★ 5.0 (84 reviews) ·
740 Front St #200, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
2. Fine Point Law Estate Planning Attorney
★ 5.0 (32 reviews) ·
113 Cooper St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
3. Thomas S. Stinson, Family Law Attorney Estate Planning Attorney
★ 4.9 (25 reviews) ·
325 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, USA
4. The Law Office of Leila Vaez-Iravani Estate Planning Attorney
★ 5.0 (25 reviews) ·
765 Cedar St #202, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
5. Law Office of Cherish Om - Criminal Defense & Family Lawyer Estate Planning Attorney
★ 5.0 (22 reviews) ·
101 Cooper St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
6. Martin Legal Estate Planning Attorney
★ 5.0 (21 reviews) ·
101 Cooper St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
7. Law Office of Balam O Letona, Inc. Estate Planning Attorney
★ 5.0 (20 reviews) ·
1509 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, USA
8. Law Offices of Kayla Grant Estate Planning Attorney
★ 4.3 (19 reviews) ·
133 Mission St #290, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
9. Des Jardins Lucille Estate Planning Attorney
★ 5.0 (8 reviews) ·
542 Ocean St Ste B, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
10. Senior Legal Services Estate Planning Attorney
★ 3.7 (20 reviews) ·
317 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, USA
11. Penrose Chun & Gorman LLP Estate Planning Attorney
★ 4.4 (13 reviews) ·
1200 Pacific Ave Ste 260, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
12. Brereton, Mohamed, & Korte LLP Estate Planning Attorney
★ 4.3 (10 reviews) ·
1362 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
13. Law Office of Lisa Z. Greenburg Estate Planning Attorney
★ 5.0 (3 reviews) ·
55 River St Unit 220, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
14. Law Office of James C. Eschen Estate Planning Attorney
★ 5.0 (1 reviews) ·
55 River St #100, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
15. Atchison Barisone Condotti Estate Planning Attorney
★ 5.0 (1 reviews) ·
333 Church St # A, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
16. Wilson Jill G Estate Planning Attorney
★ 4.7 (3 reviews) ·
848 Hanover St, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, USA
17. Law Office of Angel L Hess Estate Planning Attorney
★ 3.2 (10 reviews) ·
340 Soquel Ave Unit 207, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, USA
18. Jeffrey T. Killeen, Attorney at Law Estate Planning Attorney
★ 3.1 (7 reviews) ·
303 Potrero St #52, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
19. Dina Hoffman Estate Planning Attorney
★ 4.5 (15 reviews) ·
736 Chestnut St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
20. Kathleen Brewington, Attorney Estate Planning Attorney
★ 5.0 (5 reviews) ·
340 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, USA
21. JKZ LLP Estate Planning Attorney
1001 Center St #11, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
22. Adkison Law Estate Planning Attorney
330 Locust St
23. Laura B. Walther, Attorney at Law Estate Planning Attorney
716 Ocean St #100, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
Estate planning attorneys in Santa Cruz, CA: a local guide
We currently track 23 estate planning, elder law, and probate attorneys serving Santa Cruz, CA in Santa Cruz County. Across the ones with public reviews, the average customer rating is 4.6★ from 344 total reviews, and 14 hold a 4.5★ rating or higher. The Corman Law Offices is among the most-reviewed locally, at 5.0★ across 84 reviews.
What estate planning costs in Santa Cruz
Rough planning ranges for the Santa Cruz area:
| Service | Typical range |
|---|
| Simple will package | $300–$1,200 |
| Revocable living trust package | $1,500–$4,000 |
| Full estate plan or probate work | $3,000–$8,000+ |
Many Santa Cruz estate attorneys quote flat fees for wills and trusts and bill hourly (often $250-$500/hr) for probate. Ask for a written fee agreement before you engage.
How to choose an estate attorney in Santa Cruz
- Confirm they're licensed and in good standing with the state bar, and ask how long they've practiced near Santa Cruz.
- Ask whether wills and trusts are flat-fee and what that covers (funding the trust, revisions, directives).
- Ask who actually does the work — the attorney, a paralegal, or a form service — and who you'll call with questions.
- For probate, ask about the realistic timeline and total cost for a Santa Cruz-area estate before you engage.
- Make sure they'll keep your plan current as laws and your family change, and how updates are billed.
Questions to ask before you hire
- What's the realistic timeline for my Santa Cruz matter?
- Is this a flat fee or hourly, and what exactly does it cover?
- Do you focus on estate planning and probate specifically?
- Will you help fund the trust and store the documents?
- How do updates work as laws or my family change?
Many Santa Cruz listings also handle wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and probate administration.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a will or living trust cost in Santa Cruz?
Many Santa Cruz estate attorneys charge flat fees, roughly $300 to $1,200 for a simple will package and $1,500 to $4,000 for a revocable living trust. Probate work is often billed hourly. Ask for a written fee agreement up front.
Do I need a will or a living trust?
It depends on your assets and goals. A will is simpler and cheaper; a living trust can avoid probate and keep matters private. A short consultation with a Santa Cruz estate attorney will tell you which fits.
How much does probate cost and how long does it take?
Probate cost and timeline vary by estate and county. Simple Santa Cruz-area estates can take several months, while complex ones run over a year. Ask the attorney for a realistic estimate for your situation.
What is the difference between estate planning and elder law?
Estate planning focuses on wills, trusts, and passing on assets; elder law also covers long-term care, Medicaid planning, and guardianship. Many Santa Cruz firms handle both.
Estate & elder law attorneys in Santa Cruz: what to know
How much does an estate planning attorney cost in Santa Cruz?
In the Santa Cruz area, simple wills often run $300–$1,200 and living trust packages $1,500–$4,000; probate and elder law work is commonly billed hourly at $250–$500. Most firms above offer a free or low-cost initial consultation — talk to two or three.
Estate planning vs. elder law vs. probate — which do I need?
Estate planning covers wills, trusts, and powers of attorney while you're healthy. Elder law adds Medicaid planning, guardianship, and long-term-care protection. Probate is the court process after a death — probate attorneys guide executors through estate administration.
What else do these firms handle?
Many attorneys above also handle special needs planning, asset protection, beneficiary disputes, estate tax planning, and real estate transfers in the Santa Cruz area.
Wills & TrustsLiving TrustsProbatePowers of AttorneyMedicaid PlanningGuardianshipSpecial Needs PlanningEstate Administration