Orange County families tend to come to probate with a specific set of concerns: a long-held family home in Irvine, Newport Beach, or Huntington Beach; a parent in a retirement community who may have been taken advantage of; or siblings who disagree about whether a trust is being handled fairly. These are the matters I focus on.
Lamash Legacy Law is based in Malibu, and I represent executors, trustees, beneficiaries, and families in probate, trust, and conservatorship matters before the Superior Court of California, County of Orange. Orange County’s probate court sets most non-evidentiary hearings for remote appearance, which makes it practical to handle these matters without a local office. I handle every case personally, in English.
The Orange County Probate Court
People are often surprised to learn that Orange County probate is not handled at the main courthouse in Santa Ana. The court’s Probate/Mental Health clerk’s office and courtrooms are located at the Costa Mesa Justice Complex, 3390 Harbor Boulevard, Costa Mesa. The Probate/Mental Health unit handles decedents’ estates, wills and trusts, conservatorships, guardianships, and elder and dependent adult abuse matters.
Probate Notes are posted weeks in advance
Orange County probate examiners review petitions three to four weeks before the hearing and publish Probate Notes online. The notes identify deficiencies, often phrased as items the petitioner “needs” to provide, and any supplemental documents must generally be filed at least five court days before the hearing. The court also offers a text and email alert program that notifies parties each time new notes are posted.
That lead time is an advantage if it is used. A deficiency spotted three weeks out can usually be cured with a supplement; the same deficiency discovered the day before a hearing usually means a continuance. I track the notes on every matter and respond to them promptly.
Remote appearances by default
Under the court’s current appearance procedure, probate and mental health hearings, conferences, and non-evidentiary proceedings are set for remote appearance, with the option to appear in person. Evidentiary hearings and trials follow the assigned department’s rules.
Common Orange County Matters
Elder financial abuse and conservatorships
Orange County is home to large retirement communities, and many of the matters I see involve an older parent whose finances have been taken over by a new friend, caregiver, or relative. California’s Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act protects people 65 and older, and when financial abuse is proven, the statute allows the court to award attorney’s fees. Where a parent can no longer manage their affairs, a conservatorship may be needed. The Orange County court offers an online conservatorship orientation in several languages for proposed conservators, and the court’s probate investigators evaluate each case. I help families prepare for that review. See Financial Elder Abuse.
Trust disputes among siblings
Many Orange County estates are held in living trusts. When a sibling serves as trustee and stops communicating, beneficiaries have the right to information and an accounting, and the court can compel one. If the trust itself was changed late in life under suspicious circumstances, a trust contest may be appropriate, but the deadline is short: generally 120 days after the trustee’s notice. More in How to Contest a Will or Trust in California
Family homes and property tax
When a child inherits a parent’s home, Proposition 19 allows the parent’s property tax base to carry over only if the child makes the home their principal residence, and only up to a cap. Rental properties no longer qualify. For families deciding whether to keep or sell an Orange County home, this is often the deciding factor.
How I Help
- Probate Administration: from the initial petition through letters, creditor claims, appraisal, sale, and final distribution.
- Trust Administration: guiding successor trustees through notices, accountings, and distribution.
- Beneficiary Rights: protecting your share when a trustee or executor is not doing their job.
- Trust & Will Contests, Conservatorships, and Financial Elder Abuse.
I work with clients across the county, including Irvine, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Mission Viejo, and Laguna Woods. For an overview of how probate works statewide, including thresholds and statutory fees, see my California probate attorney page.
Orange County Probate FAQ
Where is the Orange County probate court? The Probate/Mental Health clerk’s office and courtrooms are at the Costa Mesa Justice Complex, 3390 Harbor Boulevard, Costa Mesa.
When are Probate Notes available? Orange County examiners review petitions three to four weeks before the hearing and post Probate Notes online. You can register for text or email alerts when notes are updated.
Do I have to appear in person? Probate hearings, conferences, and non-evidentiary proceedings are set for remote appearance, with an in-person option. Trials and evidentiary hearings follow the department’s rules.
My parent in a retirement community gave large sums to a caregiver. What can we do? Depending on the facts, options may include a financial elder abuse claim, a conservatorship, or a restraining order. Act quickly, because assets can move fast.
How much does probate cost in Orange County? The same statutory fee schedule applies statewide, based on the gross value of the estate. See probate attorney fees.
Talk With a Probate Attorney About Your Orange County Matter
Call me at (424) 355-5565 or send a message. I will personally review your situation and outline your options.
Lamash Legacy Law’s office is located at 23465 Civic Center Way, #116, Malibu, CA 90265. This page provides general information, not legal advice. Contacting Lamash Legacy Law does not create an attorney-client relationship.