Your family knows exactly what to do
No confusion, no court. Your successor trustee follows a clear roadmap and distributes your assets directly, usually within weeks, not years.
Your Encino home and everything you've built, your family keeps it all.
Without a Trust, California Probate can cost Encino families approximately $48,000 in combined mandatory fees on a typical home, and tie up their inheritance for 9 to 18 months at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. Isha Singh creates flat-fee Estate Plans for Encino families, by Zoom or in person at our nearby Chatsworth office.
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Why this matters now
Without a plan, California decides who gets everything you built.
In California, Probate fees run 4–8% of your estate’s gross value, not your equity. On a typical Encino home valued near $1,100,000, the combined mandatory statutory fees total approximately $48,000 before your family sees a dollar, plus 9–18 months at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles. A trust eliminates all of it.
In California, even a simple home goes through probate if you only have a will. That means a court-supervised process lasting 9 to 18 months, fees of 4–8% of your estate’s gross value, and your private financial affairs becoming public record, accessible to neighbors, creditors, and anyone who looks.
Encino is in Los Angeles County, with Encino probate matters handled at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles. Our Chatsworth office serves Encino families by Zoom or in person, with plans built around California requirements and your family’s needs.
After your plan is done
Here's what life looks like after your plan is done.
Your privacy stays protected
Trusts don’t go through probate court, which means your assets, your beneficiaries, and your wishes remain completely private.
Your children are protected no matter what
If something happens to both you and your spouse, your plan names exactly who raises your children, no court makes that decision for you.
The fees your family saves are yours to keep
The cost of a well-drafted trust is a fraction of what probate would take. Most families save 10x–20x the cost of the plan in avoided fees.
Your attorney
Meet Isha Singh, estate planning attorney for Encino families.
After serving as a partner at a prominent California firm, Isha launched her own practice to give clients something big firms can’t: direct access to a senior attorney who genuinely invests in each family’s outcome, without the layers of associates, billing surprises, or being handed off mid-process. Whether you prefer meeting by Zoom from your Encino home or coming into the Chatsworth office in person, every consultation and every document review is conducted by Isha directly.
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How it works
Your estate plan in four simple steps.
Most families complete their entire estate plan in two to three weeks. Here’s exactly what to expect.
01
Intake & scheduling
You reach out and our team handles intake, gathering your basic information and scheduling your Zoom consultation with Isha. Quick, simple, and done on your timeline.
02
Zoom consultation with Isha
Isha meets with you personally by video to walk through what estate planning means for your family, answer every question, and design your custom plan on the spot, tailored to your exact situation.
03
Review & sign, your way
Isha reviews every document with you personally. If you’re local or prefer in-person, come to our Chatsworth office. If you prefer to stay home, we schedule a second Zoom and connect you with a digital notary, fully legal, fully remote.
04
Lifetime plan support
Once your plan is signed, you’re part of the family. Isha remains available as your life evolves, marriages, new children, property changes, and more. When amendments are needed, they’re handled under the firm’s amendment fee schedule. What you’ll never do is pay to rebuild your entire estate plan from the ground up.
Your custom estate plan
What's included in a Encino estate plan.
Every plan is custom-built for your family. Most clients include some or all of the following core documents.
See what’s right for my family
Revocable Living Trust
Avoids probate entirely
Your most powerful tool. Assets held in a trust pass directly to your beneficiaries, no court, no delays, no public record. In California, this is essential for anyone who owns a home.
Last Will & Testament
Names guardians for minor children
Designates who raises your children if something happens to both parents, a decision no court should make for you. Also captures assets not titled in the trust via a pour-over provision.
Durable Power of Attorney
Keeps finances in trusted hands
Names the person you trust to manage your finances, pay bills, and handle legal matters if you become unable to, preventing a court-appointed conservatorship.
Advance Healthcare Directive
Your medical wishes are honored
Combines a Living Will and a healthcare Power of Attorney under California law. Your wishes about medical treatment are documented, and your chosen person speaks for you if you cannot.
HIPAA Authorization
Gives loved ones access to info
Authorizes your designated people to receive your medical information, so your family isn’t blocked from updates during a health crisis.
Who we serve
Encino families at every stage of life.
You don’t need to be wealthy or elderly to need an estate plan. You just need people who depend on you.
Planning for your next chapter
Marriage is a good time to align beneficiary choices, property ownership, and decision-making documents so your plan reflects the life you are building together.
Client testimonials
What our clients say
Why families choose us
The Encino estate planning firm that does things differently.
Partner-level experience. Boutique attention. Flat fees. Here’s what sets Isha apart.
Transparent flat-fee pricing
You know the full cost before we start. No hourly billing, no surprise invoices, no awkward “how long did that email take” calculations. Peace of mind starts with the fee.
All attorney work done by Isha personally
Scheduling and intake are handled by our support team so the process runs smoothly. But every consultation, every document review, and every signing is conducted by Isha, the only attorney at this firm. You are never advised by a paralegal or associate.
Deep expertise in California probate law
California’s community property rules, Proposition 19 implications, and trust-funding requirements are not generic, and neither is Isha’s advice. Every plan is built for California.
Virtual or in-person, built around your life
Consultations and signings happen by Zoom or in person at our Chatsworth office, your choice. Remote clients can complete the entire process including notarization from home through our digital notary service. No one-size-fits-all approach.
