Estate Planning Attorney in Westlake Village, CA

Westlake Village straddles the Los Angeles–Ventura county line, a planned community built around the lake where a lot of families have held their homes for decades. Those homes have appreciated enormously, which is exactly why estate planning here is worth doing right.

I’m Eric Ridley, a Ventura County estate planning attorney since 2010. I help Westlake Village families with flat-fee plans, plain answers, and no pressure to buy documents they don’t need.

What’s at stake for Westlake Village homeowners

California probate fees are based on the full market value of your home, not what you’ve paid down. For a long-held Westlake Village home, that can mean tens of thousands in statutory fees and well over a year in court before your family inherits. A funded living trust avoids probate entirely and keeps the value of your estate private.

Because Westlake Village spans two counties, probate runs through either the Los Angeles or Ventura County Superior Court depending on where your property sits. A trust makes the question moot by keeping you out of court in the first place.

Planning for appreciated property

A long-held home usually carries a low tax basis and a high market value — the combination most exposed to Proposition 19 reassessment when your children inherit. A complete plan pairs a living trust and pour-over will with powers of attorney and a health care directive, and addresses how your appreciated property passes to the next generation.

Westlake Village Estate Planning FAQs

Is Westlake Village in LA County or Ventura County?

Both — the community spans the county line. Which Superior Court would handle probate depends on where your property sits, but a funded living trust avoids probate in either county.

Do I need a trust if my Westlake Village home is paid off?

Yes, often more so. Probate fees are based on the home’s full market value, not your equity, so a paid-off home can create a large probate bill. A trust avoids it.

How does Prop 19 affect my appreciated home?

A home held for decades has a low assessed value and high market value, which is where Prop 19 reassessment hits hardest when children inherit. Planning ahead can reduce the property tax increase your heirs would otherwise face.

Can you meet remotely?

Yes. I work with Westlake Village 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, Agoura Hills, Calabasas, and Prop 19 Planning.

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