Fremont Living Trust: Bypass the $56,000 "Berkeley Courthouse Probate Seizure"

⚠️ CRITICAL: Fremont Probate Goes to BERKELEY - Not Local

While Fremont has a Hall of Justice on Paseo Padre Parkway, all Alameda County probate cases are heard at:

Berkeley Courthouse, 2120 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley, CA 94704

This means your heirs face a 30-mile commute from Mission San Jose or Warm Springs - multiple times during an 18-24 month probate. An attorney-reviewed living trust is the ONLY way to bypass the Berkeley courthouse entirely.

Asset Protection for Fremont's Tech & Innovation Leaders

Fremont is the manufacturing heart of Silicon Valley, home to the Tesla Factory and major hubs for Western Digital, Lam Research, and Meta. For professionals in Mission San Jose (94539) or Ardenwood (94555), a generic 50-state "online will" is a systemic risk. Your estate likely includes complex RSUs, ISOs, and tech equity that national templates cannot protect.

With median home prices at $1.52M city-wide and Mission San Jose estates averaging $2.5M+, Fremont homeowners face $56,000-$76,000+ in mandatory probate fees under CA Probate Code §10810. The combination of extreme property values and complex tech compensation creates probate exposure that demands professional planning.

A living trust costing $400-$500 completely bypasses the Berkeley courthouse, saves $56,000+ in statutory fees, ensures your RSUs vest properly, and transfers assets immediately to your beneficiaries - no 24-month wait, no 30-mile Berkeley commute.

🏡 Bypass the Berkeley Courthouse Entirely

In Alameda County, probate on a $1.52M home costs approximately $56,000 in attorney and executor fees alone, plus 18-24 months of delays at the Berkeley Courthouse - a 30-mile commute from Fremont. A living trust avoids probate entirely - no Berkeley trips, no 24-month wait, immediate transfer to your beneficiaries.

💻 Tech RSU & Stock Option Protection

With thousands of residents receiving RSUs from Tesla, Lam Research, Western Digital, and Meta, Fremont requires high-tech asset protection. A living trust ensures your tech equity is managed by your chosen successor trustee, not frozen by a court order at Berkeley Courthouse during a 24-month probate - potentially missing critical vesting dates.

⚖️ Licensed California Attorney

Attorney Rozsa Gyene (State Bar #208356) has been helping Fremont and Alameda County families with estate planning since 2001. Over 25 years of experience means your documents are prepared correctly the first time, complying with all California legal requirements including complex RSU and tech equity provisions.

🛡️ The 2026 "Prop 19" Reassessment Shield

In 2026, the Proposition 19 inflation-adjusted exclusion stands at $1,044,586. In Fremont, where almost every single-family home exceeds this threshold, inherited properties will be reassessed to full market value unless the child moves in as a primary resident within one year. On a $1.5M home, this could mean an annual property tax jump from $5,000 to over $18,000. Our attorney-led trust strategy maximizes your parent-child exclusions.

As a Fremont homeowner, I was worried about my family going through probate at Fremont Hall of Justice. Attorney Gyene made the process simple and now my home will transfer directly to my kids without court involvement.

— Fremont Homeowner, 2024