Sonoma County Probate & Trust Attorney
Sonoma County estates often include more than a house. A vineyard parcel, a ranch in the hills, a rental in Healdsburg or Sonoma, or a lot where a home was lost to wildfire and never rebuilt can all end up in a trust or probate estate. These assets raise questions about valuation, property tax, insurance, and who decides what happens next.
Lamash Legacy Law is based in Malibu. I represent executors, administrators, trustees, and beneficiaries in probate and trust matters before the Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma, appearing remotely where the court allows and in person when the matter requires it. I handle every case personally, in English.
The Sonoma County Probate Court
Trust, estate, and conservatorship matters in Sonoma County are usually heard in Courtroom 23 of the Civil and Family Law Courthouse, 3055 Cleveland Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95403.
Probate notes: three weeks, and 45 days for §850 petitions
Sonoma’s probate examiners post notes approximately three weeks before the hearing, available through the court’s online case portal. The court follows a different schedule for one important category: for petitions under Probate Code §850, which are used to determine title to property claimed by or against an estate or trust, notes are published 45 days before the hearing.
That matters in Sonoma County. Section 850 petitions are common when a property was left out of a trust and needs to be confirmed as a trust asset, sometimes called a Heggstad petition, or when family members or third parties dispute ownership of land. Earlier notes give more time to fix problems, but they also mean the petition should be complete when filed.
Tentative rulings
The court makes probate tentative rulings available by phone at (707) 521-6607 after 2:00 p.m. on the day before the hearing. Checking the ruling, and acting on it the same afternoon, is part of handling a Sonoma calendar efficiently.
Drop-off ex parte procedure
For non-emergency probate ex parte applications, Sonoma County uses a “drop-off” procedure under its local rules, in which papers are submitted for review without a scheduled personal appearance. Knowing when this procedure applies and when a noticed hearing is needed can save time.
Sonoma County Estate Issues
Vineyards, ranches, and Proposition 19
Proposition 19 limited the parent-child property tax exclusion to the family home and family farms, each subject to an indexed cap. Some vineyard and ranch parcels may qualify as family farms. Rural residential parcels and vacation properties may not. Each legal parcel should be reviewed before distribution.
Wildfire-affected property
Sonoma County has been hit by major wildfires, including the 2017 Tubbs Fire, which destroyed thousands of homes in and around Santa Rosa. When a decedent owned a damaged property or a vacant rebuild lot, the estate may also hold insurance claims, settlement funds, or rebuilding permits. These are estate assets and need to be identified and transferred correctly.
Trust administration
Most Sonoma County families use living trusts. The trustee must notify beneficiaries and heirs within 60 days after the trust becomes irrevocable. Beneficiaries generally have 120 days from that notice to contest the trust.
If a trustee wants to sell a vineyard or ranch, the trust terms usually control, and most trust sales do not require court approval. The trustee must still keep beneficiaries reasonably informed and act prudently in pricing and marketing the property.
How I Help
- Probate Administration: petition, probate notes, letters, sale, distribution.
- Trust Administration: including §850 petitions for assets left out of a trust.
- Trust & Will Contests and Beneficiary Rights.
- Conservatorships and Financial Elder Abuse.
I work with clients in Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Healdsburg, Sonoma, Sebastopol, Windsor, Cloverdale, and Sea Ranch. Nearby: Marin County and San Francisco. Statewide: California Probate Attorney.
Sonoma County Probate FAQ
Where are probate matters heard in Sonoma County? Usually in Courtroom 23, Civil and Family Law Courthouse, 3055 Cleveland Avenue, Santa Rosa.
When are probate notes posted? About three weeks before the hearing, and 45 days before the hearing for Probate Code §850 petitions.
How do I get a tentative ruling? By phone at (707) 521-6607 after 2:00 p.m. the day before the hearing, or through the court website.
Can a house left out of the trust avoid probate? Often yes, through a §850 petition to confirm the property as a trust asset, if the trust documents support it.
Will our vineyard be reassessed? It depends on whether each parcel qualifies as a family farm under Proposition 19 and on the value cap.
Talk With a Probate Attorney About Your Sonoma County Matter
Call me at (424) 355-5565 or send a message. I will review your situation personally and explain 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.