Why Calabasas Estate Planning Requires Specialized Expertise
Calabasas isn't just affluent—it's exclusive. From the world-famous guard-gated community of The Oaks to the hillside estates of Mountain View, residents here have achieved a level of success that requires a different approach to estate planning. When you use LegalZoom or Trust & Will, your estate details become public record—visible to anyone who searches the court files. For Calabasas families, that's not an option.
Complete Privacy Protection
A will becomes public record at Stanley Mosk. Anyone can see your assets, property values, and who inherited what. A trust remains completely private—essential for high-profile Calabasas families.
Ultra-High Property Values
Calabasas median: $1.7M. The Oaks: $4-15M+. That means $60,000-$300,000+ in probate fees. These aren't Valley numbers—this is wealth that demands protection.
The 28-Mile Probate Commute
Calabasas is the furthest LA County community from Stanley Mosk. Your family faces 55-90 minute drives to DTLA—multiple times over 18-24 months. A trust eliminates this entirely.
Privacy Protection for High-Profile Calabasas Families
In Calabasas, privacy isn't a luxury—it's a necessity. A living trust is the only estate planning tool that keeps your affairs completely confidential.
What Becomes Public in Probate
When a will is filed at Stanley Mosk Courthouse, the following become public record—searchable by anyone:
- Your full legal name and date of death
- Complete inventory of all assets
- Property addresses and estimated values
- Names of all beneficiaries (including minor children)
- Exact distribution—who got what
- Family disputes and court filings
For families in The Oaks, this exposure is unacceptable. Reporters, curious neighbors, and even opportunistic individuals can access these files.
How a Trust Protects Your Privacy
- Never filed with any court—no public record
- Certificate of Trust protects details from banks/title companies
- Private administration—no court hearings
- Beneficiary names remain confidential
- Asset values never disclosed
- Distribution details known only to family
Certificate of Trust: Every trust package includes this document, allowing you to prove your trust exists without revealing any private details.
Learn how we protect your privacy during trust administration →
Estate Planning for The Oaks & Gated Communities
The Oaks, Mountain View Estates, and Calabasas Park aren't just addresses—they're private communities with complex governance structures. Your estate plan must work within these frameworks to ensure your heirs can seamlessly inherit and maintain your property.
The HOA Transfer Trap
Many gated communities require HOA approval for ownership transfers. If your trust isn't properly structured, your heirs could face delays, additional fees, or even rejection. We ensure your trust complies with community requirements.
LegalZoom doesn't ask about HOA requirements. Trust & Will doesn't know what CC&Rs are. We build gated community compliance into every Calabasas trust.
Gated Community Trust Provisions
- CC&R compliance language for successor trustees
- HOA transfer coordination guidance
- Gate access continuation provisions
- Assessment payment obligation clarity
- Architectural review requirements documentation
- Guest/staff access protocols for trustees
Communities We've Served: The Oaks, Mountain View Estates, Calabasas Park, Calabasas Hills, Park Granada, and Calabasas Highlands.
Calabasas Neighborhoods: What Your Estate Plan Must Address
Each Calabasas neighborhood has distinct characteristics affecting estate planning. Here's our local expertise at work:
Ultra-Luxury Gated
The Oaks ($4M - $20M+)
Calabasas' most prestigious address—celebrity estates, 24/7 guard gates, and world-class amenities. Strict privacy requirements and complex CC&Rs. Probate fees: $106,000-$400,000+.
Mountain View Estates ($3M - $8M)
Hillside custom homes with panoramic views. Entertainment executives and entrepreneurs with complex asset portfolios beyond real estate.
Hidden Hills Adjacent ($3M - $10M+)
Properties bordering the famous Hidden Hills enclave. Ultra-private estates with celebrity neighbors requiring maximum discretion and confidentiality in estate planning.
Prestigious Communities
Calabasas Park ($1.5M - $3M)
Family-friendly gated community with lake amenities. Professionals and executives with stock options and business interests.
Park Moderne / Calabasas Hills ($1.3M - $2.5M)
Contemporary homes with city and mountain views. Popular with tech and entertainment professionals building wealth.
Greater Mulwood ($1.2M - $1.8M)
More affordable entry to Calabasas living. Long-term owners with significant Prop 13 protection—Prop 19 planning is critical.
Calabasas Highlands ($1.4M - $2.2M)
Hillside community near trails and open space. Many dual-income professional families creating first trusts.
Protecting Calabasas' most exclusive addresses—from The Oaks to Mountain View
The "Calabasas Probate Tax": What Elite Families Lose in Court
Statutory fees under CA Probate Code §10810. These are mandatory—wealth doesn't exempt you.
Public Record Warning: In addition to these fees, without a trust your entire estate becomes public record. Every asset, every beneficiary, every dollar—visible to anyone who searches court files.
Stanley Mosk Courthouse: 111 N. Hill St., DTLA
28 miles from Calabasas—the furthest LA community
The Longest Probate Commute in LA County
Calabasas residents face the longest probate commute of any Los Angeles County community. There's no local probate court—not in Calabasas, not in Woodland Hills, not anywhere in the West Valley.
