Protect your family, your assets, and your legacy with a living trust designed by experienced San Francisco attorneys who understand California law inside and out.
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Von Rock Law, PC is a San Francisco estate planning firm that helps individuals, families, and business owners create living trusts tailored to their specific needs. Led by Managing Attorney Deidre Von Rock, a 2024 and 2025 Super Lawyer with 28+ years of experience, our team has built a reputation for transparent pricing, personalized service, and thorough legal protection. Whether you own a home in the Sunset District, run a business in SoMa, or manage rental properties across the Bay Area, we can help you keep your estate out of probate court and in the hands of the people you care about most.
A living trust is a legal document that places your assets, including real estate, bank accounts, and investments, into a trust during your lifetime. You maintain full control as the trustee while you are alive, and when you pass away, a successor trustee you have chosen distributes those assets to your beneficiaries according to your instructions. Unlike a will, a living trust avoids the California probate process entirely, which can take 12 to 18 months and cost thousands of dollars in court fees.
In California, probate applies to any estate valued over $184,500. With the median San Francisco home valued above $1.4 million, the vast majority of homeowners in the city need a living trust to protect their families from a lengthy and expensive court process.
| Feature | Revocable Living Trust | Irrevocable Living Trust |
|---|---|---|
| Can You Make Changes? | Yes, anytime during your lifetime | No, changes require beneficiary consent |
| Probate Avoidance | Yes | Yes |
| Asset Protection from Creditors | No | Yes |
| Estate Tax Benefits | Limited | Yes, assets removed from taxable estate |
| Best For | Most families and individuals | High-net-worth estates, Medi-Cal planning |
Bottom line: Most San Francisco residents benefit from a revocable living trust because it offers probate avoidance and flexibility. Our attorneys will evaluate your situation and recommend the right structure for your goals.
California probate is one of the most expensive in the country. Here is why a living trust makes sense for San Francisco property owners and families:
Our estate planning attorneys can walk you through the living trust process in a free consultation. We will review your assets, discuss your goals, and recommend the right plan for your family.
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Our San Francisco living trust attorneys handle every step of the trust creation process, from the initial consultation to funding your trust with the right assets. Every engagement includes:
For families with more complex needs, including special needs trusts, charitable trusts, life insurance trusts, or business succession planning.
Ongoing support that includes five free maintenance hours annually, trust amendments, and priority scheduling for your family.
Creating a living trust with Von Rock Law follows a simple three-step process:
Most clients complete the entire process within two to three weeks.
If any of the following apply to you, a living trust is likely the right choice:
With the average San Francisco home price well above $1 million, most homeowners in the city exceed the probate threshold by a significant margin.
At Von Rock Law, a custom living trust is $6,000 as a flat fee. This includes the trust document, pour-over will, power of attorney, health care directive, HIPAA authorization, and transfer of one California property into the trust. More complex estates requiring special needs trusts or business succession planning start at $7,500.
A will alone does not avoid probate in California. Any estate with assets exceeding $184,500 must go through the probate process if there is only a will. A living trust transfers assets outside of probate, saving your family time, money, and the stress of court proceedings.
Yes. A revocable living trust can be amended or revoked at any time during your lifetime. If your circumstances change, such as a new child, a divorce, or the purchase of new property, your attorney can update the trust to reflect those changes.
Without a living trust, your estate goes through California probate. This process typically takes 12 to 18 months and costs approximately 4% to 7% of the estate value in statutory fees. For a $1.5 million estate, that can mean $36,000 or more in combined attorney and executor fees.
Most clients complete the living trust process with Von Rock Law in two to three weeks. This includes the initial consultation, document drafting and review, signing, and trust funding (transferring assets into the trust).
No. A living trust manages and distributes your assets according to your instructions. A power of attorney gives someone the legal authority to make financial or medical decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. Both are important estate planning documents, and our custom estate plan includes both.
Do not leave your family’s future to chance. A living trust gives you control over your assets now and ensures a smooth transfer to your loved ones later. Our San Francisco living trust attorneys are ready to help.
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Von Rock Law, PC serves clients throughout San Francisco, the Bay Area, and California.