If you’ve found yourself searching for probate help near me or legal services for probate in Santa Clara County, you’re not alone. Probate can be a confusing and emotionally draining process—especially for those who have lost a loved one and now must deal with the court system just to settle their affairs. Many families are shocked to discover how expensive, time-consuming, and stressful probate proceedings can be, especially when a living trust was not in place before death.

At TrustPoint Disability & Legal Services LLC, we specialize in offering affordable self-help assistance with probate forms and filings. As bonded and registered Legal Document Assistants (LDA) serving Santa Clara County, we’re here to empower you to represent yourself in probate court—without the high cost of an attorney.

When a loved one passes away without a living trust, their assets—especially real property like a home—often go through the probate court system. Probate is the legal process of proving the validity of a will (if one exists), gathering assets, paying debts and taxes, and distributing what’s left to the rightful heirs. In California, this process is not optional when real property exceeds $184,500 (as of 2024) and no trust was established.

Unfortunately, probate is not only public but expensive and lengthy. Families may spend $10,000 to $20,000 or more in legal fees, even on modest estates. It can take 6 months to 2 years or longer, depending on the complexity. Worse, it’s emotionally taxing—just when families need peace of mind.

That’s why having a revocable living trust is one of the best ways to avoid probate entirely. Assets placed in a trust bypass court and are distributed privately, saving time, money, and stress.

But what if you're already in the middle of a probate issue? That’s where we can help.

For families with small estates or cases without conflict, many law firms won’t take the case or may charge more than what’s reasonable. If you're trying to figure out how to file probate documents on your own, we’re here to help you prepare, organize, and file your court forms.

As bonded LDAs, we are legally authorized to assist you in preparing probate petitions, Inventory and Appraisals, Petitions for Final Distribution, and all the paperwork required to move your probate case forward. We’re not attorneys, so we don’t give legal advice—but we’re trained and certified to help you represent yourself efficiently and confidently.

At TrustPoint Disability & Legal Services, we understand the emotional and financial toll probate can take. If you're visiting this website, it likely means you're looking for help, and we want you to know—you’ve come to the right place.

Our self-help legal services for probate include:

• Assistance with initial probate petitions

• Help completing and filing all required probate court forms

• Guidance through small estate affidavits (when applicable)

• Help filing for probate without a will

• Document assistance for executor responsibilities

• Publication notices and probate calendar guidance

• Referrals to appraisers or real estate agents, if needed (We are a licensed real estate agent)

We’ve helped countless Santa Clara County families handle probate with dignity and clarity, often at a fraction of the cost of hiring an attorney.

In addition to probate legal help, we are a one-stop solution for clients who need:

• Real estate agent (selling or transferring a home as part of the probate process)

• Loan application support

• Estate planning help to set up living trusts and powers of attorney

Our goal is to be your trusted partner before, during, and after probate. Whether you're managing your parents’ estate or planning your own, we can help you make wise decisions and avoid unnecessary court processes in the future.