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Best Probate Lawyers in Santa Maria, CA

Our Recommended Top 12

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

34Reviewed

25Curated

12Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

503 South McClelland Street, Santa Maria, CA 93454

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.0 (21)
Yelp
4.0 (8)

Why choose this provider?

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.

  • Trusts

1410 Marsh Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.5 (8)
Yelp
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

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.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Ziyad Naccasha - Co-Founder/PartnerActive22 yrs
Timothy Carmel - PartnerActive38 yrs

755 Santa Rosa St Ste 310, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

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.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
John Ronca - PrincipalActive46 yrs

1303 East Grand Avenue, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.0 (7)
Facebook
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

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.

  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Dennis Balsamo - PrincipalActive26 yrs

705 East Main Street, Santa Maria, CA 93454

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.0 (14)

Why choose this provider?

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.

  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Christopher Biely - PrincipalActive16 yrs

1103 Johnson Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.0 (7)
Facebook
5.0 (5)
Google
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

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.

  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Douglas Barnes - PartnerActive43 yrs

756 Santa Rosa St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.8 (4)
Avvo
5.0 (2)
Yelp
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

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.

  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Stephen Hall - PrincipalActive35 yrs

426 Barcellus Avenue, Santa Maria, CA 93454

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (57)
Avvo
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

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.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Rodolfo Marquez - Founding AttorneyActive7 yrs

1014 Palm St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (42)
Google
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

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.

  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust
  • Estate Taxes

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Charron O'neill - PartnerActive35 yrs

241 South Broadway Street, Orcutt, CA 93455

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.6 (9)
Avvo
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

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.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Aaron Smith - PrincipalActive20 yrs

115 West Park Avenue, Santa Maria, CA 93458

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.8 (11)
Yelp
1.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

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.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Michael Hardy - PrincipalActive47 yrs

323 Vine Street, Santa Maria, CA 93454

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.0 (25)
Facebook
5.0 (5)
Yelp
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

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.

  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Roy Holland - PrincipalActive36 yrs

Compare our Top Probate Lawyers

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
C4 Legal Assistance and Mediation
503 South McClelland Street, Santa Maria, CA 93454
Carmel & Naccasha, LLP.
1410 Marsh Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Ronca John A Jr A Law Corporation
755 Santa Rosa St Ste 310, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Law Offices of Dennis James Balsamo, APLC
1303 East Grand Avenue, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
The Law Office of Christopher S. Biely
705 East Main Street, Santa Maria, CA 93454
Douglass Barnes, LLP
1103 Johnson Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Stephen K. Hall & Associates
756 Santa Rosa St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Law Office of Rodolfo Marquez
426 Barcellus Avenue, Santa Maria, CA 93454
O’Neill and Woolpert
1014 Palm St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Law Office of Aaron B. Smith
241 South Broadway Street, Orcutt, CA 93455
Michael S. Hardy, Attorney at Law
115 West Park Avenue, Santa Maria, CA 93458
Law Offices of R. Morgan Holland, L.C.
323 Vine Street, Santa Maria, CA 93454

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.

Santa Maria, CA Probate FAQs

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

    For non-emergency situations, please call (805) 928-3781 extension 2277.

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

    To request a copy of an SBSO report, it is recommended to first contact the Records Unit at (805) 681-4180 to confirm its availability. Typically, it takes an average of 7-10 days for a report to be finalized by the deputy, approved by the sergeant, and submitted to the Records Unit, depending on the report's complexity.

  • Are heirs and beneficiaries responsible for paying the deceased person's taxes in Santa Maria?

    No, heirs and beneficiaries are typically not obligated to pay the taxes owed by the deceased person in Santa Maria, except for specific circumstances involving the surviving spouse. The taxes are typically settled using the assets of the deceased, and tax payments take precedence over distributions to creditors or beneficiaries.

  • How long does the probate process in Santa Maria usually take?

    The duration of the probate process in Santa Maria depends on the complexity of the case. Normally, it can span from a few weeks to over a year. Complex cases may take even longer. However, estates valued below $166,250 might be eligible for a simplified small estate procedure, which can accelerate the settlement timeline.

  • Where are probate matters heard in Santa Maria?

    Probate matters in Santa Maria and the entire northern Santa Barbara County are heard at various times and locations. These include Dept. SM 4 on Mondays at 8:30 a.m., Dept. SM 2 on Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m., and Dept. SM 3 on Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m. The hearings take place at the Cook Division, located at 312 E. Cook St., Santa Maria.

  • Can the court in Santa Maria appoint a conservator if probate is not properly managed?

    Yes, the court in Santa Maria has the authority to appoint a conservator in cases where the estate is inadequately managed or probate procedures are not appropriately followed. The conservator assumes the responsibility of managing and safeguarding the assets, which can potentially result in conflicts among beneficiaries who try to relinquish control over the estate's administration.

  • What services does the probate facilitator provide in Santa Maria?

    In Santa Maria, the probate facilitator, funded by the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act grant program, provides valuable services to individuals in the north county area. They specifically assist those seeking conservatorship or guardianship of a person (excluding estate matters). The licensed attorney probate facilitator offers guidance on various aspects of these cases, such as petitions, objections, terminations, visitation, successors, fee waivers, notice and service requirements, and annual status reports.

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