Your Family Deserves a Properly Written Estate Plan
We've litigated poorly written estate plans in court. We know exactly what fails and how to make sure your family never ends up there. Most everyone needs a trust — let's talk about yours.
- Avoid probate and protect your home
- Save on estate taxes and preserve wealth
- Ensure your children are taken care of
- Plans drafted by litigators who've seen what fails
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If You Own a Home or Have Children, the Answer Is Yes.
Most people wait until it's too late. An estate plan isn't just for the wealthy — it's for anyone who wants to protect their family and avoid a court battle.
Without a properly written trust, your estate goes through probate: a costly, public court process that can drag on for months and distribute your assets in ways that don't reflect your wishes.
We've litigated poorly written estate plans in court. We know exactly what fails — and how to make sure your family never ends up there.
Schedule a Free Consultation →A Complete Estate Plan — Not Just a Template
Every estate plan we create is custom-drafted for your specific family, assets, and goals. You receive a full package: living trust, pour-over will, power of attorney, healthcare directive, and HIPAA authorization.
Because our attorneys have litigated trust disputes in court, every document we draft is written with an eye toward what holds up — and what doesn't.
Comprehensive Estate Planning for Every Stage of Life
We offer flat-fee estate planning packages that cover everything the average person needs. No surprises, no hourly billing ambiguity.
- Revocable and irrevocable trusts
- Avoids probate entirely
- Maintains privacy
- Works alongside a pour-over will
- Last will and testament
- Pour-over wills paired with trusts
- Guardianship designations
- Specific asset bequests
- Durable power of attorney
- Healthcare directive
- HIPAA authorization
- Financial POA
- Executor representation
- Probate court filings
- Asset inventory and distribution
- Will contests and disputes
- First-party and third-party trusts
- Preserves benefits eligibility
- Supplemental care planning
- Long-term care coordination
- Federal and California tax strategy
- Charitable giving structures
- Irrevocable life insurance trusts
- Annual gift exclusion planning
Thinking About Passing Your Home to Your Children?
California's property tax laws changed significantly in 2021. If you own a home, this is one of the most important estate planning conversations you can have right now.
Many Central Coast families have owned their homes for decades. The gap between what a home was assessed at when purchased and what it is worth today can be substantial — and under current California law, that gap has real consequences for how much property tax your children will pay after you are gone.
Proposition 19, which took effect in 2021, fundamentally changed the rules for passing a home's property tax base to the next generation. The protections that many homeowners still assume apply were largely eliminated for most situations. What remains is narrower, comes with strict conditions, and requires timely action to preserve.
The structure of your estate plan — how your home is held, how your trust is drafted, and how beneficiaries are guided after your passing — can all affect whether your children are able to take advantage of any remaining protections. Getting this wrong is costly. Getting it right requires planning before a transfer occurs, not after.
This is a topic we discuss with clients regularly. Every family's situation is different, and the right approach depends on factors specific to you. What we can tell you is that it is worth a conversation before anything changes.
Talk to an Attorney About Your Home →Are you a longtime homeowner?If your home is assessed well below today's market value, the property tax implications for your heirs may be significant without proper planning in place.
Do you have an older trust?Trusts drafted before 2021 were written under a different set of property tax rules. Your plan may need to be reviewed to reflect how the law works today.
Do you own rental or investment property?The current rules treat non-primary residences differently from a family home. The planning considerations vary depending on what you own and who inherits it.
Are your children planning to keep or sell?What your children intend to do with the property after your passing is one of several factors that shapes how you should structure your estate plan today.
We work with Central Coast families on exactly these questions. A free consultation gives you a clear picture of where you stand and what options are worth exploring — without any obligation or pressure to proceed.
Call (805) 635-0083The information on this page is general in nature and is not legal advice. Property tax laws and estate planning strategies vary significantly based on individual circumstances. Nothing here creates an attorney-client relationship. Please consult a qualified attorney regarding your specific situation.
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We make it straightforward. No confusing legal jargon, no surprise bills. Just a clear plan to protect what matters most.
Trusted by Families Across San Luis Obispo County
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Central Coast Lawyers Who Know This Community
We're not a big-city firm. We're local attorneys who've spent our careers serving families and businesses right here on the Central Coast.
Litigators Who Write Your Plan. That Changes Everything.
Most estate plans are written by attorneys who've never been inside a courtroom. Ours are written by lawyers who've litigated the cases where those plans failed.
Answers to Your Estate Planning Questions
Still not sure if you need a trust or what the process looks like? We hear these questions every day.
Have a Specific Question?
Every family situation is different. Our attorneys are happy to answer your questions directly during a free, no-obligation consultation. There's no pressure and no sales pitch.
Call (805) 635-0083Avila Beach Office (by appointment)
Mon – Fri, 9:00am – 5:00pm
Don't Wait Until It's Too Late to Protect Your Family
A complete estate plan starts with a free conversation. No jargon, no pressure. Just honest guidance from attorneys who've seen what happens when families don't plan ahead.
Free consultations available Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm. Same-week appointments often available.