Losing a loved one is never easy, and navigating the probate process while grieving can feel overwhelming. In San Diego County, backlogged probate calendars and technical defects in petitions can lead to significant delays, leaving families unable to manage their loved one’s affairs or access estate assets.
The Probate Self Help Clinic is part of the Clinical Programs at Thomas Jefferson School of Law. Our mission is to support self represented individuals handling estates valued under $500,000 by providing limited legal assistance in an educational, supervised setting. Participants meet with law students and supervising attorneys to review petitions, identify and correct defects, and prepare the documents needed to move their cases forward.
By helping community members prepare clear and compliant filings, the Clinic aims to reduce continuances, ease the probate process, and empower individuals to navigate the court system with confidence and dignity.
Unfortunately, our limited legal assistance through the probate self-help clinic cannot assist with all probate matters. We are unable to provide representation in contested cases, or for estates involving complex assets or those valued over $500,000.
For individuals whose cases fall outside our scope, we partner with the San Diego County Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS). The LRIS carefully vets local probate attorneys who offer a complimentary consultation and may provide ongoing representation for a fee.
This partnership ensures that every member of our community has access to trustworthy, experienced legal professionals for San Diego probate assistance, even when full representation is needed.
