If you’re thinking about setting up a living trust to protect your family, property, and avoid probate, you may be wondering: How long does it take to set up a living trust in San Diego?
In this estate planning blog post, Milda Goeriz, Trust and Estate Planning Attorney San Diego, breaks down the typical trust timeline, steps in the process, cost of living trust in San Diego considerations for individuals and families, and explains why flat fee estate planning services with an experiences estate planning attorney is the way to go when establishing your living trust estate plan in San Diego.
The good news — for most individuals and families, the process is faster than you might expect especially when working with an experienced trust and estate planning attorney in San Diego.
Below is a timeline so you know what to expect, plus insight into the cost of living trust in San Diego and what affects the planning process.
✅ Typical Timeline to Create a San Diego Living Trust
| Phase | Timeframe | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Intake Form/Estate Plan Consultation | 1–5 days to schedule | Discuss estate planning goals and concerns and legal/tax strategies; schedule all follow up estate planning appointments. |
| Document Draft | 1–2 weeks | Estate panning attorney drafts your living trust and supporting documents |
| Review Meeting & Revisions | 2–7 days | You review the document drafts with your trust attorney. If changes are needed, your attorney works on the modifications. |
| Signing & notarization | 1 day | In-Office trust signing appointment or trust signing with mobile notary at the convenience of your home. |
| Funding your trust | 1–3 weeks (varies) | Your trust attorney works on updating real estate property titles, and you work on updating your accounts and insurance policies. |
⏱ Total time: 2–4 weeks on average
Some families complete the process in as little as 7–10 days if living trust documents are straightforward and all beneficiary and trustee choices are clear.
🏠 What Affects the Timeline?
The set up of living trust may take longer if:
- You need to discuss your choices with people you want to designate as your trustees, guardians, or agents for powers of attorney
- You need time to think about the terms of the trust
- You have real estate in multiple states
- There are business interests to transfer
- You need special living trust provisions (trusts for children, blended family, special needs trusts, pet trusts, or tax planning)
- You need multiple trusts
- You need a postnuptial, prenuptial, or community property agreement
- We need to corroborate with an out-of-state or out-of-country attorney
- Financial institutions process title updates slowly
However, most San Diego living trust estate plans for families with a home, bank and brokerage accounts, retirement accounts, and life insurance will fall within the standard 2–4 week window.
💰 Cost of a Living Trust in San Diego
Understanding cost of trust is also important. While prices vary, here is a general range:
| Provider Type | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Online DIY forms | $250–$800 |
| General practice attorney (not estate planning) | $1,200–$1,500 |
| Experienced estate planning attorney in San Diego | $1,800–$4,950+ |
While DIY living trusts may seem affordable at first, they often fail when needed most — leading to probate court, family stress, and expensive legal fees later.
A flat-fee estate planning package from a qualified San Diego trusts attorney is best for everyone seeking to avoid probate, protect family, safeguard assets, and reduce taxes.
👨👩👧 Why Living Trusts Are Valuable for Families
A living trust is especially valuable for families in California. It allows you to:
-
Appoint guardians for minor children
- Avoid court-supervised guardianship and probate
-
Protect your assets from the surviving spouse’s remarriage upon the first spouse to die
-
Provide immediate access to funds for your spouse and your children without the unnecessary delays
For most San Diego families, a San Diego living trust is one of the most important financial steps you can take.
✨ Work with a Local Estate Planning Attorney in San Diego
Creating a living trust is more than just filling out forms — it’s about protecting your assets and your family’s future. Our trust and estate planning attorney will go into personal details and your asset situation in depth, explore your options and discuss various tax implications as well as practical enforcement issues that may be important in the trust administration if something happens to you or your spouse.
Contact our estate planning law firm if you’re looking for:
✔ A straightforward process and clear timeline form the start ✔ A flat-fee plan (no hourly billing surprises) ✔ Personal guidance tailored to your family
An experienced San Diego estate planning attorney can help you set up your trust efficiently and correctly from the start.
📅 Ready to Get Started?
Most families complete their trust in just a few weeks — and the peace of mind lasts a lifetime.
👉 Schedule a consultation at our Carmel Valley estate planning office or Mission Valley estate planning office by filling out our contact form or giving us a call and take the first step toward securing your family’s future.