California Probate and Estate Guides

Find California guides for probate, executor duties, court forms, taxes, planning documents, property transfers, and ways to avoid probate.

Probate Basics

Start with probate paths, timelines, estate size, and when court filings may be needed.

Find court paperwork, county office steps, letters, certificates, and filing authority.

Understand executor authority, records, notices, inventory, accounting, and distributions.

Review tax timing, claim periods, fees, deadlines, and estate cost questions.

Compare wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and planning documents.

Transfer homes, vehicles, accounts, and other property after death.

Use beneficiary designations, trusts, transfer-on-death tools, and title planning.

Use the free probate assessment or start with your county page if you already know where the estate will be filed.