Expertise.com
2024

Last updated:

Best Probate Lawyers in Sacramento

Our Recommended Top 16

We did the research for you!

  • Licensing
  • User Reviews
  • Mystery Shopping Calls

Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Sacramento Probate Lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

114

Reviewed

74

Curated

16

Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

Sacramento, CA 95834

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
4.9 (60)
Google
4.8 (48)
Yelp
3.5 (16)

Why choose this provider?

Goralka Law Firm in Sacramento is a law firm serving clients in a range of legal areas, including providing legal consultation and representation in matters such as probate, trusts, estate planning, business law, and tax law. The firm's attorneys help clients in all steps of probate and trust administration. Founder John Goralka is a California State Bar Certified Specialist in Taxation, as well as Estate Planning, Trust and Probate. He also holds a Master in Taxation Law (LLM).

  • Trusts
  • Estate Planning
  • Inheritance Taxes

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
John Goralka - PrincipalActive36 yrs

520 Capitol Mall Ste 150, Sacramento, CA 95814

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (5)

Why choose this provider?

Bold, Polisner, Maddow, Nelson & Judson has represented clients in a broad range of legal matters since 1970. Originally based in Walnut Creek, BPMNJ opened an office in Sacramento, CA in 2018. The Sacramento office focuses on trusts and estate planning, administration, and litigation. The firm leverages its many years of experience in the industry to provide comprehensive probate and estate litigation services, as well as help with all matters pertaining to estate planning. BPMNJ also handles conservatorships, guardianships, special needs trusts, healthcare directives, and financial powers of attorney.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Craig Judson - Managing ShareholderActive40 yrs

798 University Ave., Sacramento, CA 95825

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (105)
Avvo
4.9 (57)
Yelp
4.5 (25)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Daniel A. Hunt has helped over 10,000 clients in the Sacramento region and throughout California to find peace of mind. The firm’s practice emphasizes Probate; Estate Planning, Administration, and Litigation; and Conservatorships. Owner Daniel Hunt is a California State Bar Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law.

  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Craig Harris - Associate AttorneyActive9 yrs

820 Alhambra Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95816

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.9 (50)
Google
4.9 (42)
Facebook
5.0 (8)

Why choose this provider?

Klosek Law Offices is a law firm that focuses on probate law and represents clients in Sacramento. It assists in probate administration which covers identifying and securing estate assets, locating next of kin, acquiring appraisals for the property of the deceased, and handling trust administration. Consisting of a lean team of experienced lawyers, Klosek Law Offices provides personal attention to every case. The firm also offers support on estate planning and drafting of wills and trusts.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Jack Klosek - PrincipalActive10 yrs

2277 Fair Oaks Blvd Ste 455, Sacramento, CA 95825

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (3)
Google
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

Palmer, Kazanjian, Wohl & Hodson LLP is a law firm in Sacramento providing a full range of dispute resolution and litigation services, including counseling on how to avoid legal disputes in various areas. The attorneys offer defense and petition representation for fiduciaries and beneficiaries in probate and other types of trust and estate planning disputes. They assist in resolving trust and estate litigation issues, including will and trust contests, contract disputes, and removal of fiduciaries and defense against motions for removal.

  • Probate Litigation

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Larry Kazanjian - Managing PartnerActive48 yrs

2810 Coloma Street, Placerville, CA 95667

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (25)
Yelp
4.9 (7)

Why choose this provider?

Clara Yang, Attorney at Law, assists families in Sacramento who need to undergo probate proceedings after the death of their loved ones. Its legal practitioner is knowledgeable about the requirements of distributing non-trust assets to the rightful beneficiaries, either based on a will or intestacy statutes. Clara Yang has been exclusively practicing estate planning, probate, and trust administration since 2003. She provides multi-lingual consulting using her fluency in various languages, including Mandarin, Cantonese, and Japanese.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Clara Yang - PrincipalActive21 yrs

1333 Howe Ave, Sacramento, CA 95825

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Erik Watkins is a firm that handles real estate and business law, including estate planning and probate processes in the Sacramento and Bay area region. It also counsels the coordination and transfer of business through business succession and estate planning. The firm also represents probate creditors, bankruptcy creditors, and creditors involved in collections and commercial breach of contract. Watkins has extensive experience handling complex real property transactions and has been handling consulting on business, real estate, and land development since 2002.

