Why a Will Alone Won’t Avoid Probate in Ventura County, California

Many Ventura County residents believe that writing a will means their estate will avoid probate. This is a common misconception. In California, a will does not let your heirs bypass the probate court process—in fact, a will often guarantees a court-supervised probate if your assets are above certain limits (California Probate Code; Ventura Superior Court Probate Division: https://www.ventura.courts.ca.gov/probate.html). This article explains why that belief is false, especially for Ventura homeowners, by comparing how wills vs. trusts work under California law and providing Ventura-specific data on home values, timelines, and costs.

Understanding Wills vs. Trusts Under California Law

What a Will Does: A last will and testament names beneficiaries and an executor. But a will must be validated in probate court after you die. It simply provides instructions to the court (California Courts Self-Help Center: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/probate). In Ventura, the person holding the original will must file it with the Superior Court (filing fee: $50, Ventura Court Fee Schedule: https://www.ventura.courts.ca.gov/fees.html). Probate then begins: confirming the will, appointing the executor, inventorying assets, paying debts, and distributing property. If you own assets above the state’s small-estate limit (~$208,850 in 2025), probate is required (Cal. Prob. Code §13100: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov).

What a Trust Does: A revocable living trust holds assets during life and directs distribution privately after death. Because assets are titled to the trust, not you personally, they avoid probate entirely (California Courts Self-Help Center: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/trusts). The successor trustee handles transfers without court oversight.

Will vs. Trust Comparison Table

Aspect	Will (Requires Probate)	Living Trust (Avoids Probate)
Probate Required?	Yes. Estates above ~$208,850 require probate (Cal. Prob. Code §13100: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov).	No. Assets in a funded trust bypass probate (Cal. Prob. Code §15200: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov).
Privacy	Low. Probate is public (Ventura Court Records: https://www.ventura.courts.ca.gov/probate.html).	High. Trusts are private.
Upfront Cost	Lower. Simple to draft (State Bar of California: https://www.calbar.ca.gov).	Higher. Requires retitling assets.
Cost After Death	High. Statutory fees: $23k on a $1M estate (Cal. Prob. Code §10810: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov). Court filing fee: $435 (Ventura Court Fees: https://www.ventura.courts.ca.gov/fees.html).	Low. No statutory probate fees.
Time to Settle	9–18 months in Ventura (Ventura Probate FAQ: https://www.ventura.courts.ca.gov/probate.html).	Weeks–months. Depends on trustee.
Flexibility	Limited. Will only applies after death.	High. Trust controls during life, incapacity, and after death (Cal. Prob. Code §15400: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov).

Why Ventura Homeowners Often Still Face Probate

• Median Home Value: $881,000 (Redfin Ventura Market Data: https://www.redfin.com/county/438/CA/Ventura-County/housing-market). California’s simplified home transfer only applies if the home is <$750,000 (AB 2016, eff. Apr 2025: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov).

• Probate Timeline: 9–18 months for most Ventura cases (Ventura Probate Division: https://www.ventura.courts.ca.gov/probate.html).

• Court & Filing Fees: $435 to file probate, $50 to lodge a will (Ventura Court Fee Schedule: https://www.ventura.courts.ca.gov/fees.html). Publication fees ~$200–$500; appraisal 0.1% of estate (Cal. Prob. Code §8800: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov).

• Attorney/Executor Fees: On an $800k estate, ~$19k each for attorney and executor; $46k total on $1M (Cal. Prob. Code §§10810–10814: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov).

Bottom line: With Ventura’s home prices, a will almost always triggers probate. A trust avoids it.

FAQs for Ventura Residents

Q: Does having a will avoid probate?

A: No. Wills require probate if the estate exceeds ~$208,850 (Cal. Prob. Code §13100: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov).

Q: My home is paid off. Do I still need a trust?

A: Yes. The average Ventura home is $881k—well above the limit (Redfin Ventura Market Data: https://www.redfin.com/county/438/CA/Ventura-County/housing-market).

Q: How long does probate take in Ventura?

A: 9–18 months (Ventura Probate FAQ: https://www.ventura.courts.ca.gov/probate.html).

Q: How much does probate cost?

A: 4–8% of the estate plus court costs (Cal. Prob. Code §§10810–10814: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov).

Q: Can probate be avoided without a trust?

A: Sometimes—via TOD deeds, joint tenancy, or small-estate affidavits (Cal. Prob. Code §§13100, 13150: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov). But these are limited. A trust is the most comprehensive approach.