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Best Probate Lawyers Bakersfield, CA

Our Recommended Best Bakersfield Probate Lawyers

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

75Reviewed

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Providers

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Best Probate Lawyers Serving Bakersfield
1999 Harrison St. Suite 1800, Oakland, CA 94612
Visit WebsiteLicense: 301258

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Ravi Patel is an experienced legal professional with a strong background in managing a wide array of civil litigation and commercial transactions for both private enterprises and public sector organizations. As a probate lawyer, he helps Bakersfield, California, residents navigate complex trust and estate matters with clarity and confidence. Patel provides legal guidance on issues such as trust administration, Heggstad Petitions, and contested wills, ensuring clients avoid unnecessary delays and expenses associated with probate. Whether assisting successor trustees in properly transferring assets into a trust or advocating for beneficiaries in disputes over inheritance rights, he offers personalized, strategic support tailored to each client's needs.

  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration
  • Heggstad Petitions

Best Probate Lawyers Serving Bakersfield
1901 Truxtun Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
4.5 (12)
Yelp
2.5 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Founded in 2000, the Law Offices of Young & Nichols handles probate matters in the Bakersfield area. The firm draws on its insight into family issues while seeking to respect decedents' wishes through its probate administration. It handles issues relating to contested wills, valuation and dispersion of assets, and distribution of insurance funds. Young & Nichols also provides legal representation in cases involving personal injury claims, sexual harassment, and employment law.

  • Trusts
  • Wills

Best Probate Lawyers Serving Bakersfield
3434 Truxtun Ave Suite 250, Bakersfield, CA 93312

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.7 (72)
Avvo
5.0 (18)
Yelp
4.2 (10)

Why choose this provider?

Divorced by Design is a law firm serving customers throughout Bakersfield. It helps individuals preserve their wealth for their families in the event of their passing by assisting them in preparing estate planning documents such as last will and testaments, trusts, and living wills. It also assists clients with their legal matters involving divorce, child support, child custody, and domestic violence. Garrett Rice, the firm's principal attorney, is a member of the Air Force and was an extern at the Orange County District Attorney's office.

  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Best Probate Lawyers Serving Bakersfield
5601 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (3)
Google
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

Bynum & Wells LLP is a small law firm serving residents of the Bakersfield area. It represents the beneficiaries or creditors of decedents with contractual obligations. The firm's respected estate planning attorneys in Bakersfield handle cases involving estates containing real property or bank accounts, allocating assets to pay off debts or distributing items to family members. Bynum & Wells also deals with matters of intestate succession. Other areas of practice include trust administration and divorce mediation.

  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust
  • Estate Taxes

Best Probate Lawyers Serving Bakersfield
4500 California Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Melvin J. Thompson is a Bakersfield law practice that handles probate issues. Practicing since 1976, Thompson helps clients with legal issues surrounding probate administration, including guardianships, conservatorships, and contested wills. He seeks to prevent or reduce disputes during probate through estate planning and preparation of living trusts, wills, durable powers of attorney, and health care directives. Thompson also handles cases involving personal injury claims, real estate, and family law matters.

  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust

Best Probate Lawyers Serving Bakersfield
1400 Chester Ave., Suite, Bakersfield, CA 93301

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.6 (42)
Avvo
4.7 (16)
Yelp
4.3 (12)

Why choose this provider?

Joseph S. Pearl LLM is a probate law firm in Bakersfield. The solo probate attorney in Bakersfield handles estate and trust administration matters, including trust and estate contests, and accounting and surcharge actions. It also offers executor, trustee, or administrator removal legal services, when necessary. Pearl, who has more than 10 years of legal experience, also offers legal services regarding powers of attorney, wills, revocable living trusts, and health care advance directives.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Best Probate Lawyers Serving Bakersfield
309 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (104)
Yelp
4.0 (47)
Avvo
4.8 (19)

Why choose this provider?

Founded in 2009 and based in Bakersfield, The Gorski Firm offers probate legal services. Founder Vincent A. Gorski helps individuals and families manage the transfer of ownership of assets, including funds, property, and businesses, working to ensure the probate court process is followed correctly in the event of disputes. Gorski, who is a graduate of the Indiana University School of Law, also provides bankruptcy, estate planning, and family law services.

  • Estate Planning

Best Probate Lawyers Serving Bakersfield
4900 California Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Fennemore is a full-service law firm serving the people of Bakersfield that has a history going back over 100 years. The firm's primary areas of focus include probate and estate litigation, and its attorneys are available to represent individuals and groups who are challenging wills or estates. They also offer estate planning services to help clients avoid the probate process in the future. Additional practice areas include real estate, tax, and construction law.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Compare Best Bakersfield Probate Lawyers

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
Law Office of Ravi Patel
1999 Harrison St. Suite 1800, Oakland, CA 94612Contact Us
Law Offices of Young & Nichols
1901 Truxtun Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Divorced by Design
3434 Truxtun Ave Suite 250, Bakersfield, CA 93312
Bynum & Wells, LLP
5601 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93309
Law Office of Melvin J. Thompson
4500 California Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93309
Joseph S. Pearl, LL.M. A Professional Law Corporation
1400 Chester Ave., Suite, Bakersfield, CA 93301
The Gorski Firm
309 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Fennemore
4900 California Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93309

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 with Expertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Bakersfield, CA Probate FAQs

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

    661-327-7111 is the non-emergency contact number for the Bakersfield Police Department.

  • Where can I get a copy of police reports for incidents related to my case in Bakersfield, California?

    Police reports for incidents related to probate in Bakersfield can be obtained from the Bakersfield Police Department. Residents can make in-person, mail, or online police report requests. Reports may be purchased in person at the Police Department between 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday through Friday.

  • What are the responsibilities of a Bakersfield court-appointed administrator in the probate process?

    A court-appointed estate administrator helps Bakersfield beneficiaries navigate the probate process. He is responsible for opening the state in a Kern County probate court. In addition, he locates and notifies heirs, pays creditors, and file estate taxes. An estate administrator also distributes estates to beneficiaries and does final counting and reporting.

  • How long does the probate process in Bakersfield take on average?

    On average, the probate process in Bakersfield takes about a year. Probate attorneys petition the court to admit a will to probate. If there is no will, the legal team opens the estate and appoints an administrator to represent the state. A beneficiary or another member of the family can serve as an administrator. Accounting is the largest task in probate, and the court needs to receive an accounting of any and all assets and debts within the estate.

  • Do trusts go through the probate process in Bakersfield?

    Trusts do not go through the probate process because a Bakersfield resident’s trusts are separate from his or her estate. Attorneys who are familiar with estate planning are well-versed in the creation of various types of trusts. This particular knowledge enables them to advise trust administrators, assist with managing investments, and close down the trust once funds are depleted.

  • Do Bakersfield courts have discretion as to the amount of probate fees to be paid?

    Bakersfield courts do not determine legal fees for probate attorneys and personal representatives because probate fees in the city and throughout California are statutory. The size of the estate or the complexity of the administration does not affect probate fees. Even though such fees are statutory, they may not be deducted from the state without a court order and approval. Relevant statutes on probate fees include Probate Code Section 10800, 10801, and 10810.

  • How does a Bakersfield beneficiary determine whether a probate process is necessary?

    Bakersfield heirs and beneficiaries can determine the importance of probate for settling an estate by examining the validity of the last will and testament. The lack of a trust document can also indicate the need for probate administration. California law excludes estates from probate proceedings as long as they meet the small estate threshold. Under California’s Probate Code Section 13100, the maximum value of a small estate must not exceed $184,500.

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