Expertise.com

Best Probate Lawyers in Orange

2023

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Website
1131 East Main Street, Suite 107, Tustin, CA 92780
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate
  • Estate Administration

Why choose this provider?

Bauer & Shekerlian Attorneys at Law serves Orange and nearby communities. With over 40 years of combined experience, its team of lawyers helps design estate plans and business successions to help clients plan for the death, retirement, or incapacity of senior family members. It also represents parties in probate proceedings, assisting them in administering an estate of a loved one, dividing property according to the dictates of a will, contesting a defective will, and getting legal advice about rights and options.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Phil Shekerlian - Partner11 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.
4.9
Yelp
4.6 / 5 (11)
Google
5.0 / 5 (10)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (10)

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
18191 Von Karman Ave. Ste 100, Irvine, CA 92612
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Essayli & Brown LLP comprises trial lawyers that handle high-stakes cases in the Orange neighborhood. The duo develops solutions, such as revocable living trusts, to protect clients' loved ones from the time-consuming process of probate. These attorneys also assist individuals and their families and fiduciaries in creating estate plans that consider tax implications and probate consequences. Bilal Essayli previously served as a prosecutor for California Central District's United States Attorney’s Office and Riverside County's District Attorney’s Office.

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
5.0 / 5 (25)
Facebook
0.0 / 5 (2)
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
1101 Dove Street Suite 200, Newport Beach, CA 92660
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Soto Law Group APC caters to the legal needs of its clients in Orange, Orange County and Southern California dealing with probate procedures and assisting them in settling related legal matters, such as will and trust disputes. The office's team creates tailor-made solutions based on the preferences and needs of its clients, as well as their family members spanning different generations. The firm's lawyer, R. DeDe Soto, started her legal practice more than 10 years ago on a referral basis. She also handles Special-needs Trust and conservatorships.

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
Facebook
4.8 / 5 (18)
Google
5.0 / 5 (5)

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.
3.3
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
6B Liberty, Suite 130, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

The Burns Firm is a full-service law office that serves clients in the Orange metro and nearby localities. The company offers legal assistance to individuals and families in navigating the complex probate system. The firm's probate and estate planning attorneys, James Burns and Jayson Marasigan, represent clients throughout the probate process, from verifying wills and trusts to distributing assets to the rightful heirs. In addition to his private practice, Burns is a seasoned lecturer on estate, business, and retirement planning.

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 (39)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (35)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (28)

(+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
26459 Rancho Parkway South Suite 3, Lake Forest, CA 92630
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Jerome J. Carrasco offers probate and trust administration counsel for clients in Orange and the surrounding metros. In addition to representing trustees and beneficiaries in trust administration, the firm helps smooth out disputes involving trusts, and represents personal representatives and beneficiaries in probate proceedings. Its team also assists in the drafting and preparation of estate planning documents. The firm was established in 1992 and also offers its legal services in Spanish.

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.
4.9
Google
4.8 / 5 (8)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (3)
Avvo
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
500 North State College Boulevard, Orange, CA 92868
  • Trusts
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust
  • Trust Administration
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Philip L. Hummel IV APC is a boutique practice located in Orange that has many years of experience practicing probate administration and estate litigation in Orange County. The firm's attorney can initiate the probate process, support the will executor, and handle all legal paperwork, including notification of probate to heirs, beneficiaries, and creditors. Attorney Hummel is a 1986 graduate of Western State University and a member of the Orange County and Los Angeles County Bar associations.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Philip Hummel - Owner37 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.
4.1
Yelp
3.5 / 5 (3)
Google
5.0 / 5 (1)
Avvo
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.
3.3
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
450 Newport Center Drive #625, Newport Beach, CA 92660
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Meier Law Firm helps clients in Orange navigate their way through the probate administration process. The office helps in identifying assets and beneficiaries, preparing and filing court-required documents, getting the deceased person's property appraised, settling debts, and distributing the estate. Its probate administration process includes a discussion of the family's options, the identification of legal strategies for the administration of the estate, and continuous relationship with the beneficiaries. Founding lawyer Laura Meier has contributed her expertise in The Fiscal Times, ABC, and CBS.

