Why Encino Estate Planning Requires Local Expertise
Encino isn't just another Valley neighborhood. It's the "Gold Coast"—where median home prices exceed $1.6 million and many estates are worth $3-10M+. When you use LegalZoom or Trust & Will, you get a template designed for a $300,000 home in Ohio, reviewed by an attorney who has never heard of Amestoy Estates, doesn't understand California community property, and has no idea your probate case goes to Downtown LA.
High-Value Real Estate
From Amestoy Estates mansions to Royal Oaks gated communities, Encino properties require sophisticated trust planning. A $2.5M estate means $76,000 in probate fees—we help you avoid every dollar.
Business Owner Focus
Encino is home to entrepreneurs, practice owners, and executives. Our trusts handle LLC interests, S-corp stock, professional practices, and real estate in one coordinated plan.
The 101 Commute Problem
Your family will drive 45+ minutes each way to Stanley Mosk Courthouse in DTLA—multiple times over 18-24 months. There's no Valley probate court. A trust eliminates this entirely.
Estate Planning for Encino Business Owners
Encino's Ventura Blvd corridor is home to hundreds of business owners. Your estate plan must address more than just your house.
What National Websites Miss
LegalZoom asks about your house. Trust & Will asks about your bank accounts. Neither asks about your business.
If you own an LLC, professional practice, or S-corporation, these assets need to be:
- Properly titled in the trust (or excluded with reason)
- Coordinated with your operating agreement
- Structured to avoid triggering buy-sell provisions
- Aligned with your succession plan
A generic template can accidentally trigger a forced sale of your business or create conflicts with your partners.
Our Business Owner Trust Includes
- LLC membership interest provisions
- S-corp stock transfer language
- Professional practice considerations (medical, legal, dental)
- Commercial real estate holdings
- Business succession coordination
- Buy-sell agreement review notes
Common in Encino: Medical practices on Ventura Blvd, real estate investment LLCs, entertainment production companies, and professional service firms.
Encino Neighborhoods: What Your Estate Plan Must Address
Each Encino neighborhood has distinct characteristics affecting estate planning. Here's our local expertise at work:
Premium Estates
Amestoy Estates ($2.5M - $8M+)
The crown jewel of Encino. Gated estates on 1+ acre lots with celebrity neighbors. Probate fees of $76,000-$150,000+ are standard. Many families need dynasty trust provisions.
Royal Oaks ($2M - $5M)
Guard-gated community with custom homes. Residents are often entertainment executives and business owners with complex portfolios beyond just real estate.
Encino Hills ($1.8M - $4M)
Hillside properties with canyon views. Many long-term owners with extremely low Prop 13 bases—Prop 19 planning is critical to preserve tax benefits.
Family Neighborhoods
Encino Village ($1.4M - $2.2M)
Family-friendly area near Ventura Blvd. Many dual-income professional families with 401(k)s, stock options, and primary residence to coordinate.
Lake Encino ($1.2M - $2M)
Charming neighborhood near the reservoir. First-time trust creators often live here—young families establishing guardianship for minor children.
Encino Meadows ($1.3M - $1.8M)
Tree-lined streets near Balboa Park. Popular with medical professionals from nearby Encino Hospital who need professional practice provisions.
South of Ventura ($1.1M - $1.6M)
More affordable entry to Encino. Many residents own rental properties elsewhere in the Valley that need to be included in their trust.
Protecting Encino's finest estates—from Amestoy to the Village
The "Valley Gold Coast Probate Tax": What Encino Families Lose
Statutory fees under CA Probate Code §10810. These are mandatory—there's no negotiating with the court.
Important: These fees are calculated on gross estate value. If you own your $1.6M Encino home plus a $400K rental in Sherman Oaks, probate fees are based on $2M—that's $66,000 in fees.
Stanley Mosk Courthouse: 111 N. Hill St., DTLA
45+ minutes from Encino via the 101
The 45-Minute Commute Your Family Will Make for 2 Years
Many Encino residents assume their estate will be handled at the Van Nuys courthouse—it's right there in the Valley. Wrong. Van Nuys handles criminal and family law. Every single probate case goes to Downtown LA.
The Encino-to-DTLA Probate Commute:
- 17 miles from Ventura Blvd to 111 N. Hill St.
