The best time to protect your family was yesterday. The second best time is today.

A living trust lets your estate avoid probate court entirely — saving your family 9–18 months and thousands in court costs. A will alone still goes through probate. Most California families benefit from having both: a trust for major assets and a pour-over will as a safety net for anything left outside the trust.

A revocable living trust is a legal document that holds your assets during your lifetime and transfers them directly to your named beneficiaries when you pass — without going through probate court. You remain in full control while you're alive: you can change, amend, or revoke the trust at any time. It becomes irrevocable only at death.

Dying without a will or trust is called dying 'intestate.' California law — not you — decides how your assets are divided and who raises your minor children. Your estate goes through probate, which is a public court process that can take 9–18 months and cost 4–8% of the gross estate value in fees. A living trust and pour-over will prevent this entirely.

A complete estate plan from Legal Legacy Company includes a Revocable Living Trust, Pour-Over Will, Durable Power of Attorney for Financial Management, Advance Healthcare Directive with HIPAA Authorization, Certification of Trust, and a Trust Transfer Deed for one property. Every document is prepared to California standards and reviewed with you before signing.

A Durable Power of Attorney for Financial Management names a trusted person to manage your finances, property, and legal matters if you become incapacitated. 'Durable' means the powers remain in effect even if you lose capacity — unlike a standard power of attorney, which terminates at incapacity. Everyone should have one. Without it, a court may need to appoint a conservator to manage your affairs.

An Advance Healthcare Directive (also called a Living Will) lets you specify your wishes regarding life support and end-of-life care, and appoints a healthcare agent to make medical decisions on your behalf if you cannot communicate. It also includes a HIPAA authorization so your agent can access your medical records. Without one, medical decisions may fall to whoever the hospital designates — not necessarily who you would choose.

Not until the deed is recorded. A signed trust only protects property that has been formally transferred into it. Your home avoids probate only after a Trust Transfer Deed is prepared and recorded with the county recorder. This is the most commonly missed step in estate planning — and we include it in every trust package.

Most packages are completed within 5–10 business days after your initial consultation and document review. We work at your pace — if you need it faster, let us know.

Our Revocable Living Trust starts from $700. A complete estate plan — trust, will, power of attorney, and healthcare directive — starts from $850. Every package is flat-rate and fully disclosed before we begin. No hourly billing, no retainer, no surprises. Contact us for a free 15-minute consultation and a personalized quote.

No. We are a registered Legal Document Assistant (LDA) — we prepare legal documents under your direction. We do not provide legal advice. For complex legal questions, we recommend consulting a licensed California attorney. LDA services are a cost-effective alternative to attorney fees for document preparation.