A probate referee is a state-appointed appraiser, and the referee’s appraisal sets the value the court relies on. This list has every referee for Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Diego and San Luis Obispo counties, with phone, email and office address. Compiled by DB (David Bruce).
Close to the $750,000 line? Know the number before anyone files. For the shorter primary-residence petition, the family chooses the referee from this list. How the value is set: How Probate Estates Are Valued.
Five pages. Keep it with the estate papers, or send it to your attorney.
Probate Referee List (PDF)Updated November 2026. Opens in a new tab.No sign-up needed. The PDF opens when you tap.
A four-page worksheet for walking the house, photographing what you find and collecting written estimates, so the probate referee can see the house as it really is. Written by DB (David Bruce).
The referee often appraises the property from a drive-by and from comparable sales. This gives the referee a look inside, and gives you a way to prove the condition later, when it’s important.
The same four pages in two versions. Pick the one that fits how you work.
Fillable PDFType into the boxes and tap the checkboxes, in a PDF app that supports forms. Print-and-pen PDFPrint it, or open it in a markup app and write on it with a pencil.No sign-up needed. The PDF opens when you tap.
Four steps, in the order that works.
The house itself: every room, the garage, the roof line and the yard. Pages 2 and 3.
One wide shot and one close-up of each problem. Note the photo numbers.
Written, from licensed contractors, for the problems that matter. Page 4.
To DB, your REALTOR®, first. Then to your attorney, before the inventory is due.
This worksheet is for the house itself. Everything inside the house goes on the Room-by-Room Contents Worksheet, further down this page. Where the estate stands, in a minute or so: the Estate Quick Check. The full guide: the Executor’s Guide to Southern California Probates.
A nine-page worksheet for walking the house one room at a time and writing down what’s there, before anything leaves. Each room moves through five steps: document, clear, sort, value, disperse. Written by DB (David Bruce).
Before the cousin takes the painting she was promised, write down what’s there. It takes an afternoon or two, and it’s the best protection you have as a fiduciary. Nothing leaves the house yet.
The same nine pages in two versions. Pick the one that fits how you work.
Fillable PDFType into the boxes and tap the checkboxes, in a PDF app that supports forms. Print-and-pen PDFPrint it, or open it in a markup app and write on it with a pencil.No sign-up needed. The PDF opens when you tap.
A seven-page log for the weeks an estate house sits empty. Fill in the two setup pages once, then use a visit page every time someone walks the house. Written by DB (David Bruce).
An empty house tells people it’s empty. The answer is routine: someone walks the house on a schedule, checks the same things every time, and writes down what they find. If a question comes up later (a leak, a break-in, an insurance claim), this log shows what was checked, and when.
The same seven pages in two versions. Pick the one that fits how you work.
Fillable PDFType into the boxes and tap the checkboxes, in a PDF app that supports forms. Print-and-pen PDFPrint it, or open it in a markup app and write on it with a pencil.No sign-up needed. The PDF opens when you tap.
This log is for the visits. The house itself goes on the House Condition Worksheet, and what’s inside goes on the Room-by-Room Contents Worksheet, both on this page. Questions about the house, or what comes next for it? Call DB at 310-895-9018.
Call DB. He can help you document the house.
For educational purposes only. Not legal or tax advice. David Bruce is not an attorney; please discuss any legal matter with your attorney. The referee list is compiled from the California State Controller’s public list; listing a referee is not a recommendation or endorsement. David Bruce, REALTOR® · C.A.R. Certified Probate & Trust Specialist and CPRES · eXp Realty · DRE #01839192 · Equal Housing Opportunity.
