Banana Belt is a south-facing hillside in Sausalito with warmer, sunnier weather than nearby bayside blocks. Centered roughly at 37.8565° N, 122.4867° W (Google Maps), it overlooks the waterfront and Bridgeway. The area grew from a working waterfront community into a residential hillside with small businesses on Caledonia Street.
Nearby landmarks include Marinship Park, Sausalito City Hall, Marin General Hospital (Greenbrae), Fort Baker, Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point, Bay Area Discovery Museum, Dunphy Park, Gabrielson Park, and Cavallo Point Lodge. Current Sausalito population: about 7,269 residents.
Our firm aligns estate plans with Banana Belt realities: hillside homes, mixed short-term rentals, and view corridors. We draft revocable trusts for multi-level properties, LLCs for duplexes on bulkheaded lots, and healthcare directives coordinated with MarinHealth and UCSF affiliates.
Climate considerations include wildfire smoke days, landslide and erosion risk, sea-level rise along the flats, and power shutoffs. We integrate insurance reviews, backup fiduciary planning, digital access contingencies, and coastal flood provisions. We comply with California Probate Code, Marin County Recorder requirements, Sausalito municipal permitting for notarization venues, and Remote Online Notarization where legally authorized.
We also serve nearby neighborhoods: Caledonia Street corridor (business succession for retailers), New Town/Old Town (historic hillside parcels and tenancy-in-common issues), and Marinship district (maritime and light-industrial ownership structures).
Our eco-friendly practices include e-sign and paperless files, recycled-paper mailings when required, and virtual meetings to cut trips. We sponsor local shoreline cleanups and support Sausalito’s Climate Action goals.
Contact the Law Office of Matthew W. Harris for estate planning tailored to Banana Belt.