Full Biography for William A. Baker

William A. Baker, Public Administrator

• Safeguard property when a person dies and a relative or other appropriate person is not immediately available to claim it.

• Arrange interment of deceased persons when there are no known relatives, make a search for heirs and, if none are found, administer the estate.

• Protect assets and manage affairs of deceased residents who left no known heirs, no will, no named executor, or when there is no qualified person willing to assume responsibility.

• Act as administrator of estates when he is named in a will as executor or when heirs ask that he serve as administrator.

Bill Baker oversees an experienced staff of Deputy Public Administrators sworn to provide services in accordance with California law. He also maintains the services of public and private legal counsel experienced in the practice of Probate law.

Bill Baker is also the Orange County Community Services Agency Director and the Orange County Public Guardian. The Community Services Agency includes the programs of: the Public Administrator, the Public Guardian, Orange County's Senior Citizens' programs, Employment and Training programs, Veterans' Services programs and other special community programs.

Bill Baker graduated from UCLA and majored in Business Administration/Accounting. He started working for the County of Orange in 1968 and has been an Orange County resident since 1969. He began his County career as an internal auditor and worked as an internal auditor for 5 years. From there, he moved to the County Administrative Office where he directed the administration of Revenue Sharing programs and Employment and Training programs. In 1984 Bill Baker was appointed Assistant Director of the Community Services Agency, and in 1985 he was elevated to his present position. All told, he has 33 years of experience in program administration and accounting. He has effectively administered hundreds of millions of public dollars.

Bill Baker holds himself and his staff to the highest standards of honesty and integrity. He demands efficiency and cost effectiveness in all aspects of the programs for which he is responsible.