At Westlake Law Group, we represent individuals, families, and business owners throughout Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Calabasas, and surrounding communities in Ventura County and Los Angeles County in all aspects of California estate planning. Effective estate planning requires careful drafting, strategic tax consideration, and compliance with the California Probate Code. Our attorneys provide structured planning designed to protect assets, reduce the risk of disputes, and ensure orderly wealth transfer.

Whether you are creating your first estate plan, updating an existing trust, or implementing advanced tax strategies, we provide comprehensive guidance tailored to your objectives and asset structure.

Revocable Living Trusts

Revocable living trusts form the foundation of many California estate plans. A properly drafted and funded trust allows assets to pass outside of probate, provides continuity of management in the event of incapacity, and maintains privacy regarding distributions.

Our firm advises clients on:

  • Creation and drafting of revocable living trusts
  • Trust funding and asset retitling
  • Appointment of successor trustees
  • Trust amendments and restatements
  • Multi-generational distribution planning

Trust-based planning is often appropriate for homeowners, blended families, and clients seeking to minimize court involvement after death.

Wills and Guardianship Nominations

A last will and testament directs distribution of assets not held in trust and allows parents to nominate guardians for minor children. In California, wills are subject to probate administration through the Superior Court.

We prepare:

  • Simple and complex wills
  • Pour-over wills coordinated with trusts
  • Guardian nominations for minor children
  • Contingent beneficiary structures

Proper coordination between a will and a trust is critical to avoid unintended results.

Incapacity Planning

Estate planning must address not only death, but incapacity. Without proper documentation, families may need to initiate conservatorship proceedings.

We prepare:

  • Durable powers of attorney for financial management
  • Advance health care directives
  • HIPAA authorizations
  • Conservatorship avoidance strategies

These documents allow trusted individuals to make financial and medical decisions in accordance with your instructions.

Estate Tax and Gift Tax Planning

While California does not impose a state estate tax, federal estate and gift tax laws may apply depending on asset levels and lifetime transfers. Strategic planning can reduce potential exposure and preserve wealth for future generations.

Our services include:

  • Federal estate tax planning
  • Lifetime gifting strategies
  • Irrevocable trust structures
  • Generation-skipping planning
  • Charitable planning strategies

Federal estate and gift tax information is available through the Internal Revenue Service at https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/estate-and-gift-taxes.

Business Succession Planning

Business owners require coordinated planning to address ownership transition, management continuity, and liquidity concerns.

We assist with:

  • Succession planning for closely held businesses
  • Coordination with buy-sell agreements
  • Trust ownership of business interests
  • Transition planning for family enterprises

Business succession planning often integrates estate, tax, and asset protection considerations.

Special Needs Planning

Families with disabled beneficiaries require tailored planning to preserve eligibility for public benefits while providing supplemental financial support.

We prepare:

  • Special needs trusts
  • Third-party supplemental needs trusts
  • Coordination with public benefit rules
  • Trustee guidance for long-term administration

Careful drafting is essential to avoid disqualification from needs-based programs.

High Net Worth Estate Planning

Clients with substantial estates frequently require advanced planning strategies addressing tax exposure, asset protection concerns, liquidity management, and intergenerational wealth transfer.

Our firm works with financial advisors and tax professionals to develop coordinated planning structures designed to address complex asset portfolios, real estate holdings, and business interests.

Reducing the Risk of Future Disputes

Ambiguity and inconsistent planning frequently lead to will contests, trust contests, and fiduciary litigation. Our experience in trust and estate disputes informs our planning approach. We emphasize clarity, structural integrity, and documentation designed to reduce the likelihood of future conflict.

Estate Planning Representation in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties

Estate planning documents are governed by the California Probate Code. The official code is available through the California Legislative Information website at https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov

Westlake Law Group serves clients throughout:

  • Westlake Village
  • Thousand Oaks
  • Calabasas
  • Agoura Hills
  • Oxnard
  • Simi Valley
  • Camarillo
  • Newbury Park
  • Ventura County
  • Los Angeles County

We provide estate planning services from our Westlake Village office located at 30699 Russell Ranch Road, Suite 210, Westlake Village, CA 91362.

Schedule a Consultation

If you need to establish or update an estate plan in Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Calabasas, Ventura County, or Los Angeles County, contact Westlake Law Group at (818) 444-2022.

Our attorneys bring decades of experience in estate planning, trust administration, and estate litigation. We provide disciplined, legally compliant planning designed to protect families and preserve wealth. Schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your planning objectives and determine the appropriate next steps.