Expertise.com

Best Probate Lawyers in Mission Viejo

2024

We did the research for you!

  • Licensing
  • User Reviews
  • Mystery Shopping Calls
Probate Lawyers FAQs 〉

Providers

Last updated:

Website
31431 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite 102, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Law Offices of Cheryl L. Walsh A Professional Corporation has been catering to the elderly, people with disabilities, and families in Mission Viejo and surrounding communities since 1995. It aids individuals in planning for their estate, navigating the probate process, and finding alternatives that fit their goals and needs, such as putting assets in joint tenancy and creating wills. It also litigates various trust and elder abuse issues, including caregiver neglect, physical and psychological abuse, and financial exploitation.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.4
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (13)
Google
4.2 / 5 (10)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (6)

(+1 additional source)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
100 Spectrum Center Drive Ste. 900, Irvine, CA 92618
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust
  • Trust Administration
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

Hamud Law Group advocates for clients in Mission Viejo and the surrounding areas. It conducts trust and probate litigation and administration. It assists with disputes involving will and trust contest, removal of trustees, breach of fiduciary duties, accounting disputes, and elder abuse. Hamud Law Group helps clients create an estate plan through consultations and workbook review meetings, preventing drafting issues that may lead to costly litigation. Founding attorney Andrea E. Hamud has over 15 years of legal experience.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (6)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
27405 Puerta Real, Suite 250, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

Hoffman Legal Corporation provides probate and trust litigation services to clients in Mission Viejo. Its attorneys represent individuals, businesses, and corporations from a wide range of industries in mediation, arbitration, or the courtroom. They also handle elder abuse, unfair competition, commercial collection lawsuits, trademark and copyright infringement, defamation and libel, and trade secrets. The president of Hoffman Legal Corporation, Paul Hoffman, has been representing clients in business litigation and probate and trust contests for over 30 years.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Paul Hoffman - President36 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Google
4.5 / 5 (2)
FindLaw
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
76 Baculo St, Mission Viejo, CA 92694
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Attorney Jonathan D. Alexander, Esq., handles probate and estate planning matters in Mission Viejo and the surrounding areas. It helps individuals protect their assets for their families if they pass on by assisting them with the preparation of estate planning documents such as powers of attorney, health care directives, and last will and testaments. Jonathan Alexander takes the time to get to know his clients and drafts a plan that matches their needs. Other practice areas include trust administration, asset protection, and business planning.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Jonathan Alexander - Principal19 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
27201 Puerta Real Suite 300A, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Benjamin Behar offers its services to clients in Mission Viejo and its surrounding areas. The office handles probate and estate planning, real estate, and bankruptcy cases. Its legal team works on crafting solutions for probate and estate planning matters such as living trusts, wills, offshore trusts, special needs trusts, asset protection, and probate litigation. Its founding attorney and namesake, Benjamin Behar, has a background in real estate, including brokering, property management, and property financing.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (7)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
25909 Pala, Suite 300, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

Borchard & Callahan, A Professional Corporation, serves clients in Mission Viejo and its surrounding areas. It provides legal representation for clients involved in probate litigation and estate planning matters. The other practice areas of the firm include business law and litigation, employment law, and real estate law. Senior partner and attorney Thomas J. Borchard is a member of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association. He has been admitted to practice law in the state bars of California and Michigan.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Thomas Borchard - Member & Senior Partner42 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.3
Google
4.0 / 5 (5)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
24800 Chrisanta Dr., Suite 110, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Fenelli Law Firm provides legal assistance for individuals and families in Mission Viejo. Focusing on probate and trust administration, the firm helps clients create living trusts that may prevent probate litigation. When probate is required, its attorneys assist individuals and families in filing petitions, notifying heirs, and creating inventories and appraisal of assets. They also deal with creditor debt payment, asset sale, tax payment, and asset distribution. Fenelli Law Firm was established by Rick Fennelli, who possesses four decades of legal experience.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Rick Fenelli - Founder48 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.7
Google
4.7 / 5 (13)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
24031 El Toro Road, Suite 301, Laguna Hills, CA 92653
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Fay Blix is a firm that serves clients in Mission Viejo and the surrounding areas. It takes on cases involving probate, trusts, wills, advance health care directives, and limited conservatorships. It is headed by Fay Blix, who has been practicing law since 1984 and was certified as an elder law attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation in 1995. The Department of Veterans Affairs also named her an accredited attorney.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.2
Yelp
4.5 / 5 (4)
FindLaw
4.5 / 5 (4)
Google
3.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
120 Vantis, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

