert Mack Wheatley — Wheatley, Sopp, & Madsen, LLP, Folsom
View all 408 Sacramento estate planning attorneys →
📍 Riverside County 364 attorneys
James Anthony Schmiesing — Palm DesertDouglas E Schmidt — Cathedral CityStanley B Parry — Law Offices of Stanley B Parry, Palm Desert
View all 364 Riverside estate planning attorneys →
📍 San Mateo County 316 attorneys
William Richard Conklin — Law Ofc William R Conklin, Redwood CityH. Kent Mitchell — Jorgenson, Siegel, McClure & Flegel, LLP, Menlo ParkFred Robert Brinkop — Branson Brinkop Griffith & Campo LLP, Redwood City
View all 316 San Mateo estate planning attorneys →
📍 Sonoma County 215 attorneys
Thomas Richard Passalacqua — HealdsburgJoseph Corbett Tinney — PetalumaMurray Alan Zatman — Law Ofc Murray A Zatman, Santa Rosa
View all 215 Sonoma estate planning attorneys →
📍 Ventura County 209 attorneys
William Malcolm Bullis — William M. Bullis, APC, OxnardFrederic T. Muegenburg Jr — Lowthrop Richards LLP, OxnardPeter Houston Kruse — Ventura
View all 209 Ventura estate planning attorneys →

California Estate Planning Guides & Resources

Free guides covering key topics in California estate planning. Plain-English, statute-cited.

📝
Estate Planning in California: A Complete Guide
The building blocks of a California estate plan — wills, living trusts, probate, and planning for incapacity.
📝
California Wills Explained
What makes a California will valid, how holographic wills work, and what a will can and cannot do.
📝
Living Trusts in California
How a revocable living trust avoids California's costly probate — and why 'funding' the trust is essential.
📝
The California Probate Process
When California probate is required, the timeline, and why statutory fees make many people plan to avoid it.
📝
California Small Estate Affidavit
How small estates skip probate in California, the current threshold, and what the affidavit covers.
📝
Advance Health Care Directives in California
How a California advance directive lets you name a medical agent and record your wishes for care.
View all Estate Planning guides →

Common Questions About California Estate Planning

Browse the 12,704 California estate planning attorneys above by county or use the practice-area cards. Each attorney is verified against the State Bar of California records.
Estate planning in California is usually flat-fee: $1,000–$5,000+ depending on complexity. California's small-estate affidavit (Prob. Code § 13100) covers personal property up to $239,700 for deaths on or after April 1, 2026. Formal probate, when required, commonly takes 9–18 months.
Case duration depends on case type, court calendar, and complexity. Uncontested matters typically resolve in 3-6 months; contested matters with disputes can take 12-24+ months. Your attorney can give you a more specific estimate based on your facts.
Yes. Every California attorney must be licensed by the State Bar of California. We verify bar status on every attorney listing. Disciplinary actions are public record; we display them transparently on each profile.
Several California organizations provide free or low-cost legal aid, including LawHelpCA.org, Bay Area Legal Aid, and the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles. For criminal cases, indigent defendants are entitled to a Public Defender at no cost.

Ready to Find Your California Attorney?

Find a pre-screened California lawyer who fits your case. Free, no obligation.

Get Matched with a Lawyer