Orange County
Real estate litigation for Orange County property
We do not have an office in Orange County. We handle Orange County property disputes from our Southern California offices, appear in the county's courts, and our founding partner has tried cases here.
Where Orange County property cases are filed
Under Code of Civil Procedure section 392, a case over real property is generally tried in the county where the property sits, wherever the owners live.
Central Justice Center
700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Limited and unlimited civil cases from all Orange County cities, including Irvine, Anaheim, Huntington Beach and Santa Ana. Probate matters are handled here too.
Civil Complex Center
751 West Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, CA 92701
A separate courthouse for cases the court treats as complex.
Case assignment can change. Confirm the current location before you file or travel.
Quiet title and adverse possession in Orange County
A quiet title case over property in Santa Ana, Irvine, Anaheim, Costa Mesa or Huntington Beach is filed in Orange County Superior Court, and the judge must hear evidence of your title even if nobody answers. An adverse possession claim needs certified records from the county tax collector showing the taxes were paid.
Trust and probate disputes
Probate matters are handled at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.
Where the records are
Orange County Clerk-Recorder, County Administration South, 601 N. Ross Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701. This is where deeds, liens and other recorded documents for Orange County property are kept.
How we work on Orange County cases
Most appearances now happen remotely. We appear in person when a hearing or trial requires it.
We conduct trials ourselves. Josué Cristóbal Guerrero has personally tried cases in San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Kern and Ventura counties.
We usually charge a flat fee for litigation. Most matters cost about $5,000 to get started, and a monthly amount follows based on the size and complexity of the matter. Costs such as expert witnesses and filing fees can be extra. Among the real estate cases we handle, the average lasts about ten months. We cannot promise any result.
What we handle
- Real Estate Litigation
- Quiet Title
- Partition Actions
- Easement Litigation
- Adverse Possession
- Title Fraud
- Non-Disclosures
- Trust Litigation
- Probate Litigation
Sources
Call the firm
Describe the property and the dispute so the firm can assess whether it is a matter it handles.
Call our intake team. If your matter fits, we schedule a free 30-minute consultation with an attorney. Document review starts after you retain us.
Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship, and please do not send confidential details until we have agreed in writing to represent you.
Our offices
Common questions
How much does a real estate lawyer cost in California for a property dispute?
It depends on the case. We usually offer flat fee litigation paid monthly so you can predict the cost. Most of our litigation matters cost about $5,000 to get started, plus the monthly amount and costs such as expert witnesses or filing fees. If you are already facing a trial, arbitration or mediation, the first payment can be higher.
What should I ask a real estate lawyer before I hire them?
Start with this: do you try cases yourselves, or do you refer them out? Then ask how much of the firm's work is real estate litigation, whether they represent individuals rather than investors and banks, how they charge, and how long they expect your case to take.
Is my property dispute big enough to justify a lawsuit?
If you are fighting over ownership, a right in real estate or a boundary, or if more than about $100,000 is at stake, usually yes. If your real damages are between $20,000 and $60,000, often not. Lawyers call that range no man's land: too much for small claims, too little to justify $20,000 to $30,000 of litigation.
Can I do a quiet title action myself in California, or do I need a lawyer?
You can. Anyone can represent themselves in almost anything. Whether that is wise is a different question: real estate matters are complicated and high in dollar value, and a mistake can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, so we recommend hiring an attorney.