Estate Planning Across Ventura & Los Angeles Counties

I’m Eric Ridley, an estate planning attorney based in Ventura County. Since 2010 I’ve helped families across the county and the neighboring communities protect their homes and their savings with living trusts, wills, and the rest of a complete estate plan. I work in person and by video, so where you are matters less than it used to.

Below are the communities I serve most often. Each page covers what estate planning looks like for that area: local probate, home values, and the questions families there tend to ask.

Wherever you are on this list, the math is the same: probate on a median local house costs a family about $46,000 and takes 12–18 months. A funded trust is what prevents it.

Not sure which of these you need? That’s the first thing we sort out on a free 30-minute call. Talk to Eric.

Ventura County

• Camarillo
• Oxnard
• Ventura
• Thousand Oaks
• Newbury Park
• Simi Valley
• Moorpark
• Ojai
• Port Hueneme
• Santa Paula
• Fillmore
• All of Ventura County

The Conejo Valley & LA County line

• Agoura Hills
• Westlake Village
• Calabasas
• Oak Park
• Malibu
• Woodland Hills
• Encino
• Tarzana
• Chatsworth
• West Hills
• Lake Sherwood
• Bell Canyon

Santa Barbara County

• Santa Barbara

Choosing an estate planning attorney in your city

Deciding who to hire is its own question. These guides compare the estate planning attorneys who actually serve each city, their credentials, what to look for, and what a plan costs versus what probate costs, so you can choose with your eyes open.

• Estate planning attorneys in Camarillo
• Estate planning attorneys in Thousand Oaks & Westlake Village
• Estate planning attorneys in Oxnard
• Estate planning attorneys in Simi Valley

Don’t see your town?

This list isn’t exhaustive. If you live near Ventura County or the western Conejo Valley, there’s a good chance I can help. Call (805) 244-5291 and we’ll sort it out in a few minutes.

Areas We Serve FAQs

Do I have to live in Ventura County to work with you?

No. I serve all of Ventura County and the neighboring Conejo Valley and LA County-line communities. I also work with clients by video and phone, so a complete plan doesn’t require living next door to my office.

Can the whole estate plan be done remotely?

Most of it, yes. We can meet by video, and I’ll arrange document signing in a way that meets California’s witnessing and notarization requirements without unnecessary trips.

Which courthouse handles my probate?

For Ventura County residents, probate is handled by the Ventura County Superior Court. For the LA County-line communities, Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Malibu, and the west San Fernando Valley, it is handled by the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Either way, a funded living trust is designed to avoid that process.

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Written by Eric D. Ridley: Estate Planning Attorney, Ridley Law. Serving Ventura County since 2010. Learn more about Eric →