Protecting your lifetime of hard work requires more than just standard legal forms. It requires a sophisticated strategy that accounts for evolving California laws, complex tax codes, and your family’s unique dynamics. At the Law Offices of W. Steven Chou, we bridge the gap between high-level legal expertise and the personalized, face-to-face service your legacy deserves.
With over 25 years of experience and offices in La Palma and Irvine, Attorney Steven Chou provides clear, transparent, and bilingual legal guidance in English and Chinese. We help you navigate the "after-death" court process or build a "before-death" plan that keeps your family out of it entirely.
We structure our practice around the core legal entities that impact Southern California homeowners and business owners most.
For deaths occurring on or after April 1, 2025, the small estate threshold is $208,850. If the estate's personal property exceeds this amount, formal probate is generally required. However, many real estate assets may now qualify for simplified petitions if valued under $750,000.
Yes. In California, probate attorney fees are set by statute based on the gross value of the estate. For a $1,000,000 home – common in Irvine or Newport Beach – the statutory fee is **$23,000**. A living trust bypasses these mandatory fees entirely.
Yes. As an immigrant who arrived in the U.S. at a young age, Attorney Chou is fully bilingual. He ensures that every generation of the family, from parents to children, fully understands the legal protections being put in place.
Due to current court backlogs, a formal probate typically takes 12 to 18 months. Strategic tools like Spousal Property Petitions or Heggstad Petitions can often reduce this timeline to 4–6 months for qualifying estates.
We understand that choosing an attorney is a matter of trust. Our firm is built on three pillars of service:
Don’t let a court-appointed stranger make decisions for your family. Whether you need to update a decades-old plan or are facing a current probate crisis, we are ready to help.
Disclaimer:
The information provided on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice for any individual or for any situation or case. The information provided is neither intended to create an attorney-client privilege, nor does viewing this website create an attorney-client privilege.