Estate Planning Attorney Santa Monica

Specialized Protection for Silicon Beach Professionals & Coastal Homeowners Since 2000.

How long does probate take in California? Los Angeles County probate typically takes 18-24 months at Stanley Mosk Courthouse. With a properly funded Living Trust, your family can avoid this delay entirely.

California estates over $208,000 require formal probate unless protected by a trust. View all service areas →

Why is a Living Trust essential for Santa Monica residents?

With Santa Monica median home values reaching $1,600,000, nearly every residence exceeds the California probate limit. Without a Living Trust, your family will face an 18-month court process and statutory fees of over $58,000 at the Santa Monica Courthouse. A trust allows for immediate, private transfer of high-value coastal property, bypassing court backlogs and keeping your financial records off the public record. Santa Monica is part of our full estate planning service area covering Los Angeles and Santa Barbara Counties.

Silicon Beach Tech Equity & Asset Integration

Santa Monica is the heart of Silicon Beach. Many of our clients are professionals at firms like Snap, Hulu, or Google who possess complex compensation packages including RSUs (Restricted Stock Units), ISOs, and NQSOs. A standard will is insufficient for these assets, as they can be frozen for months during a probate proceeding.

We specialize in Tech-Asset Estate Planning. We ensure that your brokerage accounts and equity grants are properly "funded" into your trust. This prevents a "legal freeze" on your shares, allowing your heirs to manage or liquidate stock in a timely, tax-efficient manner following your passing.

$1.6M
SM Median Value
$58,000+
Probate Fees Saved
$208,850
2025 Threshold

Proposition 19 & Santa Monica Real Estate

Santa Monica property has seen some of the highest appreciation rates in the country. Under California Proposition 19, if your children inherit your family home but do not make it their primary residence within one year, the property tax will be reassessed to current market value. For an Ocean Park home purchased in the 1980s, this could mean a tax jump from $4,000 to $20,000 per year.

We implement specialized trust provisions that provide the flexibility needed to keep the "Prop 13" tax base whenever legally possible. We help families plan for multi-generational residence transfers, ensuring your children can afford to keep the home they grew up in.

The Santa Monica Courthouse: Local Probate Jurisdiction

Santa Monica residents are served by the Los Angeles County Superior Court - West District. Probate and conservatorship filings are handled locally at the Santa Monica Courthouse (1725 Main St).

While the Santa Monica court is more convenient than driving to Downtown LA, the backlog is still significant. As your Santa Monica probate lawyer, we move quickly to utilize Heggstad Petitions and Small Estate procedures to minimize court time and keep your family out of the 1725 Main St. halls.

Complete Santa Monica 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
  • Tech Equity Integration - RSUs, ISOs, stock options
  • Trust Transfer Deed - Transfer your coastal home into the trust
  • Proposition 19 Defense - Preserve property tax base

Specialized Planning for Santa Monica Districts

North of Montana

Focusing on ultra-high-net-worth estate preservation and asset protection for multi-million dollar estates. We manage federal estate tax thresholds and privacy trusts.

Ocean Park & Sunset Park

Addressing multi-generational property transfers for long-time residents. We help families protect significantly appreciated coastal equity from the probate courts.

Wilshire-Montana & Mid-City

Affordable estate planning for tech professionals and families. We focus on guardian nominations for minor children and securing equity-based assets.

What Santa Monica Clients Are Saying

"Ms. Gyene was incredible at handling our complex Silicon Beach tech assets. She made sure our RSUs were properly funded into the trust and protected our North of Montana home from probate."

— David S., North of Montana

★★★★★

"As Snap employees with significant equity compensation, we needed someone who understood RSUs and stock options. Rozsa made the entire process seamless and protected our Ocean Park home."

— Sarah & Michael T., Ocean Park

★★★★★

"Our family has owned our Santa Monica home since 1975. Ms. Gyene helped us navigate Prop 19 and set up a trust that preserves our property tax base for our children."

— Jennifer L., Sunset Park

★★★★★

Learn More About California Estate Law

Our firm is a premier resource for Westside families. For a technical guide on revocable trust mechanics, visit our California Living Trust Guide. If you have recently lost a loved one and need to navigate the Santa Monica court system, view our Probate Services Guide.

Rozsa Gyene, Esq.

Legal Review By

Rozsa Gyene, Esq.

California State Bar #208356 | Licensed Since 2000

25+ years estate planning experience in Southern California

Your Santa Monica Property, Downtown LA Jurisdiction

Successor Trustees in Santa Monica are often surprised to learn that while their property is in the Ocean Park, Sunset Park, 90401-90409 area, their legal filings must be processed at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Downtown Los Angeles.

We bridge this geographic gap by handling all downtown court logistics for our Santa Monica clients—from e-filing petitions to attending hearings on your behalf. You get local expertise with centralized court access.

Jurisdiction: Los Angeles County Superior Court, Probate Division

Courthouse: Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 N. Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Your Local Office: 450 N Brand Blvd, Suite 600, Glendale, CA 91203

Serving Santa Monica Residents at Stanley Mosk Courthouse

While your property is in Santa Monica, all Los Angeles County probate matters are handled at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Downtown LA. We bridge this distance for you.

Our Glendale Office

Law Offices of Rozsa Gyene - 450 N Brand Blvd Suite 600, Glendale CA 91203

450 N Brand Blvd, Suite 600
Glendale, CA 91203

Stanley Mosk Courthouse

111 N Hill St
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Nearby Service Areas

We also serve these neighboring Westside communities

Beverly Hills Estate Planning Los Angeles Estate Planning

View all service locations →

Secure Your Santa Monica Legacy

Bypass the court system. Protect your high-equity coastal home. Consultations are free.

Call (818) 291-6217 Today

State Bar #208356 | Since 2000 | 5,000+ Families Protected.