San Diego Families: Protect Your Legacy Without Probate Court
Get a complete estate plan that saves your family time, money, and stress
Get a complete estate plan that saves your family time, money, and stress
"We saved over thousands in probate fees and our kids were protected
immediately"
— Sarah M., La Jolla resident
"If you’re looking for professionals who specialize in the probate process, you’re in good hands"
— Adam R.
Without a trust, your family waits over a year to access assets while bills pile up
Probate makes your financial information public for anyone to see
California probate costs 4-7% of your estate value in fees and expenses
Unclear wishes lead to conflicts that tear families apart
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Our proven process creates a customized estate plan that keeps your assets out of probate court and in your family's hands. All without the confusion and being overwhelmed.
California probate can tie up your assets for 12-18 months, costing your family thousands in legal fees during an already difficult time. Our streamlined approach creates a comprehensive trust-based plan that eliminates this burden entirely. We handle all the complex legal details, so your family gets immediate access to their inheritance instead of months of court battles
"I thought estate planning would take months. ArchAngel Trust had everything done in 3 weeks, and I finally have peace of mind."
- David C.
Beyond basic documents, discover how a properly structured trust protects your family from California's costly probate system while preserving your privacy and legacy.
Your home, retirement accounts, and investments transfer immediately to beneficiaries—no court, no delays
Advanced directives ensure your medical wishes are followed if you can't speak for yourself
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Your complete estate plan gives you the confidence that your family is protected, your assets are secure, and your wishes will be followed—no matter what happens.
"After my neighbor spent 18 months in probate, I knew I needed a trust. ArchAngel made it simple and affordable. Now I sleep better knowing my kids are protected."
— Jennifer W.
The foundation that keeps your assets out of probate and transfers them privately to your beneficiaries
Catches any assets accidentally left out of your trust and directs them properly
Allows someone you trust to handle finances if you become incapacitated
Ensures your medical wishes are followed and appoints someone to make health decisions
We help transfer your assets into the trust so it actually protects you
Life changes, and your trust can too. We'll keep everything up to date and accurate throughout any changes.
"Victoria is a joy to work with! She did an excellent job on my trust, very thorough and professional. I highly recommend her!"
— Teresa T.
Our dedicated team simplifies complex estate planning processes, offering personalized guidance
to meet your goals. Whether you’re planning for healthcare decisions, asset distribution, or
special needs care, we provide expert solutions with a focus on clarity and compassion.
Join hundreds of local families who've secured their legacy with ArchAngel Trust
Victoria P. Martin is the founder of ArchAngel Trust and Probate, APC a trusted name in estate and financial planning for over 14 years. A graduate of Abraham Lincoln University School of Law, she is a licensed attorney, a licensed financial advisor, and a proud member of the State Bar of California. With her deep understanding of the inner workings of complex financial matters that intersect estate planning, Victoria provides holistic guidance to ensure her clients’ plans are both legally sound and financially optimized. Her commitment to integrity and sincerity drives ArchAngel’s mission to safeguard your family’s financial security. Raised in a family-owned financial planning business, Victoria gained early insight into the challenges of wealth transfer and asset protection. Her conservative approach ensures that every estate plan, financial strategy, and business succession plan is tailored to meet the unique needs of San Diego families, from La Jolla to Chula Vista.
With a career spanning more than two decades, Chris specializes in helping San Diego families and business owners achieve financial security and peace of mind through comprehensive estate and tax planning. Known for his hands-on approach, Chris takes the time to understand each client’s core objectives, offering strategic solutions that align with their vision for the future. Whether it’s protecting family wealth, minimizing tax burdens, or ensuring a seamless business succession, Chris delivers practical, results-driven plans with care and precision.
Kali Herrick is a skilled legal assistant with four years of dedicated service at our law firm, specializing in estate planning support. As a certified Notary Public, Kali expertly manages document notarization with precision and care. She serves as a trusted client liaison, fostering clear communication between clients and attorneys in trusts, probate and conservatorship matters. Kali also excels in drafting conservatorship applications, ensuring accuracy and compliance to meet clients’ needs. Archangel Trust and Probate, APC. trusts Kali to provide professional, client-focused estate planning service, tailored for each client.
