Revocable Living Trust in California: Complete 2026 Guide You can also change or revoke the trust at any time, as long as you have mental capacity. A revocable trust, also called a revocable living trust, is a legal arrangement that lets you transfer ownership of certain assets into a trust during your lifetime. This blog explains the pros and cons of using a revocable trust in California, so you can decide whether it fits your goals now, and whether it will still work for you in the years to come. It can keep your assets out of probate, maintain your privacy, and make things easier for the people you care see this site about. Whether you’re setting up your first estate plan or re-evaluating one you created years ago, a revocable living trust is one of the most commonly used tools in California. How a California Revocable Living Trust Avoids Probate A professionally drafted California revocable living trust typically costs between $2,500 and $5,000 for a complete estate plan package. Many clients at Opelon LLP choose a trusted family member as their primary successor trustee and name a professional fiduciary or trust company as a backup. Qualities to look for in a successor trustee include trustworthiness, organizational skills, financial responsibility, and willingness to seek professional help when needed. A California revocable living trust becomes irrevocable when the grantor passes away or permanently loses mental capacity to make change If you die without a Will or Trust, then your estate is "intestate" and it will have to be distributed according to the California Probate Code - California's default distribution scheme. In California, assets acquired during a marriage may be considered community property and may pass to the surviving spouse when one spouse dies. For co-owned assets, such as a joint account, the asset (e.g., the balance of the funds) usually passes to the co-owner when one owner dies.