The Calabasas Probate Commute:
- 28 miles from Calabasas to 111 N. Hill St.
- 55-90+ minutes each way (101 is unpredictable)
- $20-30 parking per visit in DTLA
- Multiple hearings over 18-24 months
- Entire day lost for each court appearance
We've heard from Calabasas families who spent more time driving to Stanley Mosk than the entire trust creation process takes. Your 30-minute investment today saves your family dozens of exhausting trips—and keeps your affairs private.
A living trust means everything is handled privately—at a Calabasas bank, a local title company, or your own home office. No courthouse. No 101 freeway. No public record.
Prop 19 Alert for Calabasas Legacy Properties
Many Calabasas families—particularly in established neighborhoods—have owned their homes for decades. They have incredibly low Prop 13 tax bases. Proposition 19 threatens to destroy this generational advantage.
Without Planning
Your $8,000/year tax bill becomes $50,000+/year if children don't move in within 12 months of inheritance.
With Proper Trust Planning
We structure your trust to maximize Prop 19 exclusions and help families understand the 1-year residency rule.
Calabasas Example: A Mountain View home purchased in 1992 for $650,000 is now worth $4.5M. Current taxes: $9,500/year. Without proper planning, heirs who don't move in will pay $54,000/year—an extra $44,500 annually, forever.
How to Create Your Calabasas Living Trust
Complete Questionnaire
Answer questions about your Calabasas property, privacy preferences, and beneficiaries
15 minutes
Attorney Review
Attorney Rozsa Gyene (Bar #208356) reviews for gated community provisions and privacy
Same week
Sign Privately
Visit our office or we can recommend discreet notary options in Calabasas
Your privacy
Fund Your Trust
Transfer property via Grant Deed + Certificate of Trust protects details
Protected!
What Calabasas Families Say
★★★★★ 4.9/5 average from 127 reviews
"We own a home in The Oaks and privacy was our top concern. Attorney Gyene explained how a trust keeps everything confidential—unlike a will which becomes public record. LegalZoom couldn't address any of our privacy concerns."
— Richard P., The Oaks
Privacy-Focused Client, November 2024
"Our Mountain View Estates property is worth over $4M. After calculating the $106,000 we'd lose in probate fees, creating a trust for $400 was the easiest financial decision we've ever made."
— Jennifer C., Mountain View Estates
Verified Client, October 2024
"My neighbor's estate went through 22 months of public probate at Stanley Mosk—everyone in The Oaks could see exactly what they owned. I created a trust with Attorney Gyene specifically to avoid that invasion of privacy."
— David L., The Oaks
Privacy-Focused Client, September 2024
Frequently Asked Questions: Calabasas Living Trusts
How much does probate cost for a Calabasas home?
For a median Calabasas home valued at $1.7 million, California statutory probate fees total approximately $60,000. Under CA Probate Code §10810, fees are based on gross market value—not equity. In gated communities like The Oaks or Mountain View Estates where homes exceed $4M, fees climb to $106,000 or more. A living trust bypasses these fees entirely for just $400.
Does a living trust keep my Calabasas estate private?
Yes—this is one of the most important benefits for Calabasas residents. Unlike a will, which becomes public record when filed with Stanley Mosk Courthouse, a living trust remains completely private. No one can look up your assets, property values, beneficiaries, or distribution wishes. For high-profile families in The Oaks or Hidden Hills, this privacy protection is often more valuable than the probate fee savings. Learn about our Certificate of Trust →
Where is the probate court for Calabasas estates?
All Calabasas probate cases are filed at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse at 111 N. Hill St. in Downtown Los Angeles—28 miles from Calabasas. There is no local probate court in the West Valley. The commute via the 101 takes 55-90+ minutes each way, and your family will make this trip multiple times over 18-24 months. A living trust eliminates this entirely.
Serving Calabasas with Discretion
Unlike national websites based in Texas or Delaware, we're a real California law firm. Attorney Rozsa Gyene (Bar #208356) has over 25 years of experience helping affluent families protect their estates—including numerous Calabasas properties where privacy is paramount.
We understand that Calabasas families have unique needs. Whether you're in The Oaks, Mountain View, or Calabasas Park, you get a California attorney who values your privacy as much as you do.
Privacy-Conscious Service:
- Secure online questionnaire
- Documents delivered via encrypted email
- Discreet notary recommendations in Calabasas
- Certificate of Trust protects private details
450 N Brand Blvd, Suite 600, Glendale, CA 91203
California-based | Most work done online with discretion
Also Serving Nearby Exclusive Communities
Calabasas Communities Served
The Oaks • Mountain View Estates • Calabasas Park • Park Granada • Calabasas Hills • Calabasas Highlands • Greater Mulwood • Park Moderne • Hidden Hills Adjacent • and all Calabasas zip codes (91302, 91372)
