San Bernardino County Probate Attorney

San Bernardino County is the largest county in the continental United States by area, and its estates reflect that range: a family home in Rancho Cucamonga or Redlands, a cabin in Big Bear or Lake Arrowhead, desert property in the High Desert, and heirs who may live hours apart. The county’s probate court has also reorganized in recent years, so even families who have dealt with it before may find that things have changed.

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 San Bernardino, appearing remotely where the court allows and in person when the matter requires it. I handle each case personally, in English.

Where San Bernardino Probate Cases Are Heard

The county’s probate services are now centered in Fontana. The court’s probate clerk and in-person probate services operate from the Fontana District courthouse, 17780 Arrow Boulevard, Fontana, CA 92335, a change that took effect on February 13, 2024, when probate left the San Bernardino Justice Center downtown. For the High Desert, the Victorville District also offers in-person probate clerk services, and documents in cases heard in Victorville may be filed with the Victorville probate clerk.

The practical point: confirm which district your case is assigned to before filing anything, and make sure every notice of hearing shows the correct location. A notice that lists the wrong courthouse can require re-noticing and cost weeks.

Probate Notes through the Court Access Portal

San Bernardino’s probate examiners review matters on calendar and post Probate Notes through the court’s Court Access Portal. Under the court’s published guidance, notes are posted about two weeks before the hearing, remain available for seven days afterward, and are usually updated three court days before the hearing. Documents filed late may not be reviewed in time, which can lead to a continuance.

The court’s email rules are strict. Examiners can explain what a note means, but responses and attachments cannot be sent by email, disputes about the requirements cannot be resolved by email, and the court’s research attorneys do not respond to emails at all. Deficiencies have to be cured by filing documents with the court.

San Bernardino Estate Issues

Mountain cabins and second homes

A cabin in Big Bear, Crestline, or Lake Arrowhead is often the asset families care most about and argue about most. Under Proposition 19, the parent-child property tax exclusion now applies only to a family home that the child makes their principal residence; a vacation cabin generally will be reassessed when it passes to the next generation. The simplified $750,000 primary-residence petition also does not apply to second homes. Whether to keep, rent, or sell a cabin should be decided with the tax and probate consequences in view.

Out-of-county and out-of-state heirs

When heirs live in other counties or states, notice requirements, signatures, and coordination take longer. A non-resident can serve as personal representative in California, though the court may require a bond. Most of my work with these families happens by phone, email, and video.

When the estate is modest

For deaths on or after April 1, 2025, a decedent’s California primary residence worth $750,000 or less can be transferred by court petition without full probate, and personal property up to $208,850 can often be collected by affidavit. In many parts of San Bernardino County, these procedures may fit. Identifying them early can save the cost and time of a full probate administration.

How I Help

• Probate Administration: petition, notice, letters, creditor claims, appraisal, sales, and final distribution.
• Trust Administration: trustee duties from the initial notice through distribution.
• Trust & Will Contests: challenging or defending documents; trust contests generally must be filed within 120 days of the trustee’s notice.
• Beneficiary Rights: accountings and fiduciary accountability.
• Conservatorships and Financial Elder Abuse.

I work with clients in San Bernardino, Fontana, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Redlands, Chino, Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley, Big Bear, and Lake Arrowhead. For Riverside County matters, see my Riverside & Inland Empire page. For thresholds, timelines, and statutory fees statewide, see California Probate Attorney.

San Bernardino Probate FAQ

Where do I file a probate case in San Bernardino County? With the probate clerk at the Fontana District courthouse, 17780 Arrow Boulevard. For cases heard in Victorville, the Victorville probate clerk also accepts filings.

When are Probate Notes posted? About two weeks before the hearing, on the Court Access Portal, with updates usually three court days before the hearing.

Can I email the examiner to fix a note? No. Examiners can explain a note, but corrections must be filed with the court.

Will my parent’s Big Bear cabin be reassessed? Generally yes, if it was not the child’s principal residence. Proposition 19’s parent-child exclusion is limited to family homes and family farms.

How long does a San Bernardino probate take? Without disputes, many California probates finish in roughly 9 to 18 months; continuances for uncleared notes add time. See How Long Does Probate Take in California?

Talk With a Probate Attorney About Your San Bernardino County 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.