Why Every California Homeowner Needs a Living Trust
If you own a home in California and do not have a Living Trust, your loved ones could face a long, expensive, and stressful court process after your passing—known as probate. Many people mistakenly believe that having a Will alone is enough to avoid probate, but this is not true. In California, a Will must still go through probate court, often taking months (or years) and costing thousands in attorney and court fees.
At TrustPoint, we specialize in Living Trust preparation under your direction, offering an efficient, affordable, and simplified solution for families who want to protect their assets and avoid probate. If you’re searching for “trust and will near me”, “living trust near me”, or “living trust paralegal near me”, our experienced Legal Document Assistants are here to help.
- Avoid Probate: Ensure your assets pass directly to your beneficiaries.
- Reduce Costs: Save thousands in attorney and court fees.
- Simplify Inheritance: Make the process easier for your loved ones.
Probate Issues
The Problem with Probate in California
Probate is a court-supervised process that settles an estate after someone dies. It’s public, time-consuming, and can cost up to 5% or more of the estate’s total value in legal and administrative fees. If your estate includes real property valued over $66,000 (as of 2025), it is likely subject to probate without proper estate planning.
Even if you have a Will, it does not avoid probate—a common misconception. A Will only tells the court how you’d like your assets distributed, but the court must still review and validate the Will, oversee the executor, and manage the process.
That’s where a Living Trust comes in.
What is Probate?
- Public Process
- Time-Consuming
- High Costs
The Role of a Will
- Clarifies Asset Distribution
- Does Not Avoid Probate
- Requires Court Validation
What Is a Living Trust?
A Living Trust—also known as a Revocable Living Trust—is a legal document that allows you to transfer ownership of your assets into a trust while you’re still alive. You maintain full control over your assets during your lifetime, and upon your death, your successor trustee can manage or distribute your estate without court involvement.
For those seeking “living trust near me” or “living trust preparation near me”, TrustPoint offers comprehensive services that make this process simple, affordable, and fully compliant with California regulations.
- Avoids Probate
- Maintains Privacy
- Streamlines Asset Distribution
What’s Included in Our Living Trust Package
Our complete Living Trust package includes all essential estate planning documents to give you and your family peace of mind:
- Revocable Living Trust
- Irrevocable Living Trust
- Pour-Over Will(s)
- Durable Power(s) of Attorney for Finances
- Advance Health Care Directive(s)
- Transfer of Real Estate Deeds into the Trust
- Notarization of the Trust
- Witnessing of Will(s)
We prepare all documents under your direction and ensure that everything is completed properly and professionally. Unlike the confusing, cookie-cutter online forms, our service provides hands-on assistance throughout the process—from intake to document signing.
For clients considering long-term asset protection or Medicaid planning, we also offer preparation services for Irrevocable Living Trusts under your direction.
Simplified, Stress-Free Process
We understand that estate planning can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve made the process as streamlined and stress-free as possible. All document signing, trust notarization, and witnessing of wills can be done in our office—saving you time and ensuring that your documents meet formal requirements.
If you’re looking for “living wills near me” or “trusts and wills near me”, our goal is to make the experience approachable and accessible without the high cost of hiring an attorney. We do not offer legal advice, but we are registered and bonded Legal Document Assistants (LDA) in California, trained to assist you with document preparation based solely on your input.
Why Choose TrustPoint for Living Trust Preparation in California?
Local Expertise You Can Trust
Affordable and Transparent Pricing
