Estate Planning Attorneys - Serving Ventura, CA
Are you concerned about protecting your assets, minimizing estate taxes, or ensuring your loved ones are cared for after you’re gone?
We do what’s best for you, not us. Every estate plan is tailored to your family’s unique circumstances, goals, and values. Our staff will take the time to understand your estate planning needs and explain complex legal concepts in plain language.
At Staker|Johnson, we’ve helped Thousands of Ventura County, California families create comprehensive estate plans that provide peace of mind and preserve wealth for future generations.
Proven Track Record
- With decades of combined experience, we've helped our clients protect tens of millions in assets and avoid costly probate delays.
- Estate Planning
- Living Trusts
- Charitable Trusts
- Special Needs Trusts
- Family Partnerships
- Insurance Trusts
- Conservatorships
- Probate Avoidance
Ventura Estate Planning Services To Protect Your Legacy
We understand the unique estate planning needs of Ventura County, CA homeowners, business owners — from agricultural farms & ranch estates near Camarillo, Port Hueneme, Oxnard, Moorpark, Fillmore and Santa Paula, to beachfront properties in Ventura, Santa Barbara & Malibu.
Our attorneys are specialized in California estate tax law, court procedures, and estate planning best practices.
Starting with the foundation of a living trust, we also help California residents with family partnerships, charitable trusts, special needs trusts, insurance trusts, as well as California specific estate planning services for high net worth individuals.
Our California Estate Planning Law Firm Offers Comprehensive Services Tailored to Ventura Residents
Common Estate Planning Concerns We Help Solve:
“Will my family face a large estate tax bill?” We implement strategic tax planning techniques that can significantly reduce or eliminate estate taxes, preserving more wealth for your heirs.
“How can I avoid probate for my family?” Through properly structured living trusts and other strategies, we help families bypass the expensive, time-consuming probate process entirely.
“What happens if I become incapacitated?” We ensure you have the right healthcare directives and powers of attorney in place so your wishes are honored and your loved ones can act on your behalf.
“Will my children from a previous marriage be protected?” We create estate plans that honor your wishes for blended families, ensuring all beneficiaries are treated according to your intentions
Navigating the estate planning process in California can be overwhelming, we’re here to simplify it.
Proactive Estate Planning Services
Estate planning can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re not familiar with the tax and legal advantages of planning ahead in California.
At Staker|Johnson Law, our mission is to be your trusted estate planning professionals. Our experienced team simplifies the process, protects your family’s interests, and ensures your wishes are honored every step of the way. Whether your estate plan involves a simple list of assets or a complex distribution strategy, we provide clear guidance and tailored legal solutions to fit your needs.
As Ventura County’s established estate and tax planning law firm serving families since 1985, we offer comprehensive and personalized services backed by decades of experience. Every estate plan is customized.
We take the time to understand your goals, values, and family dynamics, and we explain your options in plain, straightforward language so you can make informed decisions with confidence and peace of mind.
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Living Trusts As The Foundation
Estate planning is not just for the ultra-wealthy in California. If you own a home, you should have a living trust.
A living trust is the foundation of most estate plans, allowing you to maintain control of your assets during your lifetime while avoiding probate at upon passing.
We create revocable living trusts that:
- Protect your privacy (unlike wills, trusts don’t become public record)
- Provide for seamless asset management if you become incapacitated
- Ensure your assets transfer quickly to beneficiaries without court involvement
- Can be modified as your circumstances change
Ideal for: Homeowners, families with minor children, anyone seeking probate avoidance
Estate Tax Planning: For high net-worth individuals and families, proper tax planning can save hundreds of thousands in federal and state taxes.
Our strategies include:
- Family limited partnerships and LLCs
- Insurance trusts
- Charitable remainder trusts
- Annual gifting strategies
- Generation-skipping transfer tax planning
Ideal for: Estates valued over $13 million, business owners, real estate investor
Estate planning attorneys like our firm serve to ensure that your legal position aligns with your specific estate planning goals and circumstances.
