Amendments and restatements for life changes
Attorney-reviewed by Rozsa Gyene | CA State Bar #208356
Attorney-reviewed. California-specific. Properly formatted.
Request Your UpdateLife changes. Your living trust should change with it. Whether you've gotten married, divorced, had children, bought property, or simply want to change your beneficiaries, we can help you update your trust quickly and affordably.
Your living trust should be reviewed and potentially updated when:
Your new spouse likely needs to be added as beneficiary and possibly co-trustee. For blended families, you may need special provisions to protect both your spouse and children from prior relationships.
Remove your ex-spouse as beneficiary, trustee, and agent. California doesn't automatically revoke these designations after divorce. If you don't update, your ex could inherit or control your assets.
If a named beneficiary or successor trustee has passed away, update your trust to name alternates. Otherwise, the court may decide who receives assets or manages your trust.
Add your new child as a beneficiary. You may also want to update guardian designations and consider provisions for when children should receive their inheritance.
New property should be transferred into your trust. If you've sold property, update the trust schedule. Property outside your trust goes through probate.
Want to add or remove beneficiaries? Change distribution percentages? Leave specific items to specific people? All require a trust amendment.
Need a new successor trustee? Your original choice is no longer appropriate? Update your trust to name someone you currently trust.
Even without major life changes, trusts should be reviewed every 5 years. Laws change. Your wishes may have evolved. A review ensures your trust still does what you want.
A trust amendment changes specific provisions of your trust while keeping the rest intact. The amendment is attached to your original trust and both documents are read together.
Best for:
A complete restatement replaces your entire trust document with a new version. Importantly, it maintains the same trust (so you don't need to retransfer assets), but provides a clean, updated document.
Best for:
When you contact us for an update, we'll review your situation and recommend whether an amendment or restatement is more appropriate. The cost is the same either way: $150.
| Provider | Amendment Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Living Trust California | $150 | Attorney-reviewed, one-time fee |
| Traditional Attorney | $500-$1,500+ | Hourly billing |
| LegalZoom | $199/year | Subscription required for updates |
| Trust & Will | $19/month | $228/year subscription |
Unlike subscription services, our $150 fee is a one-time cost for each update. No annual fees. No ongoing subscriptions. You only pay when you actually need changes.
Reach out via our contact form or call (818) 291-6217. Tell us what changes you need and provide a copy of your current trust.
Attorney Rozsa Gyene reviews your current trust and prepares the appropriate amendment or restatement. We ensure all changes are properly drafted under California law.
We send you the draft document for review. Once approved, you pay the $150 fee and receive your final documents.
Sign your amendment or restatement in front of a notary. We provide instructions. If property changes are involved, we prepare new deeds.
Sometimes updating isn't enough. You may need an entirely new trust if:
In these cases, we recommend our full California Living Trust Package ($400-$500) rather than an amendment.
An outdated trust can cause significant problems. If your ex-spouse is still named as beneficiary, they could inherit everything. If your successor trustee has passed away, your family may face court proceedings. Update your trust while you're able to make changes.
Technically yes, but we don't recommend it. Improperly drafted amendments can invalidate your trust or create unintended consequences. The $150 cost of professional preparation is worth the peace of mind.
If you have a joint trust, both spouses must sign amendments. If you have separate trusts, only the grantor of that trust signs.
Usually no. If your property is already in the trust's name, an amendment doesn't require re-recording. However, if you're adding new property, you'll need a new deed for that property.
We typically prepare amendments within 3-5 business days. Complex restatements may take 5-7 days. Rush service is available if needed.
Only if you're changing trustees. Banks and financial institutions should be notified if the person managing the trust changes. Beneficiary changes don't require notification during your lifetime.
Don't let an outdated trust cause problems for your family. Get your amendment or restatement for just $150.
Request Your UpdateQuestions? Call (818) 291-6217
If you don't have a living trust and need to create one, check out our full California living trust package.
Create a new living trust for $400 →