Long Beach · CA · Vetted Directory

Top Estate Planning Lawyers in Long Beach

In California, the main reason to set up an estate plan is to keep your family out of probate — and California probate is slow, public, and expensive, with statutory fees based on the gross value of the estate. Any estate worth more than $184,500 generally has to go through formal probate in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, and a living trust is the standard tool for avoiding it. The Long Beach firms below build wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, and health-care directives, and they appear across public legal directories.

$184,500
CA probate threshold
LA County
Superior Court probate
Statutory
CA probate fees by estate value
Trust
Standard way to avoid probate

Updated April 29, 2026

When you need a Long Beach estate planning lawyer

Estate planning isn't only for the wealthy or the elderly — in California it's mostly about avoiding probate and naming who decides if you can't. Talk to a Long Beach estate planning attorney if:

  • You own a home in Long Beach or anywhere in California; home equity alone usually pushes an estate over the probate threshold.
  • You have minor children and need to name guardians and set up how money is managed for them.
  • You want a living trust so your family avoids California's slow, costly probate after you're gone.
  • You're blending families, have a child with special needs, or want to control how and when heirs receive assets.
  • You need powers of attorney and a health-care directive so someone can act for you if you're incapacitated.
  • A parent or spouse has died and you're facing probate or trust administration and aren't sure what to do.

The reason California estate planning pays off is simple math: a few thousand dollars for a trust now can save your family tens of thousands in statutory probate fees and many months of court later.

What a estate planning lawyer costs in Long Beach

Most estate plans are flat-fee packages; probate and litigation are separate:

$400–$1,000
Simple will-based plan
$2,000–$4,000+
Living trust package
Statutory
CA probate attorney fees
Free
Many initial consults

A simple will-based plan in Long Beach runs about $400 to $1,000, while a full living-trust package — trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney, and health-care directive — commonly runs $2,000 to $4,000 or more depending on complexity. That sounds like a lot until you compare it with California's statutory probate fees, which are set by law as a percentage of the gross estate. See our estate planning guide and the attorney cost guide.

How long estate planning takes in Long Beach

  • Initial plan: a straightforward will or trust package usually takes two to four weeks from first meeting to signing.
  • Funding the trust: retitling your home and accounts into the trust adds a couple of weeks and is essential — an unfunded trust doesn't avoid probate.
  • Updates: revisions after a marriage, divorce, birth, or move are usually quick.
  • Probate, if it happens: California probate typically takes 12 to 18 months or longer — the very thing a trust is designed to avoid.

Setting up a plan takes weeks; probating an estate without one takes well over a year. Funding the trust — actually moving your assets into it — is the step people skip and the one that makes the plan work.

Long Beach firms that handle estate planning matters

1

Williamson & Gentilini, LLP

Long Beach, CAEstate planning firmWills, trusts, estate planning

A Long Beach firm where most of the practice involves wills, trusts, and estate planning, led by attorney Richard T. Williamson. Noted for preferred rates for certain groups including first responders and teachers. A well-established local choice for trust-based plans.

Estate PlanningEstate planning firm
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2

TLD Law (Jennifer Sawday)

Long Beach, CAMid-size firmEstate planning, trusts, probate

A Long Beach-based firm with estate planning attorney Jennifer Sawday, recognized among Los Angeles-area attorneys of influence. Handles living trusts, wills, and trust administration with offices in Long Beach and surrounding areas. A fit for clients wanting a full-service estate practice.

Estate PlanningMid-size firm
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3

Sanders & Montalto

Long Beach, CASmall firmEstate planning, living trusts, probate

A Long Beach estate planning practice listed among the area's top firms in public directories, handling living trusts, wills, and probate matters. A practical option for individuals and families setting up or updating a plan.

Estate PlanningSmall firm
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4

Law Office of Barbara Craig

Long Beach, CASolo / small firmWills, trusts, estate planning

A Long Beach attorney recognized in local estate planning directory listings for wills, trusts, and related planning. A focused choice for clients who want direct attorney attention on a straightforward plan.

Estate PlanningSolo / small firm
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5

OC Wills and Trust Attorneys

Long Beach / Orange County, CAEstate planning firmLiving trusts, wills, estate planning

A firm serving the Long Beach and Orange County area focused on living trusts, wills, and estate planning. Listed in Long Beach estate planning roundups. A fit for clients wanting trust-centered planning to avoid California probate.

Estate PlanningEstate planning firm
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Firm details are gathered from public legal directories (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Avvo, Justia, FindLaw); ratings not shown are not yet aggregated. We do not accept payment for placement.

Talk to a Long Beach estate planning lawyer — free.

Tell us briefly about your family and what you own — a home, kids, a business. We route a confidential request to a best-fit Long Beach estate planning firm in this directory.

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Estate Planning in Long Beach — FAQ

Do I need a living trust or just a will in California?
If you own a home in California, a living trust is usually worth it. A will alone still sends your estate through probate, and any estate over $184,500 generally must be formally probated in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. A living trust lets your family transfer assets without probate, saving the statutory fees, the public court process, and many months of delay.
How much does estate planning cost in Long Beach?
A simple will-based plan runs about $400 to $1,000. A full living-trust package — the trust, a pour-over will, powers of attorney, and a health-care directive — commonly runs $2,000 to $4,000 or more. The comparison that matters is California's statutory probate fees, which are charged as a percentage of the gross estate value and can dwarf the cost of a trust.
What is the probate threshold in California?
As of recent law, estates valued over $184,500 generally must go through formal probate. Smaller estates may qualify for simplified procedures. Because California home values usually exceed that figure on their own, most Long Beach homeowners are over the threshold, which is why living trusts are so common here.
How long does probate take in Los Angeles County?
California probate typically takes about 12 to 18 months, and often longer for contested or complex estates. It's handled in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. The length and cost of probate are the main reasons Long Beach families set up living trusts to avoid it entirely.
What happens if I die without an estate plan in California?
Your assets pass under California's intestate succession laws, which decide who inherits based on family relationships — not necessarily as you'd have chosen. The estate goes through probate, a court names an administrator, and if you have minor children, a judge decides guardianship without your input. A basic plan avoids all of that.

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