  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Erik Watkins - PrincipalActive10 yrs

4600 Duckhorn Drive, Sacramento, CA 95834

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (4)
Avvo
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Mark Y. Umeda is a probate law firm serving clients in Sacramento for over 25 years. The firm helps clients secure their assets by drafting a suitable estate plan, determining their estate and inheritance taxes, advising them on bills and settlements, and identifying legal heirs. Clients are assisted in creating their wills, living trusts, and administrating these documents. The attorney at law, Mark Y. Umeda, has been practicing law for over three decades.

  • Wills

8801 Folsom Blvd Ste 230, Sacramento, CA 95826

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
4.3 (6)
Google
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Murphy, Campbell, Alliston & Quinn is a law firm in Sacramento offering probate and trust administration and litigation services to clients in the metro area and the adjoining communities. The firm has seasoned attorneys who are experienced in litigation and dispute resolution in probate and civil court, assisting all parties to a probate proceeding, including trustees, beneficiaries, and personal representatives. The attorney's counsel can help fiduciaries to understand their duties and beneficiaries to know their rights.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Douglas roy Alliston - PartnerActive36 yrs
George Murphy - PartnerActive44 yrs

1555 River Park Drive, Sacramento, CA 95815

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.0 (18)
Avvo
5.0 (14)
Yelp
4.0 (12)

Why choose this provider?

Established in 1979, Meissner Joseph Palley & Ruggles Inc. assists clients in Sacramento and nearby areas with estate planning and probate law. Its team of experienced professionals and attorneys operates with high regard for integrity and work ethic. The firm helps clients understand their rights and how to write and assign wills, trusts, properties, businesses, and powers of attorney. The firm's other areas of practice are business law, conservatorship, and federal and state tax matters.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
John Palley - Managing PartnerActive30 yrs
John Meissner - Managing PartnerActive47 yrs

2020 W. El Camino Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95833

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

The law firm of Johanson & Associates provides assistance to clients in Sacramento. The law firm assists in the preparation of revocable, by-pass trusts, and QTIP trusts, and drafts pour-over wills and durable powers of attorney for health care and property management. It also engages in general civil practice, serving the transactional and litigation needs of business clients in the areas of banking, real estate, construction, corporate partnership, and media law. Principal attorney Stephen H. Johanson has a master of laws degree.

  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Stephen Johanson - PrincipalActive50 yrs

3626 Fair Oaks Blvd., Suite 300, Sacramento, CA 95864

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Sacramento is home to the Family Wealth Law Group, PC. The law firm's team assists clients in the metro concerning their legal needs such as probate, estate planning, conservatorship, and trust administration. Cecilia Tsang, its founder and the head legal practitioner, works closely with professionals in related fields like financial advisors, insurance professionals, tax professionals, and mortgage attorneys. At Family Wealth Law Group, PC, such collaborations are integral in giving clients the appropriate service they need.

  • Estate Planning
  • Estate Settlement
  • Adult Guardianship

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Cecilia Tsang - FounderActive21 yrs

1104 Corporate Way, Sacramento, CA 95831

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.5 (4)
Yelp
5.0 (3)
Facebook
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Chris Crittenton provides probate services to Sacramento and the surrounding areas. It assists individuals in distributing the estate of their deceased loved ones through probate or trust administration. It also handles estate planning services involving creating and drafting wills, advanced health care directives, durable powers of attorneys, and guardianship. Founding attorney Chris Crittenton uses his 10 years of experience as an emergency medical technician to help understand individuals' medical and eldercare needs.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Chris Crittenton - PrincipalActive8 yrs

3626 Fair Oaks Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95864

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Ed Fong, Attorney at Law provides probate and estate planning assistance in Sacramento. The firm helps heirs and beneficiaries process decedents' debts, determine the estates' values, and distribute properties in the event that their loved ones died without wills or trusts. Edwin W. Fong, its lawyer, handles trust administration and aids in creating or updating wills or living trusts. His experience includes working for a veteran probate lawyer and as a judicial intern for 15 months at the Sacramento County Superior Court.

