Estate Planning Blog

Top 10 Best Probate Attorneys in Walnut Creek

By Jeffreymendel Jeffrey Nash – Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50308966

Top 10 Best Probate Attorneys in Walnut Creek

We know finding the Best Probate Attorney in Walnut Creek, California can be difficult, so we put together this detailed list of the best of the best so you can make your decision wisely. This list of amazing locations is ever-changing and expanding, so please check back often. If you find another Probate law firm that should be listed here – or one that should be removed – please let us know!

1. Law Offices of Joel Harris, 511 W 3rd St, Antioch, CA 94509

About: Since 1993 Joel Harris has been the leading probate attorney, in Walnut Creek, Antioch, and Clayton.  With clients from all over Northern California and beyond, Joel’s status as an estate planning lawyer who is on the side of his clients is well-established. People often ask Joel if Probate is only an issue if you have a large estate? In California, a probate court is required to transfer assets if your estate includes real property, or non-real property assets exceeding $150,000. Probate does NOT affect assets in a Living Trust, or those with proper beneficiary designations. If you own a home in California, you should use a Living Trust if you care about your heirs. If you have beneficiaries designated on any assets, be sure to be extremely careful about naming the correct beneficiaries! For example, young or disabled children make poor beneficiaries, but a Living Trust set up for them makes a perfect beneficiary.

Practice Areas: Estate Planning, Living Trust, Wills, Power of Attorney, Probate, Family Business Evaluation, Planning, and Management.

What Makes Him Different: With 30 years of experience specializing in estate planning and estate administration, Joel is both a State Bar Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law and a perennial California Super Lawyer; recognized by an independent firm as one of the top 5 percent in its field of competence and service.

2. Law Office of Joan Grimes,191 Sand Creek Rd #220, Brentwood, CA 94513, United States

About: From the initial consultation to the completion of the estate planning process, the Law Office of Joan Grimes takes pride in offering comprehensive assistance. Many estate planning lawyers draft wills and then demand that their clients finance their trusts themselves (i.e. require their clients to personally change the title of all of their assets to fund the trust). This can be daunting and burdensome for those who are new to the estate planning process. The team, on the other hand, will handle the whole funding process for you. They will walk you through the whole process so that when your estate plan is done, you can rest easy knowing that all of your “i” has been dotted and every “t” has been crossed

Practice Areas: Estate Planning and Bankruptcy

What Makes Him Different: The Law Office of Joan Grimes wants you to leave with not just a plan, but a plan that you fully understand.

3. Law Office Of Edward Younger, 420 Beatrice Ct g1, Brentwood, CA 94513, United States

About: People sometimes put off dealing with legal issues until it is too late. There are controversy and needless cost at that point. The Law Office Of Edward Younger enjoys challenging the status quo. He claims that his clients value having affordable access to competent legal counsel. Whether it’s estate planning, business law, or landlord representation, he tries to do as much of his work as possible at a flat rate, so clients know exactly what they’re paying for

Practice Areas: Estate Planning, Business Law, and Landlord law

What Makes Him Different: The Law Office Of Edward Younger’s mission is to provide compassionate, honest, and valuable legal services. He claims that the safest way to work is to avoid legal disputes by planning ahead of time.

4. T.S. Wrobel Law Group, 870 Market St #645, San Francisco, CA 94102, United States

About: T. S. Wrobel Law Group was founded in 1997 to assist individuals, small to mid-sized enterprises, and charitable organizations with their legal needs. Their goal is to protect and enforce their clients’ rights by providing competent, timely, and cost-effective legal services.

Practice Areas: Estate Planning, Probate & Trust Administration and Business Services & Counseling

What Makes Him Different: T.S. Wrobel Law Group aspires to provide nothing less than exceptional service, the kind where you know the benefit of working with them outweighs the cost.

5. Law Offices of Kathleen Siemont, 701 Southampton Rd #211, Benicia, CA 94510, United States

About: The Law Offices of Kathleen Siemont was established in the year 2019. Kathleen Siemont, who focuses on Social Security, Workers Compensation, and Elder Law, opened her own office in 2019. Since recognizing the need for legal advice for older women, she added individual legal therapy.

Practice Areas: Estate Planning, Last Will & Testament, Trust Planning, Preparation & Administration, Workers Compensation Legal Services and Social Security Legal Services

What Makes Him Different: The Law Offices of Kathleen Siemont role is not to judge or criticize you, but to assist you in finding solutions. Correctly identifying the issue is half the fight. Kathleen Siemont’s expertise is in coming up with innovative options that do not include going to court or lengthy litigation.