- 45-90 minutes each way depending on traffic
- $20-30 parking per visit in DTLA
- Multiple hearings over 18-24 months
- Time off work for your executor/family members
We've had Encino families spend more time driving to probate hearings than it takes to create a trust. Your 30-minute investment today saves your family dozens of stressful trips later.
A living trust means everything is handled privately—at an Encino bank, your attorney's office, or your kitchen table. No courthouse. No commute. No judge.
Prop 19 Alert for Encino Long-Term Homeowners
If you've owned your Encino home since the 1980s or 1990s, you likely have an incredibly low Prop 13 tax base. Proposition 19 threatens to destroy this generational advantage when you pass your home to children.
Without Planning
Your $4,000/year tax bill becomes $20,000+/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.
Encino Example: An Encino Hills home purchased in 1985 for $285,000 is now worth $2.4M. Current taxes: $4,200/year. Without proper planning, heirs who don't move in will pay $28,800/year—an extra $24,600 annually, forever.
How to Create Your Encino Living Trust
Complete Questionnaire
Answer questions about your Encino property, business interests, and beneficiaries
⏱️ 15 minutes
Attorney Review
Attorney Rozsa Gyene (Bar #208356) reviews for high-value and business asset provisions
📋 Same week
Sign Locally
Visit our Glendale office (20 min via 134) or any notary on Ventura Blvd
✍️ Your choice
Fund Your Trust
Transfer your home via Grant Deed + business asset guidance included
🏠 Protected!
What Encino Families Say
★★★★★ 4.9/5 average from 127 reviews
"We own a home in Amestoy Estates worth over $2M. Attorney Gyene understood Valley real estate values and created a trust that properly addresses Prop 19 for our children. LegalZoom's generic forms couldn't handle our situation."
— Steven B., Amestoy Estates
Verified Client, November 2024
"As a business owner with both real estate and company assets, I needed a trust that went beyond just my Encino house. Attorney Gyene included provisions for my LLC interest and handled everything professionally. Office is just 20 minutes away via the 134."
— Rachel D., Encino Village
Business Owner, October 2024
"My parents' Encino Hills home went through 19 months of probate at Stanley Mosk. The fees were $54,000. I created my own trust with Attorney Gyene for $400 to protect my kids from that nightmare. Best decision I ever made."
— Mark T., Encino Hills
Verified Client, September 2024
Frequently Asked Questions: Encino Living Trusts
How much does probate cost for an Encino home?
For a median Encino home valued at $1.6 million, California statutory probate fees total approximately $58,000. Under CA Probate Code §10810, fees are based on gross market value—not equity. In premium areas like Amestoy Estates or Royal Oaks where homes exceed $2.5M, fees climb to $76,000 or more. A living trust bypasses these fees entirely for just $400.
Can a living trust hold my Encino business interests and real estate together?
Yes. Many Encino residents own both valuable real estate and business interests (LLCs, S-corps, professional practices). A properly drafted California living trust can hold your Encino home, rental properties, LLC membership interests, and investment accounts in one coordinated plan. Our attorney-reviewed trusts include specific provisions for business owners common in the Valley Gold Coast. Learn about funding your trust with business assets →
Where is the probate court for Encino estates?
All Encino probate cases are filed at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse at 111 N. Hill St. in Downtown Los Angeles. There is no Valley probate court—not in Van Nuys, not in Encino. The commute from Encino via the 101 to DTLA takes 45+ minutes each way, and your family will make this trip multiple times over the 18-24 month probate process. A living trust eliminates this entirely.
20 Minutes from Ventura Blvd via the 134
Unlike national websites based in Texas or Delaware, we're your local California law firm. Attorney Rozsa Gyene (Bar #208356) has over 25 years of experience helping Valley families protect their estates—including dozens of Encino business owners and high-net-worth families.
Our Glendale office is an easy 20-minute drive from Encino via the 134 freeway, or we can handle everything online. Either way, you get a real California attorney who understands Valley real estate values—not an out-of-state document processor.
450 N Brand Blvd, Suite 600, Glendale, CA 91203
20 minutes from Encino via the 134
Also Serving Nearby Valley Communities
Encino Neighborhoods Served
Amestoy Estates • Royal Oaks • Encino Hills • Encino Village • Lake Encino • Encino Meadows • Balboa Highlands • Lindley Park • Encino Terrace • White Oak • and all Encino zip codes (91316, 91416, 91436)
