Your Simi Valley home stays in your family, not the probate court.

In California, a will still goes through probate. If your estate is above $208,850, which applies to virtually every Simi Valley homeowner, a will alone guarantees your family ends up in Ventura County Superior Court. At Simi Valley home values, that means approximately $36,000 in combined mandatory fees. A revocable living trust avoids the entire process.

California sets statutory probate fees on a sliding scale of 4–8% of the estate’s gross value, not your equity. On a typical Simi Valley home worth $750,000, the mandatory statutory fee is approximately $18,000 per party, attorney and executor each, totaling ~$36,000 combined, before Ventura County court costs and appraisal fees. A trust eliminates all of it.

Most clients complete their estate plan in two to three weeks from the initial consultation to signing. After intake, Isha meets with you by Zoom to design your plan. Documents are prepared and sent for review, then signing takes place at our Chatsworth office or remotely with a digital notary. Rush timelines are available for urgent circumstances.

Our firm uses transparent flat-fee packages, so you know the full cost upfront. The investment depends on your family situation and the documents included. Most families find that a professionally drafted trust costs a fraction of probate. Ask about pricing on your free call.

Online templates are not designed for California’s specific laws, community property elections, Proposition 19 structuring, trust-funding requirements, or precise execution requirements. A trust that isn’t properly funded provides zero probate protection, and fixing a poorly drafted plan can cost more than doing it right the first time.

If your home is not held in a trust, it will go through probate upon your death, even if you have a will. Probate involves court filings, a mandatory waiting period, a court hearing, and fees based on the home’s gross value. Your heirs cannot sell, refinance, or take out equity during this process. Proposition 19 may also affect your children’s future property tax bill.

No. What matters is how your home is titled, not what it’s worth. Usually no probate applies when the home is held in a living trust, owned in joint tenancy, or covered by a transfer on death deed. A simpler court process may apply when your main residence is in your name alone and worth $750,000 or less. Usually full probate applies when it is in your name alone and worth more than $750,000. The $750,000 limit is based on the home’s full value, and your mortgage isn’t subtracted. Sources: California Probate Code §13151; Judicial Council of California.

Sometimes. Under California’s 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. The applicable value limit also matters. Source: California State Board of Equalization (BOE), Proposition 19.

Only if they meet the Proposition 19 rules. Your property tax is based on your home’s 1992 value, and that value can increase by no more than 2% per year. If your children rent out the home, leave it empty, or sell it, it will be reassessed at today’s market value. Sources: California Constitution, Article XIII A (Proposition 13); California State Board of Equalization, Proposition 19.