Legal Review By
Rozsa Gyene, Esq.
California State Bar #208356 | Licensed Since 2000
25+ years estate planning experience in California
LegalZoom living trust costs $399 base + $199 attorney review = $549 total, but charges extra for deed transfers and updates. Pros: Well-known brand, quick process. Cons: Upsells, subscription pressure, generic templates. Better alternatives cost $400-$500 with everything included, no subscriptions, and California-specific documents. LegalZoom is adequate but not the best value for California residents.
Ready to get started? Create your California living trust online in 30 minutes with attorney review included. Start for free →
Honest review from a California estate planning attorney
By Rozsa Gyene, Estate Planning Attorney | State Bar #208356 | Published January 15, 2025
LegalZoom works, but California residents have better options
Create your California living trust online in 30 minutes. Save $27,000+ in probate costs and avoid 12-18 months of court delays.
Get Started - $400 →✓ Attorney review included ✓ California-specific ✓ No hidden fees
LegalZoom is okay but has significant drawbacks for California residents:
Better alternative: California-specific services offer attorney-reviewed trusts starting at $400 (vs $549 for LegalZoom with attorney review).
I'm a California estate planning attorney with 25+ years of experience. I've reviewed hundreds of LegalZoom living trusts that clients brought to me for review or to fix problems. In this honest LegalZoom living trust review California, I'll tell you exactly what you're getting, what you're not getting, and whether it's worth the cost for California residents.
What LegalZoom offers: An online platform to create estate planning documents including living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives.
How it works: You answer questions in an online questionnaire. LegalZoom's software generates documents based on your answers. You can optionally pay for attorney review ($199 extra).
Price for California living trust:
LegalZoom's advertised pricing is misleading. Here's what you actually pay:
| Item | Cost | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Individual Living Trust (base) | $399 | Yes |
| Attorney Review | +$199 | Highly recommended |
| Expedited delivery (optional) | +$50 | No |
| Notary (you arrange separately) | $15-$50 | Yes |
| Deed recording (county recorder) | $10-$50 | Yes (if you own property) |
| ACTUAL TOTAL | $549-$588 | — |
Compare to California-specific alternatives:
LegalZoom is 3.2x more expensive than California-specific online services and offers less legal oversight.
This is the most important part of this LegalZoom review.
LegalZoom advertises $399 for a living trust. In small print, they note attorney review is $199 extra. Most customers don't discover this until checkout.
The real issue: A living trust without attorney review is risky. You're essentially using a generic template with no legal oversight. For something as important as your estate, skipping attorney review to save $199 is penny-wise, pound-foolish.
But at $549 total, you're paying 3x more than California-specific services that include attorney preparation AND review from the start.
| Feature | LegalZoom | Living Trust California |
|---|---|---|
| Base Price | $399 | $400 |
| Attorney Review | +$199 (optional) | INCLUDED |
| TOTAL COST | $549 | $400 |
| California-Specific | No (50-state generic) | Yes (CA only) |
| Attorney Experience | Network attorney (varies) | 25+ years CA estate planning |
| Direct Attorney Access | No (call center) | Yes |
| Community Property Provisions | Generic language | CA-specific |
| Prop 13 Guidance | No | Yes |
| CA Deed Formats | Generic templates | CA county-specific |
| Upsells | Many | None |
| YOU SAVE | — | $328 |
ROI: 5,400% — The best investment you'll ever make for your family
California families lose $27,000+ to probate every day. Create your living trust now and protect your loved ones.
✓ Complete in 30 minutes ✓ Attorney review included ✓ No hidden fees
As a California attorney, I frequently review LegalZoom living trusts. Here are the most common issues I find:
California is a community property state. Married couples need specific language about community vs. separate property. LegalZoom's generic templates often use "joint tenancy" language instead of proper community property provisions.
Impact: Can cause tax issues and unintended asset distribution.
Each California county has specific deed format requirements. LegalZoom provides generic deed templates that may not match your county recorder's requirements.
Impact: Deed may be rejected by county recorder, or recorded incorrectly, leaving your home vulnerable to probate.
California's Prop 13 protects homeowners from property tax reassessment. When transferring property to a living trust, you must file specific forms to maintain this protection. LegalZoom doesn't provide this guidance.
Impact: Property tax reassessment can cost thousands per year.
California Probate Code has specific requirements for trustee succession. LegalZoom's generic templates sometimes use language that doesn't comply with California law.
Impact: Delays and potential court involvement when you die or become incapacitated.
