Montecito Estate Planning | Ultra-High-Net-Worth Trust Services
Montecito's exclusive estates require sophisticated planning. We specialize in high-value property protection and privacy-focused estate strategies.
Schedule Free Consultation (818) 291-6217Montecito's celebrity estates and historic properties represent the pinnacle of California real estate. Our comprehensive trust services match this standard of excellence.
A living trust is the foundation of a solid estate plan for Montecito homeowners. Unlike a simple will, a living trust allows your family to avoid the time-consuming and expensive California probate process at Santa Barbara County Superior Court. Your assets transfer immediately to your beneficiaries without court involvement, keeping your family's private matters out of the public record.
As your Montecito living trust attorney, we provide comprehensive estate planning services that protect your home, investments, and family legacy. Our packages start at just $575 for individuals and include everything you need for complete asset protection.
Because Montecito is located in Santa Barbara County, probate cases are filed at the Santa Barbara County Superior Court (1100 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101). While Santa Barbara's probate court is less backlogged than Los Angeles, the process still takes 9-12 months and costs thousands in fees.
A properly drafted and funded living trust lets your Montecito family skip probate entirely. Your successor trustee can distribute assets immediately without court involvement. If probate is unavoidable, our probate attorneys have extensive experience at Santa Barbara County Superior Court.
Our Glendale office is located just 95 minutes from Montecito, making in-person consultations convenient.
Montecito represents the pinnacle of California coastal living—historic estates like Lotusland, celebrity compounds, and multi-generational family properties command $5-50+ million. The Coast Village Road area, Birnam Wood, Ennisbrook, and properties along Picacho Lane require estate planning that matches the sophistication of these exceptional assets.
The Thomas Fire (2017) and Montecito debris flow (2018) reminded residents of the importance of comprehensive planning. Your living trust should address not just property transfer but disaster recovery rights, insurance claims, and potential litigation proceeds. Many Montecito families are still navigating complex insurance situations that their trust must accommodate.
Montecito's ultra-high-net-worth residents often have complex asset structures: family offices, private foundations, art collections, and international holdings. Your estate plan must coordinate all these elements while addressing Proposition 19 concerns—a property purchased for $2 million in 2000 may now be worth
We offer comprehensive estate planning services tailored to Montecito families' needs.
The cornerstone of your estate plan. Avoids probate, maintains privacy, and gives you full control during your lifetime. Easily amendable as your circumstances change.
Catches any assets not transferred to your trust during your lifetime. Ensures everything ends up where it belongs, with your trust as the ultimate destination.
Designates someone to manage your finances if you become incapacitated. Avoids the need for a conservatorship proceeding.
Specifies your medical treatment wishes and names someone to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if needed.
We guide you through transferring your Montecito property and other assets into your trust — the crucial step many attorneys skip.
Life changes — so can your trust. We help you update beneficiaries, trustees, or other provisions as needed.
Transparent, flat-fee pricing with no hourly billing surprises.
Without a living trust, your estate will go through California probate — a costly, time-consuming court process that can take 9-12 months and cost 4-6% of your estate in fees. At Santa Barbara County Superior Court, families wait months just for their first hearing. A properly funded living trust lets your family skip this entirely.
Already have a trust? When the time comes, our trust administration services guide your successor trustee through their legal duties.
We offer comprehensive estate planning services tailored to Montecito families' needs.
The cornerstone of your estate plan. Avoids probate, maintains privacy, and gives you full control during your lifetime. Easily amendable as your circumstances change.
Catches any assets not transferred to your trust during your lifetime. Ensures everything ends up where it belongs, with your trust as the ultimate destination.
Designates someone to manage your finances if you become incapacitated. Avoids the need for a conservatorship proceeding.
Specifies your medical treatment wishes and names someone to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if needed.
We guide you through transferring your Montecito property and other assets into your trust — the crucial step many attorneys skip.
Life changes — so can your trust. We help you update beneficiaries, trustees, or other provisions as needed.
Transparent, flat-fee pricing with no hourly billing surprises.
Without a living trust, your estate will go through California probate — a costly, time-consuming court process that can take 9-12 months and cost 4-6% of your estate in fees. At Santa Barbara County Superior Court, families wait months just for their first hearing. A properly funded living trust lets your family skip this entirely.
Already have a trust? When the time comes, our trust administration services guide your successor trustee through their legal duties.
Privacy is paramount for Montecito families. Probate is public record—every asset, every beneficiary, every debt becomes accessible to anyone who requests the file. For families who value discretion, a living trust is essential. Your estate settles privately, with no public filings revealing your family's wealth. Montecito is Santa Barbara County, so probate would file at Santa Barbara Superior Court on Anacapa Street—but why file at all? A properly funded living trust keeps your family out of court entirely, protecting both your privacy and your estate from unnecessary fees and delays.
We offer comprehensive estate planning services tailored to Montecito families' needs.
The cornerstone of your estate plan. Avoids probate, maintains privacy, and gives you full control during your lifetime. Easily amendable as your circumstances change.
Catches any assets not transferred to your trust during your lifetime. Ensures everything ends up where it belongs, with your trust as the ultimate destination.
Designates someone to manage your finances if you become incapacitated. Avoids the need for a conservatorship proceeding.
Specifies your medical treatment wishes and names someone to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if needed.
We guide you through transferring your Montecito property and other assets into your trust — the crucial step many attorneys skip.
Life changes — so can your trust. We help you update beneficiaries, trustees, or other provisions as needed.
Transparent, flat-fee pricing with no hourly billing surprises.
Without a living trust, your estate will go through California probate — a costly, time-consuming court process that can take 9-12 months and cost 4-6% of your estate in fees. At Santa Barbara County Superior Court, families wait months just for their first hearing. A properly funded living trust lets your family skip this entirely.
Already have a trust? When the time comes, our trust administration services guide your successor trustee through their legal duties.
A comprehensive living trust package from our firm starts at $575 for individuals and $695 for couples. This includes the trust document, pour-over will, power of attorney, healthcare directive, and trust funding guidance. Our Montecito clients receive the same personalized service as our Glendale office clients.
Yes, if you own real estate in Montecito, a living trust is essential. Without one, your family will face California probate at Santa Barbara Superior Court — a process that takes 9-12 months and costs 4-6% of the estate value. A living trust bypasses this entirely.
A will must go through probate court after you pass away. A living trust avoids probate entirely — your successor trustee can distribute assets immediately. For Montecito property owners, this means avoiding Santa Barbara Superior Court and keeping family matters private.
Prop 19 changed California property tax rules significantly. Without proper planning, your children may lose your low property tax base when they inherit. Our living trust strategies can help Montecito families preserve their tax benefits where legally possible.
We can typically complete your living trust package within 1-2 weeks. After your initial consultation, we draft the documents, review them with you, and handle the signing ceremony. Most Montecito clients are fully protected within two weeks.
Yes! While our office is in Glendale, we serve Montecito clients through video consultations, email, and mail. Documents can be notarized locally. We've helped families throughout California without requiring office visits.
Without a living trust, your Montecito property will go through probate at Santa Barbara Superior Court. This means 9-12 months of court proceedings, public records of your assets, and fees of 4-6% of your estate value. A living trust avoids all of this.
Schedule a free consultation to discuss your estate planning needs. No obligation, just answers.
(818) 291-6217 Schedule Free Consultation