-
Starting a Santa Barbara Business With the Right Entity Type
Santa Barbara Business Entity Choices and What They Mean When deciding to start a business in Santa Barbara, one of the most important early decisions you will make is choosing the right type of business entity to form. The California Secretary of State breaks down the different types of business entities available, and each has…
-
How Proposition 19 Impacts Santa Barbara Property Transfers
How Proposition 19 Impacts Santa Barbara Property Transfers California voters passed Proposition 19 in 2020, and the measure has significantly reshaped property tax rules throughout the state, including right here in Santa Barbara. While the proposition aimed to provide new benefits for seniors, wildfire victims, and people with disabilities, it also introduced limits on the…
-
How Politics and Community Opposition Shape Business Development in Santa Barbara
How Politics and Community Opposition Shape Business Development in Santa Barbara Santa Barbara is one of California’s most desirable places to live and work, but business owners quickly learn that developing here comes with unique challenges. Local politics, regulatory agencies, and vocal neighborhood groups play a major role in shaping what projects succeed and which…
-
How Often Should You Update Your Will or Trust in Santa Barbara
How Often Should You Update Your Will or Trust in Santa Barbara Creating a will or trust is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your family and secure your legacy. But drafting these documents is not the end of the process. Life changes quickly, and without regular updates, your estate…
-
What Business Owners in Santa Barbara Should Understand Regarding the California Permit Streamlining Act
Santa Barbara’s business climate offers tremendous opportunities, but it also comes with significant regulatory hurdles. For many local entrepreneurs, developers, and investors, one of the most frustrating challenges is navigating a slow-moving permit process.
-
Succession Planning for Family-Owned Businesses in Santa Barbara
Family-owned businesses are the heartbeat of Santa Barbara’s economy, blending local tradition with entrepreneurial vision.
-
Estate Planning in 2025 and Beyond: What the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” Means for High-Net-Worth Families
Learn how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) permanently increases the federal estate and gift tax exemption to $15M per person.
-
Avoiding Estate Planning Mistakes in Santa Barbara’s High-Value Real Estate Market
Santa Barbara’s real estate market is among the most competitive and valuable in California, with properties often reaching multi-million-dollar valuations. Family vacation homes in Santa Ynez, luxury estates in Montecito, and investment properties along the Ventura coast represent not only cherished memories but also significant wealth. Without a carefully structured estate plan, these properties can…
-
What to Know About Using Trusts to Protect Business Continuity
How Trusts Keep Your Business Running Without Disruption Business owners in Santa Barbara face unique risks when it comes to keeping operations running in uncertain times. Even logistical circumstances out of our control can trigger financial instability, leadership vacuums, and legal disputes that threaten the survival of your company. Without a proper continuity plan in…
-
Tips to Keep Estate Planning from Getting Messy in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties
Avoiding Estate Planning Mistakes and Probate in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties Santa Barbara and Ventura estate planning demands straightforward measures to secure your family and assets. Families hope for peace, but life often proves otherwise. Thus, you need an estate plan that covers not just the usual bases but also local property problems and…