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 (81)
Google
5.0 / 5 (76)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (12)

(+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
14751 Plaza Drive, Suite P, Tustin, CA 92780
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

Joel F. Pipes & Associates has been serving the Orange area for more than 15 years. The firm offers probate administration assistance, helping clients distribute and manage the assets of their deceased loved ones. Its team also guides clients through the processes of appraising properties, appointing executors, paying creditors, and notifying beneficiaries and heirs. Probate litigation, which caters to clients seeking to dispute trustee appointments or contest wills, is also provided. Firm attorney Joel F. Pipes has been in practice since 2002.

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

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
1855 W. Katella Ave. Ste #365, Orange, CA 92867
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Gregory W. Cabo serves individuals and families in Orange and the surrounding areas. The firm assists clients in developing plans, wills, and trusts. It counsels and represents them in matters concerning probate, including challenges for wills and trusts, litigation for trust and probate, and issues on contract law. Gregory W. Cabo leads the firm with over a decade of legal experience. As an adjunct professor, he held lectures on legal writing and the drafting of estate planning documents.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Gregory Cabo - Founder23 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
Avvo
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
1500 Quail St #540, Newport Beach, CA 92660
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration/Estate Administration
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

Morgan Law Group has been providing probate assistance for parties in and around Orange for over 15 years. It tackles judicial processes surrounding the validation of wills and the management and distribution of estates. The practice also irons out issues related to the administration of trusts and the execution of testaments. Additionally, it generates estate plans to minimize the hassles of inheritance law litigation once the decedent passes away. Founder Darlynn Morgan is a member of Wealth Counsel, LLC.

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 (208)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (45)
Yelp
4.5 / 5 (25)

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
1551 N. Tustin Ave. Suite # 1020, Santa Ana, CA 92705
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Merhab Robinson & Clarkson Law Corporation​ works with individuals and families throughout Orange. The firm guides representatives or nominated executors of decedents through the probate process. This may include tasks like filing court documents, collecting and inventorying assets, managing the estate, and notifying creditors. Its lawyers also help clients prepare a proper estate plan that secures their families or businesses if anything happens to them. One of the firm's practitioners, Paula A. Clarkson, is a board-certified specialist in estate planning, probate, and trust law.

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 (7)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (4)

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
  • Trust Administration

Why choose this provider?

Parker Law Offices provides services to clients in and around the Orange metro. It assists in managing the administration of an estate through the probate process, helping representatives execute their legal obligations. It also resolves conflicts arising from various factors and represents clients in the probate court. In addition, the firm works to preserve clients' assets through strategies in estate planning, wills and trusts, and trust administration. The husband-and-wife team caters to clients throughout Southern 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 (26)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (8)

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
1421 North Wanda Road, Orange, CA 92867
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Knarr Law Group in Orange handles probate cases. Its lawyer, Angie Knarr, is an estate planning attorney who deals with trust and estate administrations and litigations. She aims to help families avoid possible turmoils after the death of a loved one by guiding them through estate plan creation. Angie welcomes clients to a family wealth planning session so they can make informed decisions about how to preserve assets for the people they love when they are gone.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Angie Knarr - Principal22 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 (13)
Google
5.0 / 5 (12)

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
284 N. Glassell Street 1st Floor,, Orange, CA 92866
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Attorney Jan Breslauer, which has a location in Orange, provides its clients with representation and advice on entertainment law and estate planning. Breslauer and her staff perform transactional legal work for the entertainment industry and custom estate planning to avoid the probate process. She is a member of the Dean's Counsel at Chapman University's Fowler Law School. The US Supreme Court and Congressional Record have referenced her articles on legal and governmental issues in the arts for their amicus briefs.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Jan Breslauer - Principal9 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.
4.4
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (7)
Google
5.0 / 5 (1)
Facebook
0.0 / 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
2700 N. Main Street, Suite 1040, Santa Ana, CA 92705
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Santiago A. Martin is a private multi-practice law firm that serves individuals, families, and businesses from Orange and the surrounding areas. It provides legal counsel and representation for matters concerning wills and trusts preparation and administration. It also handles matters involving immigration applications and appeals. Other practice areas of the firm include bankruptcy law, personal injury law, criminal law, and real estate. The Law Office of Santiago A. Martin can also serve clients in Spanish.

