Many California will and trust disputes arise from ambiguity in the document with respect to who is entitled to an asset. Maybe the document was hazy from the start or perhaps circumstances have ...

(Editor’s Note: The example in the post below has been revised.) California causes of action are subject to various statutes of limitation. Unless a plaintiff or petitioner files a complaint or other ...

California passed two laws over the summer, demonstrating its preference for incremental probate reform, which aims to streamline administration and make California a more hospitable jurisdiction for ...

A valid will in California must be in writing, signed by the testator. This means a physical writing. Electronic documents, with electronic signatures, are valid for many transactions in California ...

New provisions that went into effect in California on Jan. 1, 2011 have put the spotlight on an estate-planning issue that’s often overlooked, but can lead to a legal quagmire if it’s not handled ...

Learn how probate validates a will, pays debts, and distributes assets to heirs. State intestacy laws apply when there is no ...

California living trust laws govern how residents can create and manage trusts to hold their assets, potentially bypassing probate-a court-supervised process for transferring property after death.

As of this month, inheriting property just got a little easier in California—but only for a select few. Starting April 1, 2025, a new law significantly expanded the definition of so-called “small ...