Heritage Law, LLP, represents Mission Viejo administrators, beneficiaries, and trustees in the probate process. It helps distribute a decedent’s estate or assets and assists clients in planning for their future through advance healthcare directives, powers of attorney, trusts, and wills. Managing partner Erik E. Woodbury litigates cases involving trust and will contests, as well as claims of financial elder abuse, fraud, lack of capacity, and undue influence. He serves on the board of directors of Pure Game, a non-profit that helps underprivileged children develop character through soccer.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.4
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (8)
Yelp
3.0 / 5 (4)
Google
5.0 / 5 (2)

Website
26050 Acero Suite 405, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Laurel Trust Law LLP works with individuals and families throughout Mission Viejo and the surrounding areas. The firm assists executors and beneficiaries in handling and distributing an estate's assets, helping them perform their roles effectively to prevent conflicts or disputes among beneficiaries and family members. It also represents clients in the preparation, drafting, and execution of estate planning documents, like wills or trusts.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
23312 Madero, Suite F, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Joseph P. Foley serves clients in Mission Viejo. The firm offers assistance in a variety of estate planning services, from powers of attorney and conservatorships to living trusts, wills, and probate. Its legal team has over 20 years of experience in protecting its clients' assets from unnecessary costs and other issues related to the probate process. The practice helps individuals plan their future and the distribution of their wealth through analyzing and reviewing every estate plan.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Joseph Foley - Principal36 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.5
Google
4.7 / 5 (14)
Avvo
4.2 / 5 (11)
Yelp
4.5 / 5 (8)

(+1 additional source)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
2753 Camino Capistrano, B-1, San Clemente, CA 92672
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Mains Law Office serves individuals, families, and businesses throughout Mission Viejo and its neighboring communities. Estate planning is one of the firm's practice areas, guiding clients through matters involving wills and trusts, probate administration, conservatorships, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. The firm also handles business law issues. Sole practitioner Julie B. Mains is admitted to practice in Illinois and California. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Mains worked for the UN International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, investigating the trafficking of nuclear bomb components.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (13)
Google
5.0 / 5 (10)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (9)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
25909 Pala Suite #230, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration
  • Probate Administration

Why choose this provider?

Kurtz, Anderson and Associates provides residents and business owners in Mission Viejo with legal services such as estate, trust, and probate administration, estate planning, and taxation. It also helps clients handle legal transactions and form business entities. Its attorneys strive to listen carefully to clients' questions about the probate process, providing them with a comprehensive understanding of the steps involved. Founders Donald R. Kurtz and Gregory J. Anderson are both licensed to practice in Oregon and have 70 years of combined legal experience.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Donald Kurtz - Shareholder43 yrs
Donald Kurtz - Partner43 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (3)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (3)
Google
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
27601 Forbes Road, #1-B, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust

Why choose this provider?

