Want to spare your family probate? Read this first.
Top 7 Estate Planning Lawyers in Fresno, CA (2026)
In California, an estate worth more than $184,500 generally has to go through probate - a public court process that can take a year or more and cost your family thousands - unless you plan around it with a living trust. A well-drafted estate plan keeps your family out of court, names who decides if you cannot, and makes sure your wishes are followed. The right Fresno attorney can usually build the core plan for a predictable flat fee. Every firm below has a verifiable Fresno-area estate-planning practice confirmed across at least two independent sources.
Updated December 04, 202512 min readEditorially independent
Estate planning is not just for the wealthy. If you own a home in Fresno, the equity alone usually pushes your estate past California's probate threshold, which means that without a plan your family could face a probate case that is public, slow, and expensive. A revocable living trust avoids that, lets your successor trustee step in without court involvement, and keeps your affairs private. Alongside the trust, a complete plan includes a pour-over will, a durable power of attorney for finances, and an advance health care directive.
The core documents do predictable work. The living trust controls how your assets pass and avoids probate; the pour-over will catches anything left outside the trust and names guardians for minor children; the financial power of attorney lets someone you choose manage money if you are incapacitated; and the health care directive names who makes medical decisions and states your wishes. For business owners, blended families, special-needs beneficiaries, or larger estates, the plan gets more involved - but the goal is the same: control, privacy, and avoiding court.
The seven firms below all have a verifiable Fresno-area estate-planning practice and were confirmed across at least two independent sources (Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, Avvo, Justia, Expertise.com, or their own published records). They range from focused estate-planning offices to full-service Central Valley firms. Most offer a free or flat-fee initial consultation and quote the core plan as a package.
How we picked these 7: We cross-referenced peer rankings and directories (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Justia, Expertise.com, FindLaw) and each firm's own published practice pages. Every firm below appeared in at least two independent sources and has a verifiable Fresno-area estate planning practice. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
1
Tomassian, Pimentel & Shapazian
Fresno, CA75+ years combinedFree consultation
Practice focus: Living trusts, wills, durable powers of attorney, advance health care directives, trust administration
With more than 75 years of combined experience, Tomassian, Pimentel & Shapazian helps Fresno clients build complete estate plans - trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives - and offers free consultations. The firm is one of the most established in the area.
Why they made the list: A long-established Fresno firm offering full estate plans and free consultations, a comfortable starting point for most families.
Practice focus: Estate planning, living trusts, wills, trust and probate administration, real property, business succession
Fishman, Larsen & Callister is a Fresno firm whose attorneys are trained in estate planning, trust administration, and real property, serving individuals and business owners across the Fresno area. The practice pairs estate planning with the business and property issues that often come with it.
Why they made the list: A strong fit for Fresno business owners and property holders who want estate planning coordinated with succession and real-estate issues.
Practice focus: Estate planning, wills and trusts, trust administration, probate, business and tax coordination
Coleman & Horowitt is an established Fresno firm that prepares wills, establishes trusts, and builds estate plans designed to give clients peace of mind, with the ability to coordinate tax and business issues through its broader practice.
Why they made the list: A full-service firm for clients who want their estate plan handled alongside tax or business matters by one team.
Practice focus: Estate planning and administration, wealth transfer, trusts, probate, business succession
McCormick Barstow is a large regional firm with a Fresno office at 7647 N. Fresno Street whose estate-planning and administration group handles wealth transfer, trusts, and succession for individuals and families across Central California.
Why they made the list: A substantial regional firm suited to larger or more complex estates that involve significant wealth-transfer planning.
Practice focus: Comprehensive estate plans, living trusts, wills, durable powers of attorney, advance health care directives, gifting plans
Philip M. Flanigan offers Fresno clients comprehensive estate planning - trusts, gifting plans, wills, durable powers of attorney, and advance health directives - tailored to each family's situation.
Why they made the list: A focused estate-planning attorney for clients who want a thorough, individually tailored plan rather than a template.
Fresno, CAOldest firm in Fresno (1893)Tax & estate planning
Practice focus: Estate planning, trusts, wills, tax planning, trust and estate administration, agricultural estates
Wild, Carter & Tipton, established in 1893 and the oldest law firm in Fresno, offers estate planning paired with tax planning and administration, with particular depth in agricultural and Central Valley estates from its office at 246 West Shaw Avenue.
Why they made the list: A historic Fresno firm with tax depth, well-suited to agricultural families and estates with tax-planning needs.
Tell us about your family and what you own, and we'll connect you with one of these Fresno estate-planning firms for a consultation about protecting your family and avoiding probate.
How to choose between them in Fresno
Match the plan to your situation. A young family needs a trust, will, guardianship nomination, and powers of attorney. A business owner, a blended family, or a special-needs beneficiary needs more - succession, sub-trusts, Medi-Cal or special-needs planning. Pick a firm with experience in your specific complication.
Ask for a flat fee on the core plan. Most Fresno estate-planning attorneys quote a living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney, and health care directive as a flat-fee package. Ask what is included, whether funding the trust (retitling assets) is part of the fee, and what costs extra.
Make sure the trust gets funded. A trust only avoids probate for assets actually transferred into it. Confirm the firm will help retitle your home and accounts - an unfunded trust is one of the most common and costly planning mistakes.
