Santa Cruz County Municipal Code Ch. 2.22 Public Administration of Estates—legal Representation—prohibited Conduct

(A) Except as hereinafter provided, the County Counsel shall act as attorney for the Public Administrator in all estates in which the Public Administrator is executor, administrator with the will annexed, or administrator, where the Public Administrator has priority for appointment as established by law, including all cases under Section 7660 of the Probate Code. In such matters, the County Counsel and Public Administrator shall collect the fees allowed by law and pay them into the County Treasury.

(B) The Public Administrator may employ private counsel in the limited circumstances authorized under Government Code Section 27643. In those cases, the Public Administrator shall collect the fees allowed by law and pay them into the County Treasury.

(prior code § 2.05.071; Ord. 1344, 1968; Ord. 2615, 1979; Ord. 5279 § 2, 2018; Ord. 5291 § 3, 2019)

It is unlawful for the Public Administrator, or any employee of the Public Administrator, to refer any person wishing to execute a will, or any relative of a decedent or other beneficiary of an estate, to a private attorney or private law firm. Referrals of persons to a lawyers' reference service shall not be considered a violation of this section.

(Formerly 2.22.010(C); prior code § 2.05.071; Ord. 1344, 1968; Ord. 2615, 1979; Ord. 5279 § 2, 2018; Ord. 5291 § 3, 2019)