Mortensen Law · Santa Clarita area
Practical estate planning guidance for wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and family decisions from a Newhall office.
Call (661) 799-9225Estate planning is the process of making decisions now so that the people you love are not left to sort things out later. It means putting documents in place that reflect your wishes, protect your assets, and give your family a clear path to follow if something happens to you.
Mortensen Law helps individuals and families in Santa Clarita, Newhall, Valencia, Saugus, Canyon Country, and Stevenson Ranch create estate plans that are practical, legally sound, and built around their actual lives — not a generic template.
What estate planning covers
Depending on your situation, an estate plan may include a last will and testament, revocable living trust, durable power of attorney, advance healthcare directive, and updated beneficiary designations.
Each document has a role. Together, they help clarify who can act, what should happen to property, and how loved ones can avoid unnecessary confusion later.
A will names who receives your property, who manages your estate, and — if you have minor children — who will care for them. Without a will, California’s intestate succession laws determine these answers for you.
A living trust can allow your estate to transfer to your beneficiaries without going through probate court. This can save your family significant time, cost, and stress. For many Santa Clarita families, a living trust attorney can help make the trust the foundation of a solid estate plan.
This document gives someone you trust the authority to manage your finances and legal matters if you become incapacitated. Without one, your family may need to go to court to obtain a conservatorship — a lengthy and expensive process.
Also called a living will or healthcare power of attorney, this document specifies your medical wishes and names someone to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so.
Life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and certain financial accounts pass directly to named beneficiaries outside of probate. Keeping these designations current is a critical part of any estate plan.
Why Santa Clarita families work with Mortensen Law
Dan Mortensen handles tax, trust, and probate matters together. Dan’s background in tax law means your estate plan can account for estate taxes, capital gains implications, and trust taxation in ways a narrower document-only approach may miss.
The office is in Newhall. You do not need to drive to Los Angeles or Pasadena for experienced estate planning counsel. Mortensen Law is located at 22807 Lyons Avenue in Newhall, a few minutes from many Santa Clarita Valley communities.
The first conversation starts with your situation. Every family’s circumstances are different — the size of the estate, the family structure, business interests, prior marriages, minor children, special needs beneficiaries, or concerns about a specific family member.
Free initial consultation. Call to discuss what you are trying to accomplish and get a clearer picture of what your estate plan should include.
The planning process
Initial consultation: Bring the questions you have and whatever records feel relevant. Dan Mortensen will ask about your family, property, and goals.
Document preparation: Mortensen Law prepares estate planning documents based on the decisions you make together, including beneficiary and titling considerations.
Signing and funding: California has specific requirements for how wills and trusts must be executed. If you create a trust, you will also discuss how to fund it.
Ongoing review: Life changes can make an older plan inaccurate or counterproductive. Mortensen Law is available to review and update your plan as circumstances evolve.
Common estate planning questions
It depends on the size and nature of your estate, your family structure, and whether you want to avoid probate. Many California families benefit from a living trust, particularly if they own real property. A will alone does not avoid probate.
The cost varies depending on the complexity of your plan and the documents you need. A simple will usually costs less than a full trust package. During an initial consultation, Mortensen Law can discuss what your specific plan may involve.
Your estate may go through probate, and California intestate succession laws determine who inherits property. That result may not reflect what you would have chosen and can be costly and time-consuming for your family.
Yes. A revocable living trust can generally be amended or revoked during your lifetime, and wills can be updated through a codicil or by executing a new will.
For a plain-language comparison of two common planning tools, see the Learning Center guide on will vs. trust.
Mortensen Law serves clients throughout Santa Clarita from the Newhall office, including Newhall, Valencia, Saugus, Canyon Country, Stevenson Ranch, Castaic, and surrounding communities.
Estate planning often connects with related legal needs. If your family is responding after a death, you may also need a probate attorney in Santa Clarita. If a trust already exists and someone needs to carry out trustee duties, learn more about trust administration.
Call Mortensen Law at (661) 799-9225 to schedule a free initial consultation, or contact the office online to request an appointment.
Call (661) 799-9225