Without planning, the state decides for you. With the right documents, you protect your family.
If you die without a will, the state distributes your assets under its laws — not according to your wishes.
If unconscious, hospitals cannot share medical information even with your spouse without written authorization.
To transfer assets to your trust, banks require a Certification of Trust by law (CA Probate Code §18100.5).
Prepare each document in 15-30 minutes. Sign-ready PDF delivered immediately.
The Pour-Over Will and Certification of Trust require an existing trust. If you don't have one yet, start here.
Create my Living Trust — From $499California is one of the most complex states in the nation for family law and probate. Under Probate Code §10810, probate attorneys charge mandatory statutory fees on the gross value of the estate: 4% on the first $100,000, 3% on the next $100,000, 2% on the next $800,000, and 1% on the next $9 million. For a typical Southern California home valued at $850,000, mandatory probate fees are approximately $20,000 — and that is only the attorney fee, not counting executor fees (which mirror the same schedule) or court costs.
This means a Latino family that leaves an $850,000 home without a Living Trust faces approximately $40,000 in probate costs — more than many families have in liquid savings. The typical probate process in Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties takes 12 to 24 months, during which heirs cannot sell the property or access the deceased's bank accounts. To avoid this scenario, California offers three primary tools: the Living Trust (Probate Code §§15200 et seq.), the Spousal Property Petition for surviving spouses, and the Small Estate Affidavit (Probate Code §13100) for estates under $184,500.
For parents with children under 18, family planning is even more urgent. Without a Will designating a guardian, the decision about who raises your children rests with a Probate Court judge. Under Probate Code §1500, parents can designate a guardian in writing, and while the judge is not bound to accept that designation, it carries strong weight. This alone justifies preparing a Will, regardless of estate value.
The most common question we receive is: "Do I need a Will, a Living Trust, a Power of Attorney, or all of them?" The answer depends on your specific situation. If you are single or married without children and without major assets (no house, no large accounts), a Simple Will ($99) and a Durable Power of Attorney ($149) are sufficient. If you have minor children, add a Guardianship Designation ($149) to name who raises them — this is the most critical document for young parents.
If you own a California home or have assets over $184,500, you need a Living Trust ($599) to avoid probate. The Standard package includes the Trust Agreement, Pour-Over Will, Certification of Trust, and general assignment of personal property. For married couples with higher-value properties or complex structures, we recommend the Pro package ($1,599) which includes a 30-minute consultation with a Mar Vista Law attorney — ideal for specific questions on A-B Trusts, tax planning, or asset protection.
If you have aging parents, consider helping them prepare a Durable Power of Attorney, HIPAA Authorization, and Advance Health Care Directive. These three documents together cost under $250 and prevent the family from having to go through a judicial conservatorship process (which costs $5,000-$15,000 in fees and takes 4-6 months) when parents can no longer make decisions for themselves.
Case 1 — Maria, single mother in Inglewood: Maria is 34, has a 7-year-old son, and works as a medical administrator. She does not own a home but has $40,000 in savings and an $80,000 401(k). Solution: Simple Will ($99) + Guardianship Designation ($149) naming her sister in Pomona + Durable Power of Attorney ($149) + HIPAA Authorization ($49). Total: $446. Time: 90 minutes.
Case 2 — The Hernandez family in Boyle Heights: Married, two teenage children, owners of a home valued at $720,000 with no mortgage, $150,000 in retirement. Solution: Living Trust Standard ($599) which includes Pour-Over Will, Certification of Trust, Guardianship Designation for the children. Also: Quitclaim Deed ($149) to transfer the home into the Trust, or our Boots on the Ground service ($249) that includes recording at the Los Angeles County Recorder. Total: $748-$998. Without a Trust, this family would face approximately $30,000 in probate costs when one spouse passes.
Case 3 — Don José, grandfather in Pico Rivera: 78 years old, widower, owns a $550,000 home, two adult children and five grandchildren. He begins to have memory problems. Urgent solution: Living Trust Pro ($1,599) with attorney consultation to review the family structure, + Durable Power of Attorney signed NOW while he still has legal capacity, + HIPAA Authorization. If Don José had waited six more months to prepare the Trust, he might not have the legal capacity to sign it, and the family would have to petition for judicial conservatorship to manage his assets.
Step 1 — Document selection. Visit the page for the specific document you need and review eligibility and pricing. Each document has a "Who needs this?" section that helps you confirm it is the right document for your situation.
Step 2 — Complete the online questionnaire. Each wizard asks for the required data: full names, dates of birth, addresses, specific designations. The system automatically validates that the information is complete before advancing. Typical time: 15-30 minutes per document.
Step 3 — Secure payment via Stripe. We accept credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Every transaction is protected with bank-level encryption. Your personal information is never sold or shared.
Step 4 — Bilingual PDF generation. The system produces a professional PDF with content in both English and Spanish, ready to print. The PDF is delivered immediately via email and stored in your Premium Vault (optional, $4.99/month or $49/year).
Step 5 — Signing and notarization. Most documents require signature before a notary public. In California, notaries charge a maximum of $15 per signature (regulated by Government Code §8211). Call your local Wells Fargo, Chase, or Bank of America — most have free notaries for customers. Or use UPS Store, FedEx Office, or a Mobile Notary who comes to your home for an additional $25-$50.
Step 6 — Recording or filing (only for Trusts with real estate or Quitclaim Deeds). If the document involves transferring property into a Trust or changing title, the document must be recorded at the County Recorder where the property is located. Cost: $20-$25 plus transfer taxes (exempt for transfers into your own Trust, between parents-children, and between spouses). Our Boots on the Ground service ($249) handles all of this for you in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.
Yes — a Pour-Over Will. It works as a safety net: any asset you did not formally transfer into the Trust before you pass away is automatically "poured" into the Trust. Without the Pour-Over Will, those forgotten assets go through probate. The Pour-Over Will is included at no additional cost in our Living Trust Standard package ($599).
Yes. A revocable Living Trust can be modified, add or remove beneficiaries, or canceled entirely at any time while you are alive and mentally competent. For minor changes use a Trust Amendment; for major changes, prepare a complete Restated Trust. Mar Vista Law can advise on which option fits your case.
Only if the account is held jointly with "joint tenancy with right of survivorship" (JTWROS). If the account is only in your name, your spouse must go through probate (or use a Small Estate Affidavit if the total is under $184,500) to access it. We recommend adding your spouse as joint tenant or transferring accounts into the Living Trust.
No. California allows anyone to prepare their own legal documents under the principle of legal self-help. Multi Servicios 360 is a self-help technology platform — you prepare your own document using our validated templates and bilingual guidance. For complex situations (large estates, blended families, businesses) we recommend an attorney consultation via our Pro package or Mar Vista Law.
Yes. Our platform uses TLS 1.3 encryption (the same standard as banks), storage on Supabase infrastructure with geographic redundancy, and PCI-DSS Level 1 certified Stripe payment processing. Your personal data is protected by California privacy law (CCPA) and is never sold to third parties.
Indefinitely, until you revoke or modify it. However, we recommend reviewing all documents every 3-5 years, after a major life change (marriage, divorce, birth of a child, death of a designated agent), or if California law changes significantly.
The documents are designed specifically for California. Most are valid in other states under principles of comity (interstate recognition), but exact rules vary. If you plan to move permanently, we recommend reviewing (not necessarily redoing) your documents with an attorney in the new state.
Get started today in 15 minutes. No appointment. No waiting.