Woodland Hills Estate Planning

Estate Planning Attorney in Woodland Hills

Litigation-Tested Estate Planning for Woodland Hills Families & Business Owners

At The Pacella Law Group, we bring more than two decades of estate and trust law experience to Woodland Hills residents and business owners who need a plan they can rely on. Attorney Louis Pacella and our team have guided thousands of California clients through wills, trusts, trust administration, trust litigation, probate, and elder law matters. We don’t hand you a template. We listen, then build a plan around your goals.

Our firm is based in Calabasas and serves clients throughout Woodland Hills and the wider San Fernando Valley. Free initial consultations are available in-office, at your home or business, or virtually.

Ready to protect your family’s future? Call our estate planning lawyers today at (818) 873-5546 to schedule your free consultation.

Estate Planning Services for Woodland Hills Clients

Whether you’re starting an estate plan from scratch or updating documents after a life change, we handle the full range of planning and dispute services under one roof:

Wills and Trusts: We draft revocable living trusts, pour-over wills, and testamentary wills tailored to your family structure and asset profile.
Powers of Attorney and Healthcare Directives: Durable powers of attorney for finances and advance healthcare directives that can protect you if you become incapacitated.
Trust Administration: We guide successor trustees through their legal duties following a death, from notifying beneficiaries to distributing assets properly.
Trust Litigation: Our team represents clients in disputes involving trust validity, trustee misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty, and contested distributions.
Probate: We handle probate proceedings in Los Angeles County Superior Court for Woodland Hills estates that require court supervision.
Elder Law and Medi-Cal Planning: Asset protection strategies for aging clients, including planning to manage long-term care costs and seek qualification for public benefits.
Amendments and Updates: We revise existing wills and trusts when your circumstances or California law changes.
Succession Planning: Structured plans for business owners who need to address ownership transfer alongside their personal estate.

Planning Built to Hold Up in Court

Most estate planning firms draft documents. Fewer can defend them. Because we also handle trust litigation and probate disputes, we draft plans with an eye toward what creates problems later. Our attorneys have seen firsthand how ambiguous trust language, improper asset titling, or missing healthcare directives affect families under pressure. That experience shapes every plan we build.

The Pacella Law Group has received Avvo Client Choice Awards in estate planning, probate, trusts, and wills. Our team includes founding attorney Louis Pacella and attorney Stephen Cohen, giving clients multi-attorney depth for complex or layered matters. We serve individuals and families at every asset level, including high-net-worth clients and business owners with succession planning needs. Every engagement is handled with a detail-driven, personalized approach because your situation isn’t standard, and your plan shouldn’t be either.

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Woodland Hills Estate Planning Attorney

A conversation costs nothing. We offer free initial consultations in-office, at your home or business, or by phone or video. Whether you need a first estate plan, a trust update, or guidance through a probate or trust dispute, our team is ready to help Woodland Hills and San Fernando Valley families move forward with confidence.

Call The Pacella Law Group at (818) 873-5546 to schedule your free consultation with an estate planning lawyer serving Woodland Hills.

What a California Estate Plan Should Include

A complete estate plan covers more than a will. In California, a will alone typically triggers probate if the estate exceeds the statutory threshold, a court-supervised process that can take 12 to 18 months and cost between 4% and 7% of the estate’s gross value in statutory fees. A revocable living trust can let assets transfer directly to beneficiaries without going through Los Angeles County Superior Court, can keep the estate private, and can take effect immediately upon incapacity or death.

Two additional documents every plan should include:

Durable Power of Attorney for Finances: Authorizes a trusted person to manage financial and legal affairs if you become unable to do so yourself. Without it, a court-appointed conservatorship may be the only alternative.
Advance Healthcare Directive: States your medical treatment preferences and names someone to make healthcare decisions on your behalf, also called a durable power of attorney for healthcare.

California has no state estate tax, but federal estate tax thresholds and proper asset titling remain important considerations. Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance policies pass outside a will or trust entirely, so coordinating those designations with your broader plan is important.

Probate, Trust Administration, & Trust Litigation in Los Angeles County

These three processes are distinct, and knowing which applies matters. A fully funded revocable living trust can allow most assets to pass to beneficiaries without probate. When a trust is properly structured and funded, trust administration handles the settlement: notifying beneficiaries, gathering and valuing assets, paying debts and taxes, and distributing the estate according to trust terms. Our team guides successor trustees through each of those steps.

Probate becomes necessary when assets were held outside a trust or when no trust exists. We represent Woodland Hills clients in Los Angeles County Superior Court probate proceedings from filing to final distribution. When disputes arise, including allegations of undue influence, lack of capacity, or trustee misconduct, our trust litigation practice steps in. Because the same attorneys handle planning, administration, and litigation, you don’t need to find a new firm when a matter becomes contested.

Elder Law & Medi-Cal Planning for Woodland Hills Families

Aging raises legal and financial questions that a standard estate plan may not address. Long-term care costs in California can deplete savings quickly, and many families don’t realize that a revocable living trust doesn’t shield assets from Medi-Cal eligibility calculations. Irrevocable trusts and other planning strategies are used for that purpose, and they work best when put in place well before the need for care arises.

