Journal
Plain-English guidance on wills, trusts, probate, and protecting your family in California.
Do California Trusts and LLCs Have to File a BOI Report? (2026 Update)
Short answer: As of 2026, if your LLC or corporation was formed in the United States, you do not have to file a Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report…
Read →A Trust Beneficiary’s Right to an Accounting in California
Short answer: If you are a beneficiary of an irrevocable California trust — including a revocable trust that became irrevocable when the person who created it died —…
Read →Gift Tax in 2026: What California Families Can Give Tax-Free
Short answer: In 2026 you can give up to $19,000 per person, per year to as many people as you like without filing anything or owing any tax.…
Read →Are No-Contest Clauses Enforceable in California?
Yes—but California enforces no-contest clauses narrowly. Under the current statute (Prob. Code §§21310–21315, current as of 2026), a no-contest clause—a provision that disinherits a beneficiary for challenging the…
Read →Is a Transfer-on-Death Deed a Good Idea in California?
Sometimes, but it is a narrow tool. A California transfer-on-death deed (TOD deed) — a revocable deed that names a beneficiary to receive one residential property at your…
Read →Do I Still Need My Old A/B (Bypass) Trust in California?
For most California couples, an old-style mandatory A/B trust—also called a bypass or credit-shelter trust—is now often unnecessary and can actively hurt your heirs. Since portability became permanent,…
Read →Does a Will Need to Be Notarized in California?
No—a California will does not need to be notarized. A valid witnessed will requires your signature plus at least two witnesses who are present at the same time…
Read →What Happens If You Die Without a Will in California?
If you die without a will in California, you die “intestate,” and California’s intestate-succession statutes—not your wishes—decide who inherits (Prob. Code §6400). The most common myth is that…
Read →Want a straight read on where you stand?
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