Silicon Beach Trust Assets: Managing Tech Equity & RSUs
Santa Monica is the heart of the tech industry in Los Angeles. Unlike traditional estates, a Silicon Beach trust administration often involves Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), ISOs, and stock options from firms like Snap, Hulu, or Google. These assets are sensitive to timing and tax law. As your Santa Monica trust settlement lawyer, we ensure these equity packages are correctly handled during the administration process to avoid the "legal freeze" that often occurs when an employer isn't properly notified of a settlor's death.
We provide the formal Trustee Accounting necessary to satisfy beneficiaries and protect you from personal liability. In an area with high-net-worth heirs, providing a transparent, attorney-reviewed accounting is your best defense against claims of breach of fiduciary duty or mismanagement of trust investments.
Stanley Mosk Courthouse: The Hub for Santa Monica Filings
While the goal of trust administration is to avoid the public record, certain situations require court intervention. If an asset—such as a beach property in Ocean Park—was accidentally left out of the trust, we can file a Heggstad Petition to move it back into the trust retroactively. For all Santa Monica residents, these probate and trust matters are centralized at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse (111 N. Hill St, Los Angeles). We manage the entire downtown filing process, saving local trustees from navigating the central probate division alone.
Prop 19 Defense for Coastal Santa Monica Real Estate
Santa Monica property appreciation is some of the highest in the country. Under California Proposition 19 (updated for 2025 with an adjusted exclusion cap of $1,044,586), if a child inherits a parent's home and does not move in within one year, the tax base will be reassessed to market value. For a home in North of Montana, this can mean an annual tax hike of $30,000 or more. We handle the critical exclusion filings to ensure the family's low tax base is preserved whenever legally possible.
Critical Deadlines for Santa Monica Successor Trustees
| Action | Legal Deadline | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficiary Notice (16061.7) | 60 Days from Death | CA Probate Code |
| Notice to Medi-Cal (DHCS) | 90 Days from Death | Section 215 |
| Notice of Death to Assessor | 150 Days from Death | LA County Assessor |
| Prop 19 Exclusion Filing | 1 Year from Death | LA County Assessor |
Protecting Yourself from Personal Liability & Surcharges
Successor trustees are held to the "Prudent Investor" standard. If you fail to invest assets wisely, miss a mandatory creditor notice, or skip the final trust accounting, beneficiaries can petition the court to "surcharge" you—making you personally responsible for any perceived financial loss. Our firm acts as your legal counsel, documenting every step of the trust administration process to shield your personal assets.
Complete Santa Monica Trust Administration Services
- 16061.7 Notice Preparation - Proper service to all beneficiaries
- Tech Equity Coordination - RSUs, ISOs, stock options
- Step-Up in Basis Appraisals - Date of death valuations
- Stanley Mosk Court Filings - Heggstad, accountings, disputes
- Prop 19 Defense - LA County Assessor coordination
- Trust Tax Returns - Form 1041 and final 1040
- Formal Accountings - Protect against surcharge claims
- Asset Distribution - Final transfer to beneficiaries
