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Best Probate Lawyers in Santa Rosa, CA

Our Recommended Top 18

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

50Reviewed

37Curated

18Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

189 Tiffany Avenue #720065, San Francisco, CA 94172

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (60)

Why choose this provider?

Lazar Legal provides law-related assistance to Santa Rosa residents. It handles probate law matters such as executing wills, paying debts and obligations, and identifying the rightful heirs of deceased who died without a will. The firm's principal lawyer, Lon Lazar, has been practicing independently since 2010. He is a probate litigator who collaborates with the financial planning and tax advisory industries to address clients' estate management concerns. The firm also deals with estate planning and business law proceedings.

  • Estate Planning

232 W Napa St Ste A, Sonoma, CA 95476

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Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (7)
Google
5.0 (2)
Yelp
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Located in Sonoma and Santa Rosa, the Gullotta Law Group exclusively practices estate planning and probate law throughout the San Francisco Bay area. Attorney Eric Gullotta founded the multi-award-winning firm in 2008. Mr. Gullotta's probate practice represents the decedent's heirs and beneficiaries as well as accepting cases where no will exists or is in dispute. Services include guiding clients through the complexities of the probate court, filing documents, and ensuring assets are appropriately distributed.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Eric Gullotta - PrincipalActive16 yrs

1180 4th Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (9)
Facebook
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Galanti & Copenhaver Inc. is a Santa Rosa-based law firm serving clients throughout the Greater Bay Area. Founded in 2007, it practices trust and estate planning, including probate, as well as business law. Attorney Erika Copenhaver has extensive experience helping clients avoid probate and guiding them through the process when it becomes necessary. Ms. Copenhaver represents the administrators and beneficiaries of a decedent's will in all matters related to the resolution of an estate with or without a will.

  • Trusts
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Erika Copenhaver - PartnerActive15 yrs

3558 Round Barn Boulevard, Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (7)
Yelp
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

DeSantis Law Group, Inc., is a Santa Rosa-based firm composed of a legal team serving families in the areas of trust administration, estate planning, and probate. Lorilee DeSantis, with her passion to help people, deals with the distribution of assets, the identification of beneficiaries, and the authorization of an executor for a deceased person's estate. Lorilee has been admitted to the Superior Courts of California and the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Lorilee Desantis - PrincipalActive17 yrs

250 D Street, Ste. 209, Santa Rosa, CA 95404

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
4.9 (59)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of James J. Barnes caters to the representation needs of the Santa Rosa community. It counsels clients in legal matters involving probate, estate planning, civil litigation, and businesses. Barnes and his team assist in preparing wills and trusts. They develop action plans to help families resolve probate issues. Barnes is a Santa Rosa native who has been practicing law for over 37 years. In addition, he renders services in family and personal injury law.

  • Trusts
  • Estate Planning

2045 Jefferson St Ste E, Napa, CA 94559

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Located in Napa, Beverley, Saxon, Leonard is a law firm that practices probate, family, and criminal law. Serving clients in Napa County and the surrounding areas since 1993, the firm's probate practice represents the executors and beneficiaries of wills, as well as cases where the decedent failed to leave a will or it's in dispute. Typical services include helping clients understand the complexities of probate law, filing court documents, and ensuring debts and taxes are paid from the estate's assets.

  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Beverly Leonard - PrincipalActive33 yrs

1775 Lincoln Ave. Suite 101, Napa, CA 94558

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (23)

Why choose this provider?

Since 2013, Rose Law Firm of Napa Valley Inc. has been guiding executors, trustees, and beneficiaries through the probate administration process following a loved one's death. An experienced probate attorney near Santa Rosa, Trevor J. Rose assists clients with all types of probate administration needs, including inventorying estate assets, affidavit of death for real properties, and payment of the estate's final debts and taxes. The firm also assists with business and corporate law and real estate and title transactions.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Trevor Rose - PrincipalActive13 yrs

3333 Mendocino Avenue Suite 200, Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.5 (2)
Avvo
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Clement, Fitzpatrick & Kenworthy is a legal practice that caters to clients in Santa Rosa and the surrounding areas. Its attorneys have more than 200 years of combined experience in a variety of practice areas, such as estate planning, commercial and residential real estate law, business transactional law, and winery compliance and operations. The firm helps clients craft estate plans to protect their assets and secure their families' future. Its practitioners also provide guidance on wills, powers of attorney, trusts, and heath care proxies.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

131 A Stony Circle, Suite 500, Santa Rosa, CA 95401

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (3)
Facebook
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Kevin T. O'Connor provides services to clients across Santa Rosa and the surrounding cities. It handles probate and estate administration solutions to help family members, administrators, and executors handle and distribute a decedent's estate. It also serves individuals wishing to protect the future of their loved ones through estate planning services. Founding attorney Kevin T. O'Connor utilizes his social work background to empathize with the struggles of his clients, allowing him to create legal strategies suitable for their needs.

