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Best Probate Lawyers in Santa Maria

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2023
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C4 Legal Assistance and Mediation logo
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C4 Legal Assistance and Mediation

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503 South McClelland Street, Santa Maria, CA 93454
  • Trusts

Business Description

C4 Legal Assistance and Mediation offers professional legal assistance to residents in Santa Maria. It focuses on helping clients with matters involving civil and family laws, such as probate, wills and trusts, deeds, divorce, child custody, and family support. With more than five decades of experience, its team members also give advice to those who are planning to start a business or currently maintaining one. C4 Legal Assistance works with a number of lawyers, who can provide clients with more extensive legal services.

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.
4.0
Google
4.0 / 5 (21)
Yelp
4.0 / 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.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
Carmel & Naccasha, LLP. logo
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Carmel & Naccasha, LLP.

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1410 Marsh Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

Carmel & Naccasha, LLP has been serving individuals and businesses throughout the Central Coast since 2004. Its probate attorneys near Santa Maria are well-versed in wills, trusts, and estate planning. They help clients prepare a clear, complete, and tax-efficient plan for the distribution of their assets after they pass on. In addition to handling trust litigation and administration, they assist clients seeking to modify a trust. The law firm has offices in San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles.

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
4.5 / 5 (8)
Yelp
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
Douglass Barnes, LLP logo

Douglass Barnes, LLP

1103 Johnson Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust
  • Trust Administration

Business Description

With offices located in Saratoga and San Luis Obispo, boutique law firm Douglass Barnes, LLP has probate lawyers near Santa Maria. Whether clients need assistance in estate planning and taxation, probate and trust administration, trust and estate litigation, or elder law planning, Douglass Barnes, LLP is committed to using its lawyers' years of experience and expertise in providing legal advice and representation. The firm's other services include mediation, business planning, and Medi-Cal 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.
4.4
Yelp
4.0 / 5 (7)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (5)
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.
4.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––
Law Office of Aaron B. Smith logo
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Law Office of Aaron B. Smith

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241 South Broadway Street, Orcutt, CA 93455
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration
  • Probate Litigation

Business Description

With over 10 years of experience, the Law Office of Aaron B. Smith provides assistance to clients who have concerns about estate planning, wills and trusts, trust administration, and probate. Aaron B. Smith is committed to delivering competent as well as affordable representation to his clients. He has worked with individual clients, average married couples, and multimillion-dollar corporations. Regardless of client nature, he ensures that each one is given the same level of respect and representation.

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
4.2 / 5 (5)
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.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
Law Office of Rodolfo Marquez logo

Law Office of Rodolfo Marquez

426 Barcellus Avenue, Santa Maria, CA 93454
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust

Business Description

The Law Office of Rodolfo Marquez has a probate lawyer in Santa Maria. Committed to providing tailored legal services, the firm assists clients in legal matters concerning probate, estate planning, and durable powers of attorney. They handle advance health care directives, trusts, revocable, special needs, and life insurance. The Law Office of Rodolfo Marquez represents clients throughout the United States and internationally. Its founder, Rodolfo Marquez, is a native Spanish speaker.

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.
4.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (5)
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.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
Law Offices of Dennis James Balsamo, APLC logo
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Law Offices of Dennis James Balsamo, APLC

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1303 East Grand Avenue, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

Law Offices of Dennis James Balsamo, APLC, offers legal services to clients in Santa Maria. Established in 2002, the firm counsels in cases related to probate and other areas such as personal injury, business law, and landlord-tenant disputes. Its lawyer, Dennis James Balsamo, helps and educates clients in situations where probate is needed, including contested wills and trust litigation. Balsamo previously worked as a police officer and was a criminal investigator.

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
4.0 / 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
Law Offices of R. Morgan Holland, L.C. logo
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Law Offices of R. Morgan Holland, L.C.

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323 Vine Street, Santa Maria, CA 93454
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

For over three decades, the Law Offices of R. Morgan Holland, L.C., has been providing legal assistance to clients in Santa Maria. Founding attorney, R. Morgan Holland, received his Juris Doctorate in 1988. He is a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association. His law firm focuses on estate planning and probate services to help families settle the affairs of a deceased loved one. It guides clients in various aspects of the probate process, including estate debts and taxes, property appraisals, and division of assets.

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 (25)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (5)
Yelp
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
Michael S. Hardy, Attorney at Law logo

Michael S. Hardy, Attorney at Law

115 West Park Avenue, Santa Maria, CA 93458
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration

Business Description

Michael S. Hardy, Attorney at Law, is an estate planning attorney in Santa Maria who has been practicing law for over 40 years. He handles comprehensive estate and business succession plans and drafts legal tools such as wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. Easing the burden of settling a loved one’s final affairs, he assists clients with the paperwork and process of probate and estate or trust administration. Hardy's other focus areas are real estate and business 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.
4.7
Google
4.7 / 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.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
O’Neill and Woolpert logo

O’Neill and Woolpert

1014 Palm St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust
  • Estate Taxes
  • Trust Administration

Business Description

O'Neill and Woolpert's team of estate planning, trust, and probate attorneys in Santa Maria has been serving the Central Coast for over 35 years. The legal team assists clients throughout the transition, from handling conservatorship up to estate tax. The firm's practice is also focused on trust administration, living trust, and special needs trust. O'Neill and Woolpert strives to take a collaborative approach when handling cases and providing personalized service to each client.

