Privacy Trusts for High-Profile Residents
Calabasas is home to many high-profile individuals who value discretion. Whether you reside in The Oaks, Hidden Hills, or Mountain View Estates, privacy is often your greatest concern. In California, when a person dies with only a will, that will becomes a public document available to any solicitor or journalist.
We specialize in Privacy-Focused Trusts. We use generic trust names and "Blind Title" strategies to ensure your primary residence remains unsearchable in local property tax databases. This specialized planning prevents the public from seeing your asset lists and beneficiary details, protecting your family's safety and dignity.
Navigating the Los Angeles Probate Courts
Although Calabasas is on the western edge of the valley, local probate matters are centralized under the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Most filings for the North Valley District are handled at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. The commute alone is a burden for grieving families.
As your Calabasas probate lawyer, we move quickly to utilize Heggstad Petitions. If a loved one passed away with a trust but failed to transfer their Calabasas property into it, we can often skip a full probate by asking the court for a retroactive transfer under Probate Code § 850. This is critical for high-equity homes in neighborhoods like Mulwood where equity can exceed $2 million.
Proposition 19 & Gated Community Reassessments
For families who have owned property in Calabasas for decades, the tax base is incredibly low. Under California Proposition 19, if your home is inherited and not occupied by a child as their primary residence, the property tax will jump to current market rates. For a multi-million dollar estate, this could mean an annual tax increase of $15,000 or more. We provide the technical planning needed to help your heirs preserve your low property tax base whenever possible.
Complete Calabasas Estate Planning Services
Our comprehensive estate planning packages include:
- Revocable Living Trust - Avoid probate entirely
- Pour-Over Will - Catch-all for assets outside the trust
- Durable Power of Attorney - Financial management if incapacitated
- Advance Healthcare Directive - Medical decisions
- Privacy Trust Structures - Blind title strategies
- Trust Transfer Deed - Transfer your Calabasas home into the trust
- Proposition 19 Defense - Preserve property tax base
- HOA Coordination - Gated community requirements
