Comprehensive Estate Planning for Glendale Families
As an experienced Glendale wills and trusts lawyer, I help families throughout Glendale protect their assets and provide for their loved ones. Whether you need a simple will, a comprehensive living trust, or both working together, our office at 450 N Brand Blvd offers personalized estate planning solutions.
Schedule Free Consultation (818) 291-6217As your local wills and trusts attorney, I've served Glendale families for over 25 years, helping protect everything from modest estates to multi-million dollar properties in Rossmoyne, Verdugo Woodlands, and throughout our community. Whether you're just starting to think about estate planning or need to update existing documents, I provide straightforward advice on whether you need a will, a trust, or both working together to protect your family.
This is the most common question Glendale families ask me. The answer depends on your specific situation, but here's the general guidance:
For most Glendale homeowners, I recommend both a living trust AND a pour-over will. The trust holds your major assets and avoids probate, while the pour-over will serves as a safety net to catch any assets you forgot to transfer to the trust. Together, they provide complete protection.
| Feature | Will Only | Living Trust | Will + Trust (Recommended) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avoids Probate | No | Yes | Yes |
| Remains Private | No | Yes | Yes |
| Incapacity Planning | No | Yes | Yes |
| Names Guardian for Minors | Yes | No | Yes |
| Catches Missed Assets | Yes | No | Yes |
| Time to Settle Estate | 12-18 months | Weeks to months | Weeks to months |
When you create a comprehensive estate plan with our firm, your will and trust work as partners:
Your revocable living trust holds your major assets—your Glendale home, investment accounts, and other property. When you pass away, your successor trustee can distribute these assets to your beneficiaries without going to court. No probate, no delay, no public record.
The pour-over will catches any assets that weren't transferred to your trust during your lifetime. Perhaps you opened a new bank account and forgot to title it in the trust's name. The pour-over will directs those assets to "pour over" into your trust, ensuring they're distributed according to your wishes.
If you only have a will, your entire estate goes through probate—even your Glendale home. Your family waits 12-18 months at Stanley Mosk Courthouse while paying 4-6% of the estate in fees.
If you only have a trust but no will, assets outside the trust pass according to California's intestacy laws—which may not match your wishes. You also can't name a guardian for minor children in a trust.
We offer complete estate planning services at transparent, flat-fee pricing:
A professionally drafted will that names your executor, distributes your assets, and names guardians for minor children. Ideal for simple estates or as a starting point.
$300
Complete living trust with pour-over will, financial power of attorney, and healthcare directive. Everything you need for comprehensive protection.
$575
Joint revocable living trust for married couples, plus individual pour-over wills, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives for both spouses.
$675
We prepare the deed to transfer your Glendale home into your trust—the critical step that many attorneys skip. Additional properties available.
Included
Glendale is part of Los Angeles County, so probate cases are filed at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown LA. The LA County probate backlog is notorious—families routinely wait 12-18 months for simple estates. A properly funded living trust lets your family skip this process entirely.
With median home values in Glendale exceeding $900,000 (and well over $1.2M in neighborhoods like Rossmoyne and Verdugo Woodlands), probate fees add up quickly. California's statutory probate fees are approximately 4% on the first $100,000, 3% on the next $100,000, 2% on the next $800,000, and so on. On a $1M Glendale home, that's over $23,000 in fees—just for the attorney. Add the same amount for the executor, plus court costs and appraisal fees.
When a will goes through probate, it becomes public record. Anyone can see who inherited what. A living trust keeps your family's private affairs private. For many Glendale families, this privacy alone is worth the investment.
Trusts give you far more control than wills. You can specify that children receive their inheritance at certain ages, protect assets from a beneficiary's creditors or divorce, or provide for a special needs family member without affecting their government benefits.
From our office at 450 N Brand Blvd, Suite 600, we serve families throughout Glendale's diverse neighborhoods:
Whether your property is worth $500,000 or $5 million, proper wills and trusts planning protects your family from probate and ensures your wishes are honored.
For most California homeowners, having both a will and a living trust provides the best protection. A living trust avoids probate for assets held in the trust, while a pour-over will catches any assets not transferred to the trust during your lifetime. Together, they provide comprehensive estate planning coverage.
A simple Last Will and Testament in Glendale starts at $300. This includes a professionally drafted will customized to your situation. Most clients choose our comprehensive living trust package ($575-$675) which includes a pour-over will along with the trust, powers of attorney, and healthcare directive.
A will goes through probate court after you die (12-18 months in Los Angeles County), becomes public record, and only takes effect at death. A living trust avoids probate entirely, remains private, takes effect immediately when funded, and can include incapacity planning. For Glendale homeowners, a living trust typically provides better protection.
California allows handwritten (holographic) wills, but they often create problems. Without proper legal guidance, DIY wills frequently contain ambiguities that lead to family disputes or fail to meet legal requirements. Given Glendale's high property values, professional estate planning is a worthwhile investment.
We can typically complete your wills and trusts within 1-2 weeks. The process includes an initial consultation, document drafting, your review, a signing appointment, and guidance on funding your trust. We work efficiently while ensuring every detail is correct.
Don't leave your family's future to chance. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your wills and trusts needs.
(818) 291-6217 Schedule Free Consultation450 N Brand Blvd, Suite 600, Glendale, CA 91203