Riverside & Inland Empire Probate Attorney

The Inland Empire covers two of the largest counties in California, Riverside and San Bernardino, and each has its own Superior Court with its own probate locations and procedures. An estate in Temecula, Palm Springs, or Rancho Cucamonga may be heard in a different courthouse than you expect, and filing in the wrong place costs time.

Lamash Legacy Law is based in Malibu. I represent executors, administrators, trustees, and beneficiaries in probate and trust matters before the Riverside County and San Bernardino County Superior Courts, appearing remotely where the court allows and in person when the matter requires it. I handle every matter personally, in English.

Riverside County: Three Probate Locations

The Superior Court of California, County of Riverside hears probate at three locations:

• Riverside Historic Courthouse, 4050 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92501, the downtown courthouse built in 1903, home to the Riverside probate clerk’s office.
• Palm Springs Courthouse, 3255 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262, for the desert region.
• Southwest Justice Center, 30755-D Auld Road, Murrieta, CA 92563, for the southwest part of the county.

The court publishes a “Where to File” guide that assigns probate filings to a location based on where the case arises. Choosing the correct location at the outset avoids transfers and delay.

Riverside probate notes and examiners

Riverside’s probate examiners review calendared matters and publish probate notes through the court’s online portal. The notes are last updated in the evening three business days before the hearing, reflecting documents filed at least four court days before it. Anything filed later will not appear in the notes. The examiners can be reached by email with procedural questions about the notes.

Riverside also publishes Zoom and phone information for remote probate appearances, a local overbid form for real property sales confirmed in court, and information about probate mediation.

San Bernardino County: Fontana and Victorville

In San Bernardino County, probate is no longer handled at the San Bernardino Justice Center. Effective February 13, 2024, the court moved the probate clerk’s office and all in-person probate services from the Justice Center to the Fontana District. In-person probate clerk services are available at the Fontana and Victorville Districts, and filings for cases heard in Victorville can be made at the Victorville probate clerk’s office. The court also posts probate notes online before hearings. For more on San Bernardino County procedures, see my San Bernardino County probate page.

Inland Empire Estate Issues

Snowbirds, second homes, and the domicile question

The Coachella Valley and other parts of the Inland Empire have many part-time residents. When someone dies owning homes in two states, the first question is where they were domiciled. If they lived in Palm Springs or Palm Desert, the primary probate belongs in Riverside County. If they lived elsewhere and owned California real estate, an ancillary proceeding is typically filed in the county where the property is located. Getting this right determines which court, which rules, and which deadlines apply.

Real property sales in probate

Many Inland Empire estates are resolved by selling the family home. With full authority under the Independent Administration of Estates Act, a personal representative can often sell by giving beneficiaries a Notice of Proposed Action. Without it, the sale must be confirmed in court, where other buyers can overbid. Knowing which path applies affects listing, timing, and price.

Simplified procedures

For deaths on or after April 1, 2025, a successor can petition to transfer a decedent’s California primary residence without full probate if its gross value does not exceed $750,000. In much of the Inland Empire, that procedure may be available. It applies only to the primary residence and requires an inventory and appraisal, but it can avoid a full probate.

How I Help

• Probate Administration: petition, letters, creditor claims, appraisal, sale, and distribution.
• Trust Administration: guiding trustees and resolving unfunded assets.
• Trust & Will Contests: deadlines are short; a trust contest is generally due within 120 days of the trustee’s notice.
• Beneficiary Rights: compelling accountings and protecting your share.
• Conservatorships and Financial Elder Abuse.

I work with clients in Riverside, Corona, Moreno Valley, Temecula, Murrieta, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Indio, San Bernardino, Fontana, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, and Victorville. For neighboring Orange County, see my Orange County probate page; for the statewide overview, see California Probate Attorney.

Inland Empire Probate FAQ

Where is probate filed in Riverside County? At one of three locations (Riverside, Palm Springs, or the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta), based on the court’s Where to File guide.

Is probate still handled at the San Bernardino Justice Center? No. Since February 13, 2024, in-person probate clerk services are at the Fontana and Victorville Districts.

When are Riverside probate notes updated? In the evening three business days before the hearing, reflecting documents filed at least four court days before it.

My parent lived in another state but owned a house in Palm Springs. Where is probate filed? Usually the main probate is in the home state, with an ancillary proceeding in Riverside County for the California property.

Can I attend hearings remotely? Riverside publishes Zoom and phone appearance information for its probate departments. Rules vary by court and hearing type.

Talk With a Probate Attorney About Your Inland Empire Matter

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

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.