The Journal — Plain-English Estate Law
Plain-English guidance on wills, trusts, probate, and protecting your family in California.
How to Disclaim (Refuse) an Inheritance in California
You can legally refuse an inheritance in California: a timeshare, a mortgaged house, or for tax reasons. The 9-month window, the paperwork, and the traps.
Read →Am I Responsible for My Deceased Parents’ Debts in California?
In almost every case, no. The estate pays, not you. The real exceptions (co-signed loans, community property), and the truth about California's filial responsibility law.
Read →How to Transfer Stocks and Brokerage Accounts After a Death in California
TOD registrations, trust accounts, medallion signature guarantees, and the small-estate affidavit: how deceased relatives' investment accounts actually get transferred.
Read →Who Files a Deceased Person’s Final Tax Return in California?
Someone still has to file the year-of-death tax returns. Who signs, when Form 1310 is needed, and when the estate needs its own return (federal 1041 / California…
Read →What Happens to a UTMA Account When Your Child Turns 18 in California?
California custodial accounts end sooner than most parents think, often at 18. The actual ages under California's UTMA, and what to use instead for larger gifts.
Read →Is a Will a Public Record in California?
Your will is private while you're alive, and becomes a public court record after you die. How that works, and why trusts stay private.
Read →Is a QPRT Still Worth It in 2026? A California Reality Check
Qualified personal residence trusts made sense when the estate tax exemption was lower. With $15M per person now permanent, most California families can skip the QPRT: here's the…
Read →How Long Does Trust Administration Take in California?
A realistic, stage-by-stage timeline for California trust administration, from initial notice through final distribution, plus what speeds it up or slows it down.
Read →Want a straight read on where you stand?
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