Estate Planning Attorneys in San Luis Obispo

Clark Allison LLP's San Luis Obispo office is located at 1150 Osos Street, Suite 205, in downtown San Luis Obispo. We serve families throughout San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, Arroyo Grande, Morro Bay, Atascadero, and the Central Coast with estate planning and trust administration.

Estate planning is all we do. Our San Luis Obispo attorneys Kate Kittinger and Clark Allison focus exclusively on living trusts, wills, powers of attorney, health care directives, and trust administration. We don't do general practice. We do one thing well.

Why Central Coast Families Need a Living Trust

Property values on the Central Coast have increased substantially over the past decade. San Luis Obispo County home prices regularly exceed $1,000,000, which means California probate, if you don't have a living trust, is an expensive and avoidable problem.

California probate fees are set by statute as a percentage of your estate's gross value - not the equity you have in the property. If your SLO home is worth $1,000,000 with a $500,000 mortgage, the statutory fees are still calculated on the full $1,000,000. The combined attorney and executor fees on that estate exceed $46,000. The process takes 12 to 18 months and becomes part of the public record.

A revocable living trust avoids all of this. Your family receives your assets directly, without court involvement, quickly, and in private. For Central Coast families with real property, a living trust isn't optional - it's essential. Read more on the importance of a living trust for San Luis Obispo homeowners.

Our San Luis Obispo Estate Planning Process

We make estate planning straightforward. Most SLO families complete their estate plan in two attorney meetings over about two weeks.

In your first meeting, you'll work directly with one of our attorneys, not a paralegal,  to design your estate plan. We'll discuss your family, your assets, and what you want your plan to accomplish. In your second meeting, you'll review and approve your completed documents. Then you'll sign with our notary.

We offer in-person appointments at our downtown San Luis Obispo office and virtual Zoom appointments from anywhere in California. We charge flat fees: no hourly billing, no billing clock when you have questions.

Services at Our San Luis Obispo Office

• Revocable Living Trusts: the most reliable way for California homeowners to avoid probate
  
  
• Wills: including pour-over wills that work alongside your living trust
  
  
• Durable Power of Attorney: authorizes someone you trust to manage your finances if you become incapacitated
  
  
• Advance Health Care Directive: documents your medical wishes and names a health care agent
  
  
• Trust Administration: guidance for successor trustees navigating the process after a loved one dies
  
  
• Trust Updates and Reviews: updating outdated living trusts to reflect current law and family circumstances

Frequently Asked Questions — San Luis Obispo

Do I need to come into the SLO office?

No. We offer complete virtual estate planning via Zoom. Many of our Central Coast clients prefer it: no commute, no waiting room, no parking issues, same attorneys and the same quality documents. If you prefer in-person, our downtown SLO office at 1150 Osos St. is available.

How much does a living trust cost in San Luis Obispo?

We charge flat fees and publish our pricing on our website here. No hourly billing, no surprises.

What is the difference between a will and a living trust on the Central Coast? If you own real property in San Luis Obispo County, a will alone will not avoid probate. Only a properly funded living trust does. We explain this in detail during our free intro call.

Do you handle trust administration in San Luis Obispo?

Yes. If a family member has passed away and left a living trust, we guide successor trustees through the entire trust administration process — identifying assets, notifying beneficiaries, handling creditors, and making distributions.

Call us at (800) 394-1988 or click here to schedule a free intro call with one of our San Luis Obispo estate planning attorneys.

Let's Chat

 A free intro chat with our San Luis Obispo estate planning attorneys.