Estate Planning Attorney Serving Pacific Beach, San Diego
Pacific Beach families navigating living trusts, probate, or California's Prop 19 rules deserve an attorney who handles every detail personally — not a firm that passes your file down the chain. I'm Rosser J. Pettit, an estate planning and property tax attorney based in Point Loma, and I've worked with clients across Pacific Beach since 2012. Every consultation is free, every matter is handled by me directly, and every plan is built around your actual situation.
Most people come to me at a crossroads: a parent has passed, a home is being inherited, or they've realized their family has nothing in place if something happens to them. These aren't abstract legal problems — they're urgent, personal, and often time-sensitive.
I handle three interconnected areas of law that most attorneys keep separate.
Estate Planning, Probate, and Property Tax Services for Pacific Beach Residents
Living Trusts, Wills, and Estate Planning Documents
Probate Administration and Trust Administration
When a loved one passes without a trust — or with assets that weren't properly transferred into one — probate becomes necessary. California's statutory probate fees are set by law: 4% of the first $100,000 of the estate's gross value, 3% of the next $100,000, and 2% of the next $800,000. For a home worth $900,000, that adds up quickly. I guide Pacific Beach families through probate administration from petition to final distribution, and I help successor trustees understand their obligations when administering a trust outside of court.
Prop 19 and Property Tax Planning
California's Prop 19 changed the rules significantly for families inheriting real property. The parent-child exclusion that once protected an inherited home from reassessment now requires the child to make the property their primary residence — and the exclusion itself is capped. For transfers between February 16, 2025 and February 15, 2027, that cap sits at $1,044,586 above the property's factored base year value. Miss the one-year filing deadline, and the exclusion is gone. Pacific Beach has a high concentration of older residential properties with low assessed values and significant appreciation — the stakes for getting this right are real.
Serving Pacific Beach from My Point Loma Office
My office is located at 3667 Voltaire Street in Point Loma — a short drive from Pacific Beach along the coast. I serve clients throughout San Diego's coastal and central neighborhoods, including Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Mission Hills, and beyond. If you'd prefer to meet in person, my office is easy to reach and parking is available. Phone and video consultations are also available for clients who prefer to start remotely.
Estate Planning Designed Around Your Life in Pacific Beach
No two families come to me with the same situation. A retired couple in Pacific Beach who've owned their home for 30 years has different priorities than a young family just starting to build assets. What stays consistent is the process: I listen to what you have, what you want to happen, and who you want to protect — then I build a plan that reflects all of it. The documents I draft are the starting point. The real work is making sure you understand what you have, why it's structured the way it is, and what to do if life changes.
Frequently Asked Questions from Pacific Beach Clients
Do I need a living trust if I own a home in Pacific Beach?
If you own real property in California, a living trust is almost always worth considering. Without one, your home will likely need to pass through probate — a court-supervised process that can take a year or more and cost thousands in statutory fees. A properly funded living trust transfers your home to your beneficiaries outside of probate, faster and at lower cost.How does Prop 19 affect my family if we inherit a home in Pacific Beach?
Under Prop 19, inheriting a home no longer automatically preserves the parent's low property tax base. The child must move into the home as their primary residence within one year, and the exclusion from reassessment is capped at $1,044,586 above the property's factored base year value (for transfers through February 15, 2027). Homes with significant appreciation above that threshold will be partially reassessed. Planning ahead — before the transfer occurs — gives families the best chance of minimizing tax exposure.What is the probate process like in California, and how long does it take?
California probate is a formal court process required when a decedent's estate includes assets that weren't held in trust or transferred by beneficiary designation. It typically takes 12 to 18 months from petition to final distribution, sometimes longer for contested or complex estates. Statutory attorney and executor fees are set by the gross value of the estate under California Probate Code §§ 10800 and 10810 — not the net value — so even a heavily mortgaged property counts toward the fee calculation.Can I handle my estate planning without coming into your office?
Yes. I offer phone and video consultations for clients who prefer to start remotely, and many Pacific Beach clients complete their initial consultation that way. For document signing, a brief in-person appointment is typically required to meet California's execution formalities — but the planning work itself can happen on whatever schedule works for you.
Ready to Put a Plan in Place?
Pacific Beach families shouldn't have to navigate estate planning, probate, or property tax questions without clear, straightforward guidance from an attorney who knows this area and handles your matter personally. Call 619.994.1215 or use the link below to schedule your free consultation. There's no obligation, and the conversation itself is often the clearest step you can take.