Specialists in blended families & special needs
Modern families are complex. Isha designs trusts for blended families, multi-generational planning, and families with a loved one who has special needs, with the nuance these situations require.
Legal plan memberships accepted
We work with LegalEase, LAMP, LegalShield, LawPoint, and CLC, making professional estate planning accessible at reduced cost for members. Not sure if your plan is covered? Ask on your free consultation call.
Encino estate planning
What every Encino homeowner needs to know.
Encino sits at the heart of the San Fernando Valley, bordered by Sherman Oaks, Tarzana, and Woodland Hills. Many Encino homeowners have held their properties for decades and seen extraordinary appreciation. California’s Proposition 19 directly affects how appreciated real estate transfers to children, and the structure of a trust determines whether they preserve the property tax base.
Without a plan, California’s intestate succession laws decide who inherits your estate, and their answer may not match yours. Unmarried partners receive nothing. Blended families face competing claims. And every asset above $208,850 (the 2025–2026 probate threshold, excluding the primary residence) goes through the court system before reaching your family.
A properly drafted and funded revocable living trust solves all of this in one document. It keeps your estate out of court, keeps your affairs private, and gives your family a clear roadmap at the worst possible time.
California’s community property rules add another layer, and under Proposition 19 (2021), how your real property is titled in your trust can significantly affect your children’s property tax bill when they inherit.
Consider starting or reviewing a plan if:
The right time to start your estate plan is before you need it, because once a health crisis or death occurs, your options narrow dramatically.
- You own real property in California.
- You have children, especially minor children.
- You have married, divorced, or remarried.
- A loved one with special needs depends on you.
- You have experienced a major change in assets.
- Your existing plan is more than three to five years old.
If you already have a plan, review it after a child, property, divorce, or trustee change.
Start your estate planCalifornia’s estate planning requirements are specific and unforgiving. A trust that isn’t properly funded provides no probate protection, a will with incorrect witness signatures is invalid, and an advance healthcare directive must meet California’s execution requirements.
Online templates frequently miss California-specific requirements such as community property elections, Prop 19 structuring, HIPAA authorizations, and language required by financial institutions and healthcare providers.
A single drafting error can invalidate a document and expose your estate to the probate process you were trying to avoid.
Talk with our teamNeighboring areas
Right in your Encino neighborhood.
We know the Encino your family calls home and build estate plans around the life you have here.
- Ventura Boulevard
- Balboa Boulevard
- Los Encinos State Historic Park
- Lake Balboa
- Sepulveda Basin
- The Japanese Garden
- Encino Commons
Areas we serve across California
Personal attention, wherever you are in California.
You get personal attention and flat-fee pricing no matter where you are in California. Estate planning isn't one-size-fits-all. Your plan is built around your family, assets, and situation.
- Northridge
- Encino
- Porter Ranch
- Chatsworth
- Canoga Park
- Reseda
- Van Nuys
- Tarzana
- Woodland Hills
- Sherman Oaks
- Studio City
- North Hollywood
- Calabasas
- West Hills
- Los Angeles
- Burbank
- Glendale
- Pasadena
- Culver City
- Long Beach
- Santa Clarita
- Simi Valley
- Ventura
- Irvine
- Anaheim
- Santa Ana
- Huntington Beach
- Riverside
- San Bernardino
- Rancho Cucamonga
- San Diego
Common questions
Encino estate planning questions and answers
Do I really need a trust if I already have a will?
Yes. In California, a will does not avoid probate. A properly funded revocable living trust can help Encino homeowners avoid court involvement, maintain privacy, and transfer assets more efficiently.
How much does probate cost in California?
California probate fees are based on the gross value of the estate. For homeowners with valuable real estate, probate can result in substantial attorney, executor, court, and appraisal fees.
Is a living trust worth it for Encino homeowners?
For many Encino families, a living trust is one of the most effective tools for avoiding probate, protecting privacy, and simplifying the transfer of assets to beneficiaries.
What happens if I die without an estate plan?
Without a will or trust, California intestate succession laws determine who inherits your property. The court follows state law rather than your personal wishes.
How long does it take to create an estate plan?
Most estate plans are completed within two to three weeks. Many clients complete the process remotely through Zoom consultations and guided document reviews.
Can I use an online will or trust?
Online forms may not address California-specific issues such as trust funding, Proposition 19 planning, community property rules, and probate avoidance strategies.
What happens to my home if it is not in a trust?
A home that is not properly titled in a trust may need to go through probate before ownership can be transferred to heirs.
How often should I update my estate plan?
Most people should review their estate plan after marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, purchasing property, retirement, or major financial changes.
Can my children keep my low property tax bill?
Sometimes. Under Proposition 19, the home generally must have been your main residence, a child must make it their main residence within one year, and required exemption and claim forms must be filed on time. Rental properties and vacation homes do not qualify for the same treatment.
I bought my home in 1992. Will my children keep my property tax rate?
Only if they meet the Proposition 19 rules. If your children rent out the home, leave it empty, or sell it, it will generally be reassessed at current market value. Sources: California Constitution, Article XIII A; California State Board of Equalization, Proposition 19.
Keep your Encino family's lasting wealth in the family.
Schedule your free consultation today. Most plans are completed in two to three weeks, flat fee, by Zoom or in person at our Chatsworth office, with Isha personally handling every detail.
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