Without an estate plan or living trust, your assets may be distributed according to California’s laws, potentially contradicting your wishes and burdening your loved ones with legal complications.
The Estate tax planning process in Ventura, CA can be straight forward with a trusted legal aid.
At Staker|Johnson, our California estate planning law office based in beautiful Ventura County, CA has been helping families throughout the state secure their legacies for over 35 years.
In California, probate typically takes 12-18 months and costs 4-7% of your estate value. For a $1 million estate, that’s $40,000-$70,000 in fees. A properly funded living trust eliminates this entirely. Living trusts are the foundation to estate planning.
It is our privilege to help our clients navigate the estate tax planning world. We help secure the future of your estate to without leaving it up to chance. Our office, conveniently located in Ventura County, CA is ready to help you protect your assets.
Our Estate Planning Process
Step 1: Free Initial Consultation
We meet with you to understand your family situation, assets, goals, and concerns. This relaxed conversation helps us determine which estate planning tools are right for you.
Step 2: Comprehensive Analysis
We review your:
- Current estate plan (if any)
- Potential estate tax liability
- Asset ownership and titling
- Beneficiary designations
- Business interests
- Family dynamics and goals
Step 3: Customized Strategy Development
Based on our analysis, we outline specific strategies to:
- Minimize taxes and maximize wealth transfer
- Protect assets from creditors and lawsuits
- Provide for minor children or special needs beneficiaries
- Address blended family considerations
- Preserve your legacy and values
Step 4: Document Preparation
We draft all necessary legal documents with precision and attention to detail, including:
- Trusts and trust amendments
- Wills and codicils
- Powers of attorney
- Healthcare directives
- Business succession documents
Step 5: Signing and Implementation
We coordinate the signing of your documents with proper witnesses and notarization, then guide you through:
- Trust funding (transferring assets into your trust)
- Beneficiary designation updates
- Asset retitling
- Document distribution and storage
Step 6: Signing and Implementation
We coordinate the signing of your documents with proper witnesses and notarization, then guide you through:
- Trust funding (transferring assets into your trust)
- Beneficiary designation updates
- Asset retitling where applicable
- Document distribution and safe storage
California Estate Planning Made Simple
A skilled estate attorney can simplify the tax planning process for your family. Contact our office for a consultation with one of our experienced Ventura estate planning attorneys. Hablamos Español. It is our privelege to help you create an estate plan that protects your assets and provides for your loved ones.
Our process includes:
- Comprehensive initial consultation to understand your unique situation
- Clear, fixed-fee pricing with no hidden costs
- Professional document preparation using California-specific language and provisions
- Detailed trust funding assistance to ensure your plan actually works
- Ongoing support for questions and plan updates
- Coordination with your other professional advisors as necessary
Estate Planning FAQs: California Living Trusts & Wills
Can I change my mind after creating a living trust?
Absolutely. A revocable living trust can be modified or completely revoked any time while you’re alive and mentally competent. You can add or remove assets, change beneficiaries, update distribution instructions, or even dissolve the entire trust if your situation changes.
What happens to my digital assets?
California law now requires specific authorization language in estate planning documents to give your trustees/executors access to digital assets like social media accounts, cloud storage, cryptocurrency, and online financial accounts. Without proper language, your family might not be able to access or manage these assets.
How does divorce affect my estate planning?
California law automatically revokes gifts to ex-spouses in wills and trusts upon divorce, but you should still update your documents promptly. You’ll also need to update beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance, and consider whether you need separate trusts if you previously had a joint trust.
What if I move out of California?
A properly drafted California trust will work in other states, but you should have it reviewed by an attorney in your new state. Different states have different laws about trust administration, income taxes, and estate planning requirements that might affect your plan.
Can I put my house in a trust if I still have a mortgage?