Plan to review it. Marriage, divorce, a new child, a move, or a big change in assets should trigger an update. Ask how the firm handles future reviews and amendments and what those cost.
What estate planning help typically costs in Fresno
Estate planning in Fresno is usually flat-fee for the core documents, which makes the cost predictable. Typical ranges:
Initial consultation: Free or a modest flat fee at most of these firms.
Individual living-trust plan: Commonly $1,500-$3,000 flat for a trust, pour-over will, durable power of attorney, and health care directive.
Couple's / family trust plan: Often $2,000-$4,000 flat, depending on complexity and whether sub-trusts are involved.
Trust funding: Some firms include retitling your home and accounts in the package; others bill it separately - ask up front.
Complex planning: Business succession, special-needs trusts, or larger taxable estates are typically hourly at $300-$450 and cost more.
A flat-fee living-trust plan is one of the best values in law: a few thousand dollars now can spare your family a California probate that often costs far more and takes a year or more. Confirm trust funding is handled so the plan actually works.
How long it takes
Building a core estate plan in Fresno is faster than most people expect:
First meeting: An hour or two to map your assets, your family, and your wishes - who inherits, who decides, and who cares for minor children.
1-2 weeks: The attorney drafts the trust, will, and powers of attorney and sends them for your review.
2-4 weeks: You review, revise, and sign with the required witnesses and a notary; the documents become effective on signing.
4-8 weeks: Trust funding - retitling your home and key accounts into the trust. This step is what actually keeps your estate out of probate, so do not skip it.
Red flags to watch for when hiring a estate planning lawyer in Fresno
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a win, a number, or a court ruling, walk away.
The disappearing senior partner. You meet a named partner at intake, then never hear from them again while an unsupervised junior runs the file. Ask in writing who handles your matter day to day.
Pressure to sign on the spot. Reputable firms give you the engagement letter in writing and time to read it. High-pressure intake is a volume-mill signal.
No verifiable track record. Look for named results, peer rankings, board certifications, or bar recognition — not "we have helped thousands of clients."
Vague fees. Every legitimate firm will put the fee structure, what is covered, and what triggers extra charges in a written engagement letter.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Most of the firms on this list offer a free or low-cost initial call. Use it. Bring a written list and write down the answers, then compare across two or three firms before you sign anything.
Who, specifically, will handle my matter day to day? Get a name and a direct email, not just the firm.
How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? You want a number, not a brochure line.
What is your fee, and what does it cover? Get the structure in writing before you sign.
What out-of-pocket costs am I responsible for, and when? Filing fees, records, and experts add up - ask now.
What is the realistic range of outcomes? A good lawyer gives a range; a weak one promises the high end.
How long will this take? An honest estimate, with the assumptions stated.
What is my deadline, and is it at risk? Many estate planning matters carry hard filing deadlines.
How often will I hear from you? Set the communication cadence now.
What can I do to help my own case? The best lawyers will give you homework.
What is the worst-case outcome? A lawyer who refuses to discuss downside risk is selling you something.
What to bring to your Fresno consultation
You will get more out of the first call if you arrive organized. For most estate planning matters, gather:
A short written timeline. Dates, names, and what happened, in order.
The key documents. Any contracts, letters, agreements, court orders, or filings you have received.
Your correspondence. Relevant emails, texts, or messages - and do not delete anything.
Any deadlines you know about. A court date, a signing deadline, or an agency notice.
Your questions. The 10 above are a good place to start.
If you are not sure whether something is relevant, bring it anyway. It is easier for a lawyer to set aside what does not matter than to chase down what you left at home.
Talk to a vetted Estate Planning attorney in Fresno
Tell us about your situation. We'll match you with one of these firms or a similar one. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently asked questions about estate planning lawyers in Fresno
Do I need a trust, or is a will enough?
If you own a home in Fresno, a will alone usually means your family still goes through probate, because California probate generally applies to estates over $184,500 and home equity pushes most owners past that. A revocable living trust avoids probate, which is why most Fresno planners recommend one for homeowners.
How much does an estate plan cost in Fresno?
A core living-trust plan - trust, pour-over will, durable power of attorney, and health care directive - commonly runs $1,500-$3,000 for an individual and $2,000-$4,000 for a couple, on a flat fee. Complex planning is hourly and costs more.
What documents should a complete plan include?
A revocable living trust, a pour-over will (which also names guardians for minor children), a durable power of attorney for finances, and an advance health care directive. Together they cover who inherits, who decides if you cannot, and how to avoid probate.
What is probate and why avoid it?
Probate is the court process that transfers a deceased person's assets when there is no trust. In California it is public, often takes a year or more, and the statutory fees are based on the gross value of the estate - so it can cost your family thousands. A funded living trust avoids it.
What does it mean to fund a trust?
Funding means retitling your assets - your home, bank and investment accounts - into the name of the trust. An unfunded trust does not avoid probate, so make sure your attorney helps you complete this step.
How often should I update my plan?
Review it after any major life change - marriage, divorce, a new child or grandchild, a death, a move to or from California, or a significant change in assets - and otherwise every three to five years. Most firms here offer amendments and periodic reviews.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? The answer tells you a lot. — The LawFirmSquare team
LawFirmSquare is a directory. We do not represent clients or refer cases for a fee.
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