Santa Monica Living Trust Attorney | Westside Estate Planning
Protect your Santa Monica beach property and avoid probate. Our living trust services help Westside families preserve their coastal California lifestyle.
Schedule Free Consultation (818) 291-6217Santa Monica's oceanfront properties and canyon homes represent significant family wealth. A living trust ensures these assets pass efficiently to your heirs.
A living trust is the foundation of a solid estate plan for Santa Monica homeowners. Unlike a simple will, a living trust allows your family to avoid the time-consuming and expensive California probate process at Stanley Mosk Courthouse. Your assets transfer immediately to your beneficiaries without court involvement, keeping your family's private matters out of the public record.
As your Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica is located in Los Angeles County, probate cases are filed at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse (111 N Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90012). The LA County probate backlog is severe — families often wait 12-18 months to complete the process, paying 4-6% of the estate in legal and court fees.
A properly drafted and funded living trust lets your Santa Monica 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 Stanley Mosk Courthouse.
Our Glendale office is located just 35 minutes from Santa Monica, making in-person consultations convenient.
Santa Monica's beach lifestyle comes with serious real estate values—properties in North of Montana regularly exceed $4-8 million, while even modest homes in Sunset Park and the Pico Neighborhood approach $2 million. The Ocean Park and Main Street areas blend historic charm with modern values, creating estates that deserve thoughtful protection.
Rent-controlled properties present unique estate planning challenges in Santa Monica. If you own a multi-unit building subject to Santa Monica Rent Control, your trust must be structured carefully to preserve tenant protections and avoid triggering re-registration requirements. We understand the intersection of rent control law and estate planning that Santa Monica landlords navigate.
Coastal Commission regulations add another layer of complexity for beachfront and ocean-view properties. Your living trust should address any Coastal Development Permits and ensure your heirs understand the restrictions on Santa Monica Canyon and Palisades adjacent properties.
Proposition 19 hits Santa Monica families hard—a $500,000 purchase in 1985 may now be worth $3.5 million, meaning potential property tax increases from $6,000 to $42,000 annually for your children. Santa Monica probate cases file at Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown LA—a 45-minute drive in traffic that becomes an 18-month legal process. A living trust eliminates court involvement, letting your family settle your estate from the Westside while we handle any necessary filings from our Glendale office.
We offer comprehensive estate planning services tailored to Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica 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 12-18 months and cost 4-6% of your estate in fees. At Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 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 Santa Monica clients receive the same personalized service as our Glendale office clients.
Yes, if you own real estate in Santa Monica, a living trust is essential. Without one, your family will face California probate at Stanley Mosk Courthouse — a process that takes 12-18 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 Santa Monica property owners, this means avoiding Stanley Mosk Courthouse 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 Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica clients are fully protected within two weeks.
Yes! While our office is in Glendale, we serve Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica property will go through probate at Stanley Mosk Courthouse. This means 12-18 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