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 (42)
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
Ronca John A Jr A Law Corporation logo
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Ronca John A Jr A Law Corporation

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755 Santa Rosa St Ste 310, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust
  • Trust Administration

Business Description

The law office of John A. Ronca Jr. provides legal counsel to its clients through its offices in San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria. The law firm assists clients in preparing wills, living trusts, and durable powers of attorney. John A. Ronca Jr. also provides clients suitable representation in all aspects of real estate ownership, including acquisition, sales, transfers, and leasing. Additionally, the law firm also offers counseling in starting or expanding a business.

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
Stephen K. Hall & Associates logo
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Stephen K. Hall & Associates

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756 Santa Rosa St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration

Business Description

Established in 1992, the Stephen K. Hall & Associates is a boutique-style law firm focusing on estate, trust, and elder law concerns. It provides straightforward legal advice to clients in the Central Coast area. Stephen K. Hall, an estate planning attorney near Santa Maria can review and revise existing estate plans, work on standard wills and revocable family trusts, and help with complex estate plans. Stephen K. Hall also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Transitions Mental Health Association.

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 (4)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (2)
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
Sullivan Law Corporation logo
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Sullivan Law Corporation

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2238 Bayview Heights Drive, Suite C, Los Osos, CA 93402
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

Sullivan Law Corporation is headed by Shaunna Sullivan, who has nearly four decades of legal experience in matters involving wills, trusts, and estates. In addition to providing estate planning services to help clients put their affairs in order, she helps people navigate the process of administering a deceased loved one's estate. Based in Los Osos, Sullivan Law Corporation's other areas of focus include contracts, transaction and business counseling, farm and ranch transactions, and intellectual property.

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.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
The Law Office of Christopher S. Biely logo
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The Law Office of Christopher S. Biely

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705 East Main Street, Santa Maria, CA 93454
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

The Law Office of Christopher S. Biely is a Santa Maria-based law firm providing services to clients across California. It handles cases concerning probate law, such as matters of will and executing estate. Additionally, the firm's practice areas include various aspects of family, including divorce, child custody, adoption, and guardianships. Christopher S. Biely, the firm's principal lawyer, is a Santa Barbara College of Law graduate, where he received the Witkin Award for Excellence. He also holds over a decade 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.
4.9
Google
4.0 / 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.
4.0
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 does a probate attorney do?

    Probate attorneys are licensed professionals who represent executors and heirs after someone has died. They provide personalized legal advice, assist with tax planning, settle debts, and facilitate the distribution of assets. Probate attorneys typically represent clients during administrative proceedings overseen by probate courts, although some litigators focus on handling disputes and lawsuits related to contested estates.

  • What is probate court?

    Probate court works with the family or beneficiaries of a deceased person to validate their last will and testament. The courts review the individual's will to identify and calculate assets, pay off remaining debts, and distribute the remaining property to beneficiaries per the deceased person's requests. Depending on state laws, property valued under a certain amount may not require probate.

  • How long do you have to file probate after death?

    The amount of time loved ones have to file a will after a person dies varies from state to state. While California courts require probate to be filed within one year, New York has no deadline. That being said, it's advisable to file probate as quickly as possible once a person has died, as the process itself can take anywhere from a few weeks to more than a year.

  • Does life insurance go through probate?

    Life insurance doesn't need to go through the probate courts if the deceased individual has named a beneficiary on their policy. However, life insurance policies without beneficiaries, or with beneficiaries who are either deceased themselves or cannot be contacted, go directly to the deceased individual's estate. When this happens, life insurance proceeds must go through probate court to determine how funds should be allocated.

  • Do household items go through probate?

    While the exact rules do vary from state to state, most household items don't require probate and are automatically left to immediate families unless otherwise stated in the deceased person's will. When it comes to property, only items above a certain value or held in title are required to go through probate in most states.

  • Do bank accounts with beneficiaries have to go through probate?

    In the event a beneficiary has been named, bank accounts are not required to go through probate and will be paid directly to the person designated by the deceased individual. However, should that individual be deceased themselves or if contact cannot be made after a certain period of time, funds will be allocated to the estate and put through the probate process.

  • What happens if no probate is filed?

    Depending on the circumstances, probate may not be required in all cases. If a person passes on and their remaining property is jointly owned, it automatically transfers to the other owner. However, if a property is not jointly owned and no probate has been filed, the executor of the will won't be able to transfer titles or cash assets to beneficiaries. Be aware that the specific laws surrounding probate requirements vary from state to state.