Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in California

How can I find the attorney who wrote my father's most recent trust in California? Is there a database of trusts and are they filed with the courts?


Asked on 2/13/11, 10:30 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Chris Johnson Christopher B. Johnson, Attorney at Law

There is no database, and they wouldn't be filed with the courts unless a probate action was filed, which is unlikely. You'll have to search for clues in the documents--are the witnesses to the pour-over will from a law office, and are addresses provided for them? You can get the notary's contact information from the Secretary of State and see if the notary remembers who prepared the trust. Also, the attorney will sometimes have their information on the deeds used to transfer real estate into the trust. Beyond that, look for canceled checks to the attorney around the time the trust was prepared, or credit card billing.

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Answered on 2/14/11, 9:21 am
Anthony Roach Law Office of Anthony A. Roach

I agree with Mr. Johnson. You have to look for clues. Additionally, you can look at recorded deeds, if deeds were used to convey real property to a trustee. Sometimes the attorney who drafts the trust prepares these, and the "after recording" section may contain his name and address.

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Answered on 2/14/11, 10:09 am


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