Most California families don't need a probate attorney.
Most estates qualify for a simpler, faster path — often with no attorney and no year-long court process. Answer five plain-English questions and we'll show you exactly which path is yours — from a one-page affidavit all the way up to full probate — before you create an account, before you pay anything.
If a parent left a home under $750,000, there's likely a faster path than full probate.
California's AB 2016 created a simplified succession path — a court hearing, no attorney required.
We'll tell you upfront if we're the right fit — or if you need an attorney
Settling an estate is hard. We'll be honest about whether we can help.
ProbateClear isn't for every estate. If your situation is complicated — contested will, creditor disputes, business interests — you need an attorney and we'll say so directly. But if your estate is straightforward, you probably don't need to pay $10,000 to find that out.
Attorneys charge by the hour. We charge one flat fee — and mean it.
When a family member dies, the last thing you need is an attorney's clock running at $400/hour while you're still figuring out what questions to ask. We built ProbateClear to replace that model: one flat fee per path, every document included, reviewed by a licensed professional. No retainer. No surprises. No add-ons.
Move the slider to see how attorney fees change with estate value.
ProbateClear is a document preparation software platform, not a law firm. We connect you with independent, county-registered Legal Document Assistants who review and file your documents. You remain the filer of record — with a licensed professional in your corner. If your case turns out to need an attorney, we'll refer you to a vetted partner and never charge you for a service you can't use.
Start with the first-30-days checklist.
A calm, plain-English guide to settling a California estate in the first 30 days — what to handle, and in what order, so you always know your next step. We'll email it to you.
From 5 questions to a filed estate
You answer questions in plain English. We handle every form.
A real California LDA behind every filing.
Behind every flat fee is a deliberate blend of technology and human expertise. Our software prepares your documents in minutes — but every case is reviewed and filed by an independent, California-registered Legal Document Assistant who exercises real professional judgment on your specific situation. That human in the loop is what turns fast, affordable software into court-ready filings you can trust. Learn more about us →
I became a founding partner because ProbateClear does the heavy document lifting — so I can focus on what families need most from me: careful review and a steady hand through the process.
Probate paperwork rewards structure: the right documents, prepared correctly, filed on time. That's the discipline I built over a career in IT and project management — now in service of families.
After years inside law firms, I watched families pay full attorney rates for paperwork that never needed one. For a straightforward estate, that money should stay with the family — and that's what I get to protect here.
Most families know within 5 questions.
Answer 5 plain-English questions and we'll show you every path your estate qualifies for under California's current 2025–2026 laws. No account required. No payment until you decide to move forward. If the screener finds something we can't help with, we'll tell you that too — and point you toward someone who can.