  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Edwin Fong - PrincipalActive8 yrs

455 Capitol Mall, Suite 605, Sacramento, CA 95814

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

HMS Law Group LLP serves clients residing in Sacramento and the surrounding areas. It assists clients seeking legal counsel regarding probate, estate planning, and trust administration. It also handles cases of contested estate administration through negotiation, arbitration, and mediation. The firm's legal team instructs trustees and administrators. Clients are walked through the different aspects of estate planning, including estate tax, beneficiary designations, and business succession. Attorney Rodney R. Moy volunteers at the Senior Legal Hotline.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Rodney Moy - Managing PartnerActive25 yrs

3626 Fair Oaks Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95864

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (13)
Yelp
5.0 (12)
Google
4.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Morris Law Group is a firm that provides trust and probate administration in Sacramento. This firm also provides estate planning solutions that aim to resolve and avoid potential family and livelihood issues, in addition to complex probate procedures and conflicts, that may arise in the future. Morris Law Group also provides assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises related to incorporations, business formations, mergers, and dissolution. Principal attorney David R. Morris is a specialist in probate, estates, and trusts certified by the State Bar of California.

  • Trusts
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
David Morris - PrincipalActive21 yrs

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 Sacramento, California?

    For non-emergency matters, call the Sacramento Police Department at 916-808-5471.

  • Who determines the proper division of property in Sacramento?

    When an estate enters probate in Sacramento, the courts determine the equitable distribution of the estate's assets. Generally, properties go to the decedent's family members. Once the associated fees and other outstanding costs have been settled, the state will distribute any remaining funds to the decedent's surviving spouse and children. If the person is unmarried or has no children, the estate may go to parents, siblings, grandparents, and other relatives. If the decedent has no existing family members, the estate can become a property of the state.

  • How do you start the probate process in Sacramento?

    The first step you must take to initiate the probate process in Sacramento is to file the deceased person’s will with the Probate Division of the Sacramento Superior Court. An experienced probate lawyer can help you file the will and ask the Probate Court to appoint the personal representative named in the will.

  • What should you do in a Sacramento probate case if the decedent did not name a representative?

    In Sacramento, if the decedent did not specify a personal representative, you may seek to be appointed by the Probate Court as an administrator. This is also the step to take if the supposed executor has died or the decedent has left no will at all. The attorney will then help you serve notice on the creditors and beneficiaries of the estate.

  • What are your duties as an executor or administrator in a Sacramento probate case?

    Once you have been appointed as the executor or administrator of a probate case in Sacramento, you are responsible for gathering all the essential records and accounts of the decedent. This process takes a lot of time, especially if the deceased did not keep thorough records of their estate. You also have the legal duty to distribute the assets after petitioning the California probate court to close the estate administration.

  • Will you get compensated in a Sacramento probate case if you are appointed as the decedent’s personal representative?

    Yes. You may get compensation if you are appointed as the decedent’s executor or administrator in Sacramento. The amount you will receive is equivalent to the statutory fees stated in Probate Code Section 10810, which are as follows:

    • 4% on the first $100,000;
    • 3% on the next $100,000;
    • 2% on the next $800,000;
    • 1% on the next $9,000,000;
    • One-half of 1% on the next $15,000,000;
    • For amounts exceeding $25,000,000, the court will determine a reasonable quantity.

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.