6. Mendes Weed, LLP, 1990 N California Blvd #1020, Walnut Creek, CA 94596, United States

About: Mendes Weed, LLP was established in 2013. In 2017, Christina Weed and Lisa J. Mendes merged their law firms in order to better serve their clients’ needs.

Practice Areas: Family Law, Restraining Orders, Elder Law, Professional Malpractice, Tax Law, Wills, Trusts, and Estates, Business Law and Civil Litigation

What Makes Him Different: Mendes Weed, LLP supports clients in ensuring a solid and safe future through legal and emotional assistance, guided by a mutual desire to benefit people, families, and businesses. Mendes Weed, LLP was founded to provide a boutique law firm experience to their clients. Lisa and Christina have almost two decades of combined experience.

7. The Law Offices of Stefanie West, 165 Lennon Ln #101, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, United States

About: Stefanie’s current area of expertise is estate planning, which includes Wills, Trusts, Probate, and Medi-Cal planning. She helps clients who do not have long-term care insurance yet need skilled nursing care to qualify for Medi-Cal.

Stefanie was the Chair of the Senior Services Commission for the City of Lafayette. She served as Chair to combat elder abuse and fraud, as well as to provide services to seniors in her neighborhood. She was also a member of the Contra Costa County Aging Advisory Council.

Practice Areas: Estate Planning, including Wills, Trusts, Probate and Medi-Cal planning

What Makes Him Different: According to Stefanie West’s personal knowledge, very few lawyers make home visits on a regular basis. She based her practice on home visits after that. She works two days a week in the office and three days a week visiting clients in their homes.

8. Law Office of Roger E. Fonseca, 1990 N California Blvd 8th floor, Walnut Creek, CA 94596, United States

About: The Law Office of Roger E. Fonseca represents a diverse range of clients and places high importance on each partnership. The team takes pride in retaining the feel of a solo practice by showing gratitude, reverence, and compassion to each client.

Practice Areas: Estate Planning, Probate & Trust and Disability Rights & More

What Makes Him Different: Each client and legal situation is distinct. One-size-fits-all solutions seldom work and often do more damage than good.

The Law Office of Roger E. Fonseca devotes time and effort to carefully researching your situation in order to provide the most innovative and practical solutions. Assuring that you have the best possible resolution for your requirements.

9. Family Trust Law Center, 1615 Bonanza St UNIT 209, Walnut Creek, CA 94596, United States

About: The Family Trust Law Center is dedicated to offering customized, considerate, and competent legal services to their clients. They are experts in the fields of estate planning and administration. Their mission is to provide peace of mind to their clients by completing excellent estate planning and serving as trusted advisors when loved ones pass away. They work hard to inform their clients of their options and decisions, as well as to settle legal problems as quickly and compassionately as possible.

Practice Areas: Estate Planning, Trust Administration, Special Needs Planning, IRA Trust Planning, and Probate

What Makes Him Different: Family Trust Law Center attorney’s main goal is to be considered as long-term estate advisors.

10. Law Offices of David A. Arietta, 700 Ygnacio Valley Rd STE 150, Walnut Creek, CA 94596, United States

About: Since 1999, the Law Offices of David A. Arietta has offered extensive legal services in the fields of bankruptcy, estate planning, probate, and trust administration to both individuals and companies. David’s team will safeguard your property, family, and company.

Practice Areas: Bankruptcy, Estate Planning, Probate, and Trust Administration

What Makes Him Different: Martindale Hubbell has given The Law Offices of David A. Arietta an AV Preeminent rating, indicating that his colleagues consider him to be at the highest level of professional excellence.

Are You Looking for a Probate Attorney You Can Trust in Walnut Creek, California?

Probate is a court procedure to administer and distribute an estate after one’s passing. If you have assets that are not in a Living Trust or have proper beneficiary designations, these assets will likely be subject to probate court administration after your death. This can be a very expensive and time-consuming procedure, especially when you compare probate costs to the must smaller cost of a good estate plan. The Law Offices of Joel A Harris are more than prepared to provide you with legal counsel pertaining to your retirement, establishing a trust to protect your legacy and your assets, and any other legal questions you may have. Joel Harris is an attorney with 30 years of experience and is extremely familiar with this process. If you are not sure how to begin feel free to visit us online or call us by phone at (925) 757-4605. 

Law Offices of Joel A. Harris 1990 N. California 8th Floor Walnut Creek, CA 94596 (925) 757-4605

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