  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration

131-A Stony Circle Suite 500, Santa Rosa, CA 95401

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (32)
Yelp
4.5 (11)

Why choose this provider?

Law Offices of Brian A. Barboza Attorney and Counselor at Law is a private practice that caters to the residents of Santa Rosa. It helps clients navigate through the probate process by developing solutions through personalized, one-on-one guidance. The firm also helps with estate planning by providing individuals with tools like wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advanced care directives, and health care proxies. Principal attorney Brian Barboza has been practicing law in California since 2008.

  • Estate Planning

640 Third Street, 2nd Floor, Santa Rosa, CA 95404

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (9)
Google
4.3 (8)
Yelp
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Shapiro, Galvin, Shapiro & Moran is a Santa Rosa-based law firm that represents people whose deceased loved ones have unresolved estate matters. The firm helps alleviate clients' stress by providing full-service probate and estate administration, including accounting for assets and distributing them to the heirs according to the will. In addition, it handles business law, estate planning, and real estate law issues. Daniel J. Galvin III, the probate lawyer and managing partner, has been practicing law since 1979.

  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

587 Jefferson St, Napa, CA 94559

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Richard V. Day Attorney at Law has over 35 years' experience practicing trust, estate planning, and probate law. Serving the Santa Rosa metro area from offices in Napa, Attorney Richard Day has been certified a specialist in probate law by the California Board of Legal Specialization. Mr. Day represents administrators and other beneficiaries, focusing on resolving issues justly out of court and litigating when it becomes necessary. The practice also accepts cases where the decedent failed to make a will.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Richard Day - PrincipalActive45 yrs

3554 Round Barn Blvd, Suite 303, Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.7 (3)
Yelp
1.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Merrill, Arnone & Jones, LLP, serves clients in the Santa Rosa metro. It takes on probate cases and helps the decedent's family in carrying out the will. Its attorneys also assist with estate administration. In addition, it takes on family law cases and aids couples who are seeking a divorce settle matters about alimony, property division, and child custody and support. One of the firm's partners, Marlon V. Young, is a member of the State Bar of California's Estate Planning, Trust, and Transactions Sections.

  • Estate Planning
  • Probate Litigation

420 Aviation Blvd Ste 201, Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Friedmann, Goldberg, Wargo, Hess LLP is a multi-practice law firm based in Santa Rosa that practices estate planning and probate for clients throughout the metro area. Founded in 1999, the firm's probate services include guiding fiduciaries through the complexities of the law and ensuring all parties are aware of their duties concerning the decedent's will. The firm also represents other parties in the assertion of their beneficial interests as well as accepting cases where no will exists.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Steven Goldberg - Founding PartnerActive40 yrs

740 Fourth Street Suite 209, Santa Rosa, CA 95404

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Dale C. Miller offers legal assistance to clients in the Santa Rosa metro. It provides estate planning services, including probate, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives. Other areas of law that the firm handles include family law, business law, and real estate. Lead attorney Dale Miller graduated from law school with honors in 2016. His experience in business operation and serving on the board of a non-profit organization gave him unique insights into counseling and representing clients.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Dale Miller - PrincipalActive6 yrs

809 Broadway Ste 4, Sonoma, CA 95476

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (7)
Google
2.3 (3)
Yelp
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

Located in Sonoma since its foundation in 2005, the Law Office of Jackie L. Martens represents English and Spanish speaking clients throughout the county, including the counties of Santa Rosa and San Rafael. Attorney Jackie Martens, an Empire College School of Law graduate, has practiced family law, civil litigation, and probate since 1995. Ms. Martens' probate services include identifying and collecting the decedent's assets, ensuring debts and taxes are paid, and guiding her clients through the complexities of probate court.