Richard Mahony, Attorney at Law, serves Mission Viejo clients. He advises them on issues related to the probate process. For clients seeking to avoid probate court, Mahony prepares a range of documents, from living trusts to durable powers of attorney. It also guides them on federal and state tax regulations regarding transferring various assets—like mutual funds and stocks—to beneficiaries. Mahony has been handling cases for more than 30 years. He has given seminars on estate planning to city employees of Tustin and Costa Mesa.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Richard Mahony - Principal39 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (3)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
28202 Cabot Rd 3rd Floor, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Parker Law Offices attends to the estate-related concerns of families in Mission Viejo and the surrounding areas. Its team represents clients in probate proceedings involving testate and intestate assets. Along with guiding executors through the probate court system, the firm helps resolve conflicts pertaining to the clauses of wills and trusts and prepares estate plans. Its managing attorney, Maria Parker, had spent 15 years in the real estate industry before pursuing a career in the legal field.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (25)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (6)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
85 Enterprise, Suite 310, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

LS Carlson Law has a team of probate lawyers assisting individuals, families, and companies in Mission Viejo since 2006. Its estate planning services include real estate transfers, trust preparation and administration, wills, and asset protection. The firm provides different strategies for the changing considerations in life, like maximizing control and flexibility for young parents, minimizing liabilities for the middle-aged, and giving healthcare directives and legacy preservation for retirees. This customized planning incorporates tax laws and aims to minimize liabilities.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Paul Deese - Partner10 yrs
Paul Deese - Partner10 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Google
4.8 / 5 (66)
Yelp
4.6 / 5 (32)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (9)

(+1 additional source)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
24361 El Toro Rd., Suite 260, Laguna Woods, CA 92637
  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration

Why choose this provider?

Giammichele Law, APC, offers a wide range of legal services for individuals and families in Mission Viejo and the neighboring areas. The firm takes on a personalized approach to guiding clients in the probate process, which involves filing petitions, proving wills, taking possessions of assets, and paying estate taxes. It also represents clients in family law disputes and personal injury cases. Founding attorney Steven Giammichele has handled over a thousand probate and trust administrations in California.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (11)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Disclaimer:  Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services withExpertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Mission Viejo, California?

    Dial 949-770-6011 for a non-emergency dispatch from the police in Mission Viejo.

  • Can a spouse in Mission Viejo be held responsible for paying the rest of the deceased spouse's debts?

    It depends on the situation. If both spouses in Mission Viejo shared the same account for checks, credit cards, and bank transactions, then the surviving spouse may be held responsible for paying any outstanding debts. However, if an account uses only the surviving spouse's name as a reference, then they may not be responsible to pay it. Creditors generally obtain payment of debts from an estate before the remaining assets get distributed to heirs.

  • Is it possible for a foreign will in Mission Viejo to be valid?

    There are certain criteria to follow when validating a foreign will Mission Viejo. First, the foreign will has to comply with current state laws. It also has to comply with the country where the decedent lived, was a native, or maintains a residence. Finally, the will has to abide by the laws of the place where it is executed.

  • How long does it take to complete a Heggstad Petition in Mission Viejo?

    Accomplishing a Heggstad Petition in Mission Viejo usually takes around 60 days to three months. The process starts with filing a petition, then a hearing, and ends with a closing decision from the judge. It is used when an asset was not included in a living trust which now means the asset has to undergo probate. By filing the petition, the asset can be distributed to beneficiaries without undergoing the costly and complicated probate process.

  • Are wills in Mission Viejo notarized?

    Wills in Mission Viejo and the rest of California do not need to be notarized to become valid. These must have at least two witnesses who were present when the will was signed and, at some point, understand they are signing the testator's will. Take note these two witnesses must still follow requirements such as having no interest in the will and not being forced or defrauded into being a witness.

  • Does the probate court offer assistance to self-help petitioners in Mission Viejo?

    Self-petitioners in Mission Viejo can call the Probate Self-Help Team of the Orange County Superior Court at 657-622-7170. They can ask for assistance with reviewing completed forms and on how to fill out forms and obtain referrals. However, the self-help team cannot provide legal advice. Self-petitioners can also go in person to the probate court at the Costa Mesa Justice Complex located at 3390 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626.

Related Articles

FeaturedProbate

6 Steps To Hire A Probate Attorney

Follow these steps to hire a probate attorney if you've been named the executor of a will and you need immediate help.