Comprehensive Fiduciary Support for Northridge 91324/91325
Successor Trustees in Northridge are tasked with settling complex legacies. Whether the trust holds commercial property near the Northridge Fashion Center or a residential portfolio in Northridge View Estates, the legal requirements are binary: either you comply with the law, or you face surcharge petitions. In 2025, the margin for error is razor-thin due to shifting property tax caps and federal exemption sunsets.
As your Northridge trust administration lawyer, we provide the technical precision required by the Stanley Mosk Courthouse and the Los Angeles County Probate Division. While trust administration is designed to be a private process, any administrative errors can trigger a lawsuit that forces the trust into a public and expensive court battle.
Proposition 19: The Property Tax Threat for Sherwood Forest Heirs
The Sherwood Forest market presents unique tax challenges. Many of these homes have been held for decades under a low Proposition 13 tax base. In 2025, Proposition 19 limits the intergenerational transfer exclusion to an inflation-adjusted cap of $1,044,586 over the taxable base. If a Successor Trustee fails to properly coordinate the child's residency and the LA County Assessor filing within one year, the property tax bill could jump from $5,000 to over $20,000 annually. We manage these filings concurrently with the administration to protect the family's financial legacy.
Trustee Personal Liability Protection
Successor trustees in Northridge are often family members who do not realize they can be held personally liable for mistakes. Common errors like distributing assets too early, missing the Medi-Cal (DHCS) notification deadline, or failing to provide a formal accounting can lead to surcharges. If a trustee fails to provide a Probate Code Section 16060 accounting or makes an "unproductive" investment choice, they can be held personally liable (surcharged) for the loss. We provide attorney-verified accountings and distribution waivers to ensure that when you finally distribute the trust assets, you are legally released from all future claims.
The 2026 Federal Estate Tax Sunset
On January 1, 2026, federal estate tax exemptions are scheduled to revert from $13.99M to approximately $7M. For Northridge families with significant real estate holdings in Sherwood Forest or investment portfolios, trust administration in 2025 must include strategic planning. If a married settlor dies in 2025, we file Form 706 to elect "portability" of the unused exemption to the surviving spouse—potentially preserving up to $13.99M in tax-free transfers even after the sunset.
The Heggstad Rescue: When Assets are Left Out
Did you find a Northridge property that was never formally transferred into the trust? Before you file for a full 18-month probate, let us evaluate if we can file a Heggstad Petition (Probate Code Section 850). We have successfully rescued millions in Northridge real estate by asking the court to retroactively "fund" the trust, saving heirs significant time and money. These petitions are filed at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles.
Critical Trustee Deadlines for Northridge Estates
Missing these statutory deadlines can expose you to personal liability:
- 60 Days: Serve 16061.7 Notice to all beneficiaries and heirs
- 90 Days: Notify DHCS (Medi-Cal) if applicable
- 150 Days: File Notice of Death with LA County Assessor
- 12 Months: Prop 19 exclusion deadline for primary residence
- Immediate: Obtain Trust Tax ID (EIN) from IRS
