Gov. Code, § 27643

The board of supervisors may by ordinance require that the county counsel shall act as attorney for the public administrator in all estates in which he or she is executor, administrator with the will annexed, or administrator, where he or she has priority for appointment as established by law, including all cases under Section 7660 of the Probate Code. However, in the case of a noncharter county or a charter county where there is no conflict with the county charter, the public administrator may employ private counsel (a) in those estates in which he or she is nominated and would not otherwise have priority, (b) for those estates in which he or she is appointed administrator with the will annexed, or administrator pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 8400) of Division 7 of the Probate Code, and (c) in those estates in which he or she is appointed administrator with the will annexed for the reason the executor nominated in the will has refused to serve. In those matters where the county counsel furnishes representation the county counsel shall collect the attorney’s fees allowed by law and pay them into the county treasury.