Yes, most mortgage lenders allow you to transfer your residence to a revocable living trust without triggering the due-on-sale clause. You should notify your mortgage company and insurance company of the change, but it typically doesn’t affect your loan terms.
What happens if I become incapacitated?
With a trust-based plan, your successor trustee can step in immediately when your doctor certifies you can’t manage your affairs. With only a will-based plan, your family has to go to court for a conservatorship proceeding, which is expensive, public, and involves ongoing court supervision.
How do I choose a successor trustee?
Look for someone who is trustworthy, financially responsible, and willing to serve. They don’t need to live in California, but they should understand the responsibility involved. Many people choose adult children, close friends, or professional trustees depending on their situation.
What's the difference between a trust and a will for tax purposes?
For most people, there’s no difference. A revocable living trust doesn’t provide any tax advantages during your lifetime – you still report all income and pay all taxes personally. After death, both trusts and wills are subject to the same estate tax rules.
How much does probate really cost in California?
California sets attorney fees by statute as a percentage of the gross estate value. For an $800,000 estate, statutory attorney fees alone are $20,000, plus court costs, appraisal fees, and other expenses. Total costs typically run $25,000-35,000 plus 12-18 months of court supervision.
Do I still need a will if I have a living trust?
Yes, you need what’s called a “pour-over will.” It names guardians for minor children (which trusts can’t do), handles any assets you forgot to put in the trust, and provides backup instructions if something goes wrong with the trust.
What's the biggest difference between a living trust and will in California?
A will requires probate court supervision, while a living trust allows your family to distribute assets privately. For a $800,000 home, this means your family either pays $20,000+ in probate costs and waits 12-18 months, or handles everything privately within weeks.
Do I need a living trust if I only own a small home?
If your home’s value exceeds $208,850. California’s probate fees are based on gross asset value, not equity. Even a modest $500,000 home could trigger $13,000 in statutory attorney fees alone.
Bring Peace of Mind to You and Your Loved Ones
Staker Johnson Law Corporation is a tax and estate planning attorney firm providing services for living trusts, probate and trust administration.
Living Trusts
A living trust is a legal document that replaces what you think of as your will. The living trust makes sure your assets go to the people you choose.
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Conservatorships
The conservatorship of the estate gives the conservator the right to manage the financial affairs of the conservatee.
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Tax Planning
Estate planning & strategic advisory for high net worth individuals seeking to minimize estate taxes. Family partnerships & more.
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Business Formation
Experienced in forming all business entities. Limited liability companies, corporations, and limited partnerships.
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Our firm is proudly based in Camarillo, CA
We serve clients throughout California. Our law office is conveniently located in Ventura County. We are local to residents in Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Moorpark, Camarillo, Fillmore, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, and Santa Paula.
Valued Client Reviews on Google
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We have interviewed several estate planning firms in the area and decided to work with Kevin Staker as he was able to share insightful details about fiscal matters. Kevin adds value... read more
Vincent
November 6, 2025 -
Wonder attorney and staff!
Dean
July 16, 2024 -
Sharon
July 16, 2024 -
Terry
July 16, 2024 - Terry
October 22, 2023 -
Wonder attorney and staff!
Dean
August 28, 2023 - Sharon
August 11, 2023 -
Mr Staker did a wonderful job doing a restatement of our trust. He explained everything well. He also has a lot of great stories!
Theresa
July 16, 2023 -
Mr Staker did a wonderful job doing a restatement of our trust. He explained everything well. He also has a lot of great stories!
Theresa
December 19, 2022 -
Experienced trust & estate attorney in Ventura County, we are so grateful for their help.
Salar
July 16, 2022
Estate Planning Services We Offer
Insurance Trusts
A life insurance trust has three components. First, you are the grantor and create the trust.
Family Partnerships
A “Family Partnership” is an entity you set up to maximize the wealth you pass on to your heirs.
Charitable Trusts
A Charitable Remainder Trust, or “CRT”, is a trust you set up to transfer an asset or assets.