Our elder law services assist families navigating decisions about aging parents, incapacity planning, and seeking qualification for public benefits while preserving assets. We also help with conservatorships, guardianships, and special needs trusts for dependent family members when those structures are appropriate. California’s Medi-Cal program can seek recovery from a deceased beneficiary’s estate for long-term care costs paid, making proactive planning particularly important for homeowners. If you’re concerned about protecting a family member’s assets as they age, contact our office to discuss what options may apply to your situation.

Meet Our Team

Guidance Rooted in Experience

Award-Winning Service

Recognized for Excellence. Protection You Can Trust

Why Woodland Hills Clients Choose The Pacella Law Group

Avvo Client Choice Awards: Recognized in estate planning, probate, trusts, and wills.
Over 20 Years of Experience: Founding attorney Louis Pacella has guided thousands of California clients through estate and trust matters.
Full-Spectrum Services: Wills, trusts, trust administration, trust litigation, probate, elder law, and business succession planning handled by one team.
Litigation Depth: The attorneys who draft your plan are the same attorneys who can defend it in court if a dispute arises.
Flexible Consultations: Meet us in-office, at your home or business, or by video or phone. Free initial consultations are available.
Personalized Approach: No form plans. Every strategy is built around your specific goals, family structure, and asset profile.
Multi-Attorney Team: Louis Pacella, Stephen Cohen, and supporting staff provide depth for clients with complex or layered needs.
Broad Client Base: We serve individuals, families, business owners, and high-net-worth clients throughout Woodland Hills and the San Fernando Valley.

Reputable & Trusted Boutique Firm
Handling a Wide Range of Services
Personalized, Detail-Oriented Approach
Decades of Legal Experience
Help for High-Net-Worth Estate
Fully Remote Legal Services

We're Committed to Our Clients & Their Convenience

See What They Are Saying

Mr. Pacella was extremely knowledgeable, professional, responsive, and helpful
“Mr.Pacella was extremely knowledgeable, professional, responsive, and helpful. I highly recommend him particularly in regards to probate matters. He possesses the expertise needed to navigate a difficult process and resolve probate matters as efficiently as possible”

- Vanessa C.
I am very happy with his service
“I called Louis Pacella's office and had a phone consultation regarding Living Trust questions as my trust was set up by 2 previous attorneys. I emailed him information regarding my trust and he reviewed them and upon our phone consultation, he was able to answer all my questions.

Louis Pacella was able to simply explain the answers to all my questions simply and easily that I could understand in which our previous attorney could not. I learned some new information regarding my account and my issues were solved quickly and simply. Louis Pacella did not charge me for our quick phone consultation though that was offered. Should I have any further questions or issues regarding my Living Trust I will certainly call Louis. I am very happy with his service”

- David C.
They were courteous, sensitive, and available for all of our needs
“Louis and his staff were excellent at preparing and filing the voluminous amount of paperwork required to setup and execute the LLC and trust of my wife's father. They are experts in the field and were always ready with information for our many questions, including many involving unforeseen circumstances. They were courteous, sensitive, and available for all of our needs. I highly recommend Louis' Office for any Trust creation and execution.”

- Ted C.
What stood out more than the professional execution was the positive attitude, genuine care and emotional support Louis provided
“I had a very complex probate situation after my brother and his son died in a plane crash in June 2017. Not only were there basic probate issues, but my brother was operating a complicated international travel business. Louis tackled the project and was able to unwind the business and do all of the "forensic accounting" and client communications. It was a godsend. What stood out more than the professional execution was the positive attitude, genuine care and emotional support Louis provided. He and his team are an elite group of dedicated professionals. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him to anyone with probate and estate planning. First rate company, I'm so very grateful for his services.”

- Brain H.
Fantastic law firm
“Fantastic law firm , true professionals, Highly Recommend”

- Timothy S.
Pricing is fair and customer service is excellent
“We were satisfied with all of the documents prepared by this firm. Pricing is fair and customer service is excellent. Thanks, Louis and team!”

- Periwinkle G.
Louis Pacella has been our lawyer for over 10 years
“Louis Pacella has been our lawyer for over 10 years. He has prepared our estate plan, reviewed real estate transactions, represented us in lawsuits related to our business. He has handled all our legal needs with excellent communication, outstanding professionalism, and is very personable. We have come to think of him as a friend and we give him our highest recommendation.”

- Allan W. & Rex A.
The team is responsive and follow through was great
“The firm is great.The team is responsive and follow through was great. Louis helped us redo our Will and update all the supporting documents of Health Care and Power of Attny. Thanks also to Sheri in his office who kept us up-to-date with paperwork and other important signatures”

- Scott T.
Had a great experience the Pacella Law Group
“Had a great experience the Pacella Law Group (Louis, Stephen, and Sheri were all awesome)! Very practical and knowledgeable and was very pleased with the quality of their documentation! Highly recommend”

- Lauren C.

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At The Pacella Law Group, we believe knowledge is power. Our blog is designed to give you practical legal insights on estate planning, probate, business formation, and more—so you can make informed decisions that protect what matters most.

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5000 N. Parkway Calabasas
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Calabasas, CA 91302

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