Estate Planning in Tarzana

If you own a home in the Tarzana area, the difference between a plan and no plan is whether your family keeps the house or spends a year in court to get it. Home values here run north of a million dollars, and in California the court doesn’t care how much equity you actually have. It measures probate against the full value of the property. That means a house you bought decades ago can drag your family through a long, public, expensive process for no reason other than the paperwork was never done.

I’m Eric Ridley, an estate planning attorney since 2010. I work with Tarzana area families on flat-fee plans, in person and by video, with clear advice and no upselling.

Probate in the Tarzana area

Tarzana is part of the City of Los Angeles, so probate here runs through the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Probate is the court process that happens after death when there’s no trust to pass things along. It’s public, it usually takes more than a year, and the statutory attorney and executor fees are set by law on the full value of the home, not the equity you hold in it. A $1.2 million house with a mortgage still gets billed against that $1.2 million. A living trust that’s been properly set up and had the house and accounts moved into it keeps your family out of that process entirely. Nobody files with the court, nothing becomes public, and the people you named step in and handle things.

What your plan should cover

For most Tarzana area homeowners, the core is a living trust with the house and accounts retitled into it, plus a backup will that catches anything left outside the trust. You also want a durable power of attorney so someone can manage your finances if you can’t, and an advance health care directive so your medical wishes are followed and someone you trust can speak for you. If you have minor children, the will is where you name their guardian. And because you own California real estate, Prop 19 matters: it changed the rules on passing a home to your kids without a full property tax reassessment, and how you hold and transfer the house now affects the bill they’ll face later.

Tarzana Estate Planning FAQs

Which county handles probate for the Tarzana area?

Tarzana is a neighborhood within the City of Los Angeles, so probate is handled by the Los Angeles County Superior Court. A funded living trust keeps your estate out of that court process.

Do I need a living trust if I own a home in the Tarzana area?

If you own a home here, a living trust is usually the right call. With home values above a million dollars, probate fees are calculated on the full value of the house, and a trust avoids probate, keeps things private, and lets your family take over without a court case. To see the exact dollar amount, use our California probate fee calculator.

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

Prop 19 limited the old parent-to-child exclusion. Your kids can sometimes keep your lower property tax basis, but generally only if they move in as their primary residence, and even then there are caps. How the home is titled and transferred changes the outcome, so it’s worth planning around before it becomes their problem.

Can we handle this without multiple office visits?

Yes. Most Tarzana area families finish their plan with a mix of video calls and one signing. I meet by video or in person, whichever you prefer, and you won’t be run through a string of unnecessary appointments.

Related

See also Living Trusts, Wills, Encino, Woodland Hills, and Prop 19 Planning.

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