Many LegalZoom packages don't include proper HIPAA authorization for healthcare agents.
Impact: Your healthcare agent may be denied access to your medical information.
LegalZoom's questionnaire doesn't always catch conflicts between beneficiary designations and California community property law.
Impact: Unintended inheritance distribution; potential family disputes.
Many clients come to me after using LegalZoom, asking me to review and fix their documents. This typically costs $500-$1,500.
Total cost: $549 (LegalZoom) + $500-$1,500 (local attorney to fix) = $978-$1,978
vs. $150 for a California-specific trust with attorney review from the start.
Despite the drawbacks, LegalZoom can work for certain situations:
For California residents, here are better alternatives to LegalZoom:
Example: Living Trust California
Price: $400 (attorney review included)
Pros:
Best for: California homeowners who want the best value and California-specific accuracy
Price: $1,500-$3,000
Pros:
Cons:
Best for: Very complex estates (over $5M, complex business structures, special needs trusts)
Price: $0 now, $27,000-$68,000 later (probate costs)
Don't do this. Without a living trust, your California estate will go through probate, costing your family tens of thousands of dollars and 12-18 months of delays.
💡 Don't wait until it's too late
Create your living trust today. Protect your family tomorrow.
Start Online - 30 Minutes →LegalZoom provides phone and email customer support, but there are limitations:
Contrast with California-specific services: Direct email/phone access to the attorney who prepared your documents.
The real comparison isn't "LegalZoom vs traditional attorney." It's:
| Factor | LegalZoom ($549) |
CA-Specific Service ($400) |
Traditional Attorney ($2,500) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney Review | +$199 extra | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| CA-Specific | ✗ Generic | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Direct Attorney Access | ✗ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Speed | 1-2 days | 24 hours | 2-4 weeks |
| Customization | Templates only | CA-customized | Fully custom |
| Best For | Out-of-state | CA homeowners | Complex estates |
Rating: 3.0/5 ★★★☆☆
Bottom line: LegalZoom provides a functional service, but California residents have better options.
Use LegalZoom if:
Choose a California alternative if:
Living Trust California: Attorney-prepared living trusts starting at $400. Attorney review INCLUDED (not $199 extra). California-specific provisions. Direct attorney access.
LegalZoom works but is not the best value for California residents. After adding the necessary $199 attorney review, your total cost is $549 compared to $400 for California-specific services that include attorney review from the start. LegalZoom uses generic 50-state templates lacking California-specific provisions for community property, Prop 13 protection, and county-specific deed formats. You save $328 and get better legal protection by using a California-focused service.
LegalZoom advertises $399 for a living trust, but the real cost is much higher. You should add attorney review ($199), bringing the total to $549. Additional costs include notary fees ($15-50), deed recording ($10-50), and potential expedited delivery ($50). For California homeowners, expect to pay $549-588 total, which is 3.2x more expensive than California-specific alternatives at $400.
No. LegalZoom's $199 attorney review only provides a licensed attorney who checks your completed documents for obvious errors and offers a brief phone consultation. The attorney does not prepare the documents (software does), does not customize for California law, and does not have direct access to you (goes through LegalZoom call center). You're essentially paying $199 for a quality check on generic templates rather than California-specific legal advice.
Common issues include: missing California community property language causing tax problems, generic deed formats that don't match county requirements, no Prop 13 property tax protection guidance, incorrect trustee succession provisions, missing HIPAA authorization, and beneficiary designation conflicts with California law. These problems often cost $500-1,500 to fix with a local attorney, negating any savings from using LegalZoom.
California-specific online services offer better value at $400-500 with attorney review included. These services use California-only templates with proper community property provisions, Prop 13 guidance, and county-specific deed formats. You get direct attorney access, no upsells, and save $328 compared to LegalZoom. For complex estates over $5 million, hire a traditional California estate planning attorney ($2,500-5,000) for fully customized planning.
About the Author: Rozsa Gyene is a California estate planning attorney with 25+ years of experience (State Bar #208356). She has reviewed hundreds of LegalZoom living trusts and helped clients fix common problems. This review is based on professional analysis and client experiences. This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice.
© 2025 Living Trust California. Rozsa Gyene, Attorney at Law. State Bar #208356.
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.
Legal Review By
California State Bar #208356 | Licensed Since 2000
25+ years estate planning experience in California
Probate timelines and fees vary dramatically by jurisdiction. A living trust protects your family regardless of which county your property is in:
Information verified by Rozsa Gyene, Esq. (CA Bar #208356) for 2025 statutory compliance.