Fresno Probate & Trust Attorney

In the Central Valley, an estate is often more than a house and a bank account. It may include farmland that has been in the family for generations, equipment, water rights, a family business, or interests held with siblings and cousins. When the person who held it all together dies, the family needs a clear legal path that protects both the property and the relationships.

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 Fresno, appearing remotely where the court approves it and in person when the matter requires it. I handle every case personally, in English.

The Fresno County Probate Court

The Probate Division of the Fresno County Superior Court handles probate, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and related matters. It is located at the B.F. Sisk Courthouse, 1130 O Street, Third Floor, Fresno, CA 93721. A probate case begins by filing a petition with the Probate Clerk there; the clerk assigns the hearing date, and the petitioner is responsible for giving notice to everyone entitled to it.

Probate Examiner Notes

After a petition is filed, a Fresno probate examiner reviews the pleadings for compliance with the Probate Code and prepares Probate Examiner Notes listing potential deficiencies. The notes are available online through the court’s portal. Deficiencies must be corrected by filing documents with the court, usually an explanatory declaration, an amendment, or a supplement. Emails or faxes to the examiners do not cure deficiencies, even though examiners can be contacted by email with questions.

Remote appearance requires advance approval

Under Fresno’s Local Rule 7.21, probate appearances are in person or by pre-approved Zoom appearance. To appear remotely in a non-confidential probate matter, a party must file a Notice of Remote Appearance (RA-010), with an email address, at least five court days before the hearing. Late requests are not accepted, and only approved participants receive the Zoom link. For families and fiduciaries outside Fresno, this deadline is easy to miss and important to calendar.

No court reporter by default

Fresno probate matters are not assigned a court reporter, so there is no official transcript unless a party arranges for their own reporter under the court’s rules. In a contested matter, such as a will contest, a trustee removal, or a disputed accounting, deciding whether to bring a reporter is a strategic choice that should be made before the hearing, not after.

Central Valley Estate Issues

Farms and Proposition 19

Proposition 19 limited the parent-child property tax exclusion, but it kept a path for family farms as well as family homes. A family farm can pass from parent to child (or, in some cases, grandparent to grandchild) without full reassessment, up to a value cap, if the transferee continues to use it as a family farm and files the required claims. For transfers from February 16, 2025 through February 15, 2027, the cap is the property’s factored base-year value plus $1,044,586 per legal parcel. Other rental or investment real estate does not qualify. These rules can determine whether keeping farmland in the family is financially workable.

Appraisal of land and business interests

In a California probate, non-cash assets are appraised by a court-appointed probate referee. Farmland, equipment, and closely held business interests can be difficult to value, and the appraised value affects statutory fees, tax reporting, and how property is divided among heirs. Fresno publishes contact information for probate referees who serve the county.

Co-owned property and family disagreement

When land passes to several heirs, disagreements over whether to farm, lease, or sell are common. A trustee or executor must act impartially, and beneficiaries have the right to information and accountings. When those duties are not met, beneficiary rights remedies or a trust or will contest may be appropriate.

Services for Fresno County Clients

• Probate Administration: petition, notice, letters, creditor claims, appraisal, sales, and final distribution.
• Trust Administration: successor trustee guidance, including farm and business assets.
• Trust & Will Contests and Beneficiary Rights.
• Conservatorships and Financial Elder Abuse.

I work with clients in Fresno, Clovis, Sanger, Selma, Reedley, Kerman, Coalinga, and throughout Fresno County. For the statewide overview of thresholds, timelines, and statutory fees, see California Probate Attorney. For Sacramento-area matters, see my Sacramento probate page.

Fresno Probate FAQ

Where is probate filed in Fresno County? With the Probate Clerk at the B.F. Sisk Courthouse, 1130 O Street, Third Floor, Fresno.

Can I appear by Zoom? Only with pre-approval. File a Notice of Remote Appearance (RA-010), including an email address, at least five court days before the hearing.

Can I fix a deficiency by emailing the examiner? No. Examiners may answer questions by email, but deficiencies must be cured by filing documents with the court.

Will there be a transcript of the hearing? Not unless a party provides a court reporter. Fresno does not assign one to probate matters.

Will inherited farmland be reassessed? Possibly not, if it qualifies as a family farm under Proposition 19 and the required claims are filed, subject to the value cap.

Talk With a Probate Attorney About Your Fresno Matter

Call me at (424) 355-5565 or send a message. I will personally review your situation 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.