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
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (16)
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.
3.3
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
333 City Blvd West Suite 1700, Orange, CA 92868
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

With more than a decade of legal experience, the Law Office of Tuan Le is a full-service law firm that serves individuals, families, and businesses from Orange and the surrounding areas. It provides probate administration and trust litigation services, as well as estate planning services. Other practice areas of the firm include immigration and bankruptcy law. Principal attorney Tuan Le is a member of the Central District Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney Association. He can also serve clients in Vietnamese.

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 (47)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (14)

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
2855 Michelle Drive Suite 120, Irvine, CA 92606
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate
  • Estate Administration

Why choose this provider?

Mortensen & Reinheimer, PC, serves clients in Orange and the surrounding areas, assisting in probate and trust administration cases. It helps people actualize their estate planning goals or explore the possibility of conservatorship for a family member. It also works with couples looking to establish premarital agreements. The attorneys at this firm bring over 50 years of combined legal experience, led by Tamsen R. Reinheimer, who is a certified specialist in estate planning, trust, and probate law.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Tamsen Reinheimer - Partner19 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.
4.9
Google
4.8 / 5 (36)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (11)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (4)

(+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
2 Park Plaza, Suite 480, Irvine, CA 92614
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Snyder Law helps parents, seniors, and veterans in Orange protect the future of their families through estate planning. The law firm assists successor trustees in gathering and distributing the decedents' assets to their designated heirs. Trust administration services are also available, including paying taxes, debts, and expenses required by California law and understanding the meaning and significance of trust documents. Founding attorney Kevin Snyder's legal services are founded on the Jesuit credo of being of service to others. 

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.
4.9
Google
4.9 / 5 (79)
Avvo
4.8 / 5 (38)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (29)

(+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
377 S. Glassell Street, Suite 100, Orange, CA 92866
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Why choose this provider?

Lora S. Friedman is a general litigation attorney that handles matters of probate in Orange and nearby areas. She guides clients through the probate process for both formal proceedings and intestate scenarios. She can also petition for the appointment of a personal representative from the decedent's family. Her other services include various aspects of estate planning, such as drafting wills, establishing trust funds, and providing powers of attorney. Prior to licensure, Lora was a senior paralegal for the legal counsel of an insurance company.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Lora Friedman - Principal11 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
Avvo
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.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

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 Orange, California?

    The non-emergency phone number of the Orange Police Department is 714-744-7444.

  • How long do probate cases in Orange last?

    An Orange probate case can take one to two years to complete, even for the simplest of estates. Your family might not have any resources left to support them during this period, and you might not have any resources left over for the upkeep or maintenance of your other assets, such as the mortgages on your home or other real estate. In order to prevent a foreclosure, your family might be required to sell some property at a reduced price.

  • How much do probate proceedings in Orange cost?

    The filing, bonding, publishing, and appraisal expenses of probate cases in Orange typically cost more than $3,000. The price is significantly higher when you factor in executor expenses and legal fees for the probate process, which are based on the size of the estate. Thus, Orange County residents look for ways to avoid the expensive and drawn-out probate process.

  • How does one begin a probate in Orange?

    Any beneficiary or creditor in Orange has the option of starting the probate process, but typically the executor does so first by submitting the original will to the court and a petition to the probate court. A close relative of the deceased who anticipates inheriting from the estate will often file the petition if there is no will.

  • How is the executor selected in a probate case in Orange?

    The person identified in the will as the executor or personal representative is generally chosen if the decedent in Orange leaves a last will accepted as legal by the probate court. The probate court may name an adult family member, close friend, or qualified third party as executor if the person named in the last will cannot carry out this duty or if there is no will at all.

  • Are all estates in Orange require probate?

    No. Orange does not require probate for smaller estates valued at less than $150,000. These estates can be handled more promptly and affordably. Property passed between spouses is also exempt from the probate process, regardless of its value. Furthermore, probate is unnecessary when the property is transferred to a beneficiary under a trust.