  • Probate Litigation

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Jackie Martens - PrincipalActive29 yrs

610 Davis Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95401

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (8)
Google
5.0 (6)
Yelp
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Angelle K. Wertz handles probate matters for clients in Santa Rosa and the surrounding areas. In probate and trust administration cases, the firm focuses on assisting families and individuals through the whole administrative procedure in order to properly administer and transfer assets on behalf of the deceased, in accordance with his or her final wishes. Wertz has been practicing law for more than 29 years and also handles cases in the areas of criminal defense and family law.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

1400 North Dutton Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95401

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.5 (9)
Google
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Johnston | Thomas is a law firm that serves the city of Santa Rosa and its surrounding areas. Its probate lawyers guide executors and trust administrators through probate proceedings. They also handle matters related to guardianship, conservatorship, powers of attorney, and name changes. The legal office is operated by Roy Johnston and Ryan Thomas. Johnston is the chairperson of the Trusts & Estates Sections of the Sonoma County Bar Association, while Thomas also helps clients with residential and commercial finance issues.

  • Estate Planning
  • Probate Litigation

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Roy Johnston - PartnerActive28 yrs
Roy Johnston - PartnerActive28 yrs

Compare our Top Probate Lawyers

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
Lazar Legal
189 Tiffany Avenue #720065, San Francisco, CA 94172
Gullotta Law Group
232 W Napa St Ste A, Sonoma, CA 95476
Galanti & Copenhaver, Inc.
1180 4th Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
DeSantis Law Group, Inc.
3558 Round Barn Boulevard, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Law Office of James J. Barnes
250 D Street, Ste. 209, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
The Saxon Leonard Law Firm
2045 Jefferson St Ste E, Napa, CA 94559
Rose Law Firm of Napa Valley, Inc.
1775 Lincoln Ave. Suite 101, Napa, CA 94558
Clement, Fitzpatrick & Kenworthy
3333 Mendocino Avenue Suite 200, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Law Office of Kevin T. O'Connor
131 A Stony Circle, Suite 500, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Law Offices of Brian A. Barboza Attorney and Counselor at Law
131-A Stony Circle Suite 500, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Shapiro, Galvin, Shapiro & Moran
640 Third Street, 2nd Floor, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Richard V. Day Attorney at Law
587 Jefferson St, Napa, CA 94559
Merrill, Arnone & Jones, LLP
3554 Round Barn Blvd, Suite 303, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Friedemann Goldberg Wargo Hess LLP
420 Aviation Blvd Ste 201, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
The Law Office of Dale C. Miller
740 Fourth Street Suite 209, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Law Office of Jackie L. Martens
809 Broadway Ste 4, Sonoma, CA 95476
Law Offices of Angelle K. Wertz
610 Davis Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Johnston | Thomas
1400 North Dutton Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95401

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.

FAQs

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

    The non-emergency number of the Santa Rosa Police Department is 707-528-5222.

  • Do you need probate for charitable trusts in Santa Rosa?

    In Santa Rosa, probate is not required for charity trusts since they are irrevocable trusts. As a result, the funds are now accessible through the trust's direction, and the beneficiaries are not subject to court oversight. The specifics of the trust are likewise kept hidden. Hire a skilled probate attorney to discover how to deal with this type of trust.

  • What is the likely scenario if you die without a will in Santa Rosa?

    If you die in Santa Rosa without a will, the probate court will distribute your possessions according to the intestate succession law in California. The court will also appoint an estate representative to collect and distribute all estate assets, pay estate debts and federal estate taxes, and provide an accounting to the court.

  • How much does probate cost in Santa Rosa?

    The cost of probate in Santa Rosa is influenced by a number of factors, including executor probate and statutory legal fees. Based on the state laws in California, statutory fees range from 4% on the first $100,000 to 1% on properties valued at one million dollars or more. Administrative charges might range between $1,000 and $2,000, depending on the county and case complexity.

  • Do you need probate if you have a small estate in Santa Rosa?

    The value of the estate that will be distributed determines whether you require probate for your small estate in Santa Rosa. In California, when the estate value is less than $100,000, probate is unlikely to be required. It is also unlikely to be needed if the real property is worth more than $30,000. Contact a probate attorney to further assess your situation.

  • What is the statute of limitations for filing probate in Santa Rosa?

    In Santa Rosa, the statute of limitations for filing probate is one year from the date of the estate owner's death. It is critical to submit on time since there are penalties and late fines for failing to do so, as well as making the estate inaccessible to beneficiaries, probable loss of executor role for those involved, and inability to close current debts.

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