Estate Planning Attorney for Calabasas, CA

Calabasas is one of the most affluent communities in California, and that brings estate planning questions most families never have to think about — higher home values, the federal estate tax, privacy, and protecting property across generations. Whether you’re in a gated community off Mulholland or a longtime family home near the Commons, the goal is the same: keep what you’ve built in your family and out of the courts.

I’m Eric Ridley. I’ve practiced estate planning since 2010 from my Ventura County office, and I work with Calabasas families by video and in person on flat-fee plans with no upselling.

What’s different about planning in Calabasas

Calabasas is in Los Angeles County, so probate for Calabasas residents runs through the Los Angeles County Superior Court — a slow, public, and expensive process given local property values. With homes frequently in the seven figures, the statutory probate fees alone can reach well into the tens of thousands. A living trust avoids probate entirely and keeps the size and details of your estate private, which matters more when the numbers are large.

High-value estates need more than a basic plan

For higher-net-worth Calabasas families, a plan often goes beyond the core documents to address the federal estate tax, Proposition 19 reassessment on property your children inherit, and strategies for passing real estate, investments, or a business to the next generation. I build a plan around what you actually own — a living trust and pour-over will at the foundation, with the additional structures your situation calls for.

Calabasas Estate Planning FAQs

Where is probate handled for Calabasas residents?

Calabasas is in Los Angeles County, so probate goes through the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Given local home values, the process is both costly and public, which is why most Calabasas homeowners plan to avoid it with a living trust.

Will my estate owe federal estate tax?

It depends on the total value of your estate against the current federal exemption, which can change. Higher-value Calabasas estates are the ones most likely to be affected, and there are planning strategies to reduce exposure. We look at your full picture and plan accordingly.

How does Prop 19 affect the home I leave my children?

Proposition 19 sharply limited the parent-child property tax exclusion. A high-value Calabasas home your children don’t make their primary residence can be reassessed to market value, raising their annual tax bill substantially. Planning ahead can reduce the hit.

Do you work with Calabasas clients remotely?

Yes. I work with Calabasas families by video and phone as well as in person, and handle signing in a way that fits your schedule.

Related

See also Living Trusts, Wills, Powers of Attorney, Probate, and Prop 19 Planning.

Written by Eric D. Ridley — Estate Planning Attorney, Ridley Law. Serving Ventura County and the surrounding area since 2010. Learn more about Eric →