Estate planning and probate attorneys serving Orange County
Our office is in Irvine, and Orange County's probate court is in Costa Mesa. We help families across the county plan ahead, and we help them through trust administration and probate when the time comes.
Where we help
The short answer
Bezaire & Leathers is an estate planning and probate law firm at 41 Corporate Park, Suite 320, in Irvine. We prepare wills, living trusts and special needs trusts for Orange County families, and we help trustees and executors after a death. Orange County probate and conservatorship cases are heard at the Costa Mesa Justice Complex, 3390 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa.
Where are Orange County probate and conservatorship cases heard?
The Superior Court of California, County of Orange, hears probate cases at the Costa Mesa Justice Complex (opens in a new tab), 3390 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626. That includes estates, conservatorships and guardianships. The Probate Clerk's Office is on the first floor.
Two things about this court are worth knowing before your case starts:
What does this mean if a parent's home is in Orange County?
If your home is the largest thing you own, how it is titled decides whether your family will need the probate court in Costa Mesa. A home held in a funded living trust can pass to your family through your successor trustee, without a court case. A home in your name alone, with no trust and no transfer on death deed, may have to go through probate before it can be sold or transferred.
When a trustee takes over a home held in a trust, the paperwork showing the change is recorded with the county recorder. We prepare and explain these steps, so the home ends up where you intended.
Communities we serve in Orange County
From our office at 41 Corporate Park in Irvine, we work with families in Irvine neighborhoods such as Woodbridge, University Park and Turtle Rock, and across the county, including Anaheim, Santa Ana, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach. If coming to Irvine is hard, we meet by video.
Our services for Orange County families
Local FAQ
Where is probate court in Orange County?
Orange County probate cases are heard at the Costa Mesa Justice Complex, 3390 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa. The Probate Clerk's Office is on the first floor of that courthouse.
How long does probate take in Orange County?
No probate can close before the creditor period ends: the later of four months after letters are first issued, or 60 days after notice is mailed to a creditor (Probate Code section 9100 (opens in a new tab)). The court's calendar, any home sale and tax filings add time. We give you an estimated timeline for your estate at the start.
Can a living trust keep my home out of probate in Orange County?
Yes, if the home is actually deeded to the trust. Your successor trustee can then transfer it without going to the probate court in Costa Mesa. A trust that was signed but never funded does not do this, so we check the deed.
Where are conservatorship cases heard in Orange County?
In the same probate court, at the Costa Mesa Justice Complex. The court also offers an orientation for new conservators.
Can I meet with your attorneys without driving to Irvine in Orange County?
Yes. We meet at our Irvine office or by video, whichever is easier for you.
Talk to an Irvine firm about your Orange County estate
Call (714) 543-6829, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, or request a free consultation.