Sheleen has been with ArchAngel for 5 years and keeps our office running smooth. Her attention to detail and organizational skills allow the rest of the team to operate at a high focused level. Sheleen brings a great energy to the office and her co-workers cannot express enough how much they appreciate her contributions. She ensures that everyone at ArchAngel is able to assist our clients with the best services possible.
The newest member to our team, Dani is the first person you will speak to when you call our office and the first person to greet you when you come in. Dani is in charge of the office calendar and schedules appointments for the attorney and associate planners.
Stephen Latham is a dedicated estate planning support staff member and junior planner at ArchAngel Trust and Probate, APC. With a passion for helping clients achieve their estate planning goals, Stephen plays a key role in guiding families through the trust intake process with care and precision. As a licensed notary, he ensures seamless delivery of trust documents and assists with recording property deeds at the county level, providing essential support to ArchAngel Trust and Probate, APC clients. Stephen’s client-focused approach and attention to detail make him an invaluable part of the ArchAngel team, helping families across California secure their legacies with confidence.
Navigate the California probate process with ease. Our experienced attorneys guide families through court proceedings to efficiently settle estates, ensuring a smooth transfer of assets.
We handle legal filings to establish rightful heirs, streamlining the succession process with clarity and precision.
Create a California living trust to manage and distribute your assets during and after your lifetime, often bypassing lengthy probate proceedings for faster, cost-effective results.
Protect loved ones with disabilities through customized special needs trusts, preserving their eligibility for government benefits while securing their financial future.
Establish legal conservatorships to support individuals unable to manage their affairs, ensuring compassionate and compliant care.
Draft a clear, legally sound California will to specify how your assets should be distributed, giving you control over your legacy.
Designate a trusted person to make medical decisions and outline your healthcare wishes with a California advanced healthcare directive for peace of mind.
Appoint someone to manage your financial and legal matters with a durable power of attorney, ensuring your affairs are handled if you become incapacitated.
Living trust attorney fees in San Diego typically range from $2,500-4,500 for a complete estate planning package. This includes your revocable living trust, pour-over wills, power of attorney, healthcare directives, and deed preparation for San Diego County property transfers. Compare this to San Diego probate costs, which average $15,000-50,000 for typical estates
Yes, especially in San Diego where median home values exceed $850,000. California probate fees are based on gross property value - your $850,000 San Diego home would generate $21,000 in statutory probate fees alone, regardless of mortgage. A living trust avoids these fees entirely and transfers your San Diego real estate privately without court involvement.
In California, wills must go through San Diego Superior Court probate, taking 12-18 months and costing 4-8% of estate value. Living trusts avoid California probate completely, transfer San Diego property in weeks not months, remain private (unlike public probate records), and protect you during incapacity. California's high probate fees make living trusts essential for San Diego families.
We prepare a grant deed transferring your San Diego real estate from your name to your trust, then record it with the San Diego County Recorder's Office. Under California Prop 13, this doesn't trigger property tax reassessment. Your mortgage, homeowner's insurance, and property tax exemptions remain unchanged. We handle all San Diego County recording requirements.
Without proper planning, your family must petition San Diego Superior Court for conservatorship - a public, expensive process costing $5,000-10,000. Your living trust includes California-specific incapacity provisions, allowing your chosen successor trustee to immediately manage affairs without court intervention. This protects San Diego families from costly conservatorship proceedings.
While California allows DIY trusts, San Diego County has specific recording requirements, and California trust law is complex. Common mistakes include improper funding of San Diego real estate, missing Prop 13 protections, and failing California-specific trust requirements. Professional estate planning attorneys ensure your trust complies with California law and San Diego County procedures.
Our San Diego living trust process takes 4-6 weeks: Initial consultation (Week 1), document drafting with California-specific provisions (Weeks 2-3), review and signing at our San Diego office or your home (Week 4), and San Diego County property transfer recording (Weeks 5-6). Compare this to 12-18 months for San Diego probate proceedings.