The Journal — Plain-English Estate Law
Plain-English guidance on wills, trusts, probate, and protecting your family in California.
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 →Ancillary Probate in California for Out-of-State Residents
If someone who lived in another state died owning California real estate, you may need a second, California probate. How ancillary administration works and how to avoid it.
Read →Can You Open a Safe Deposit Box After a Death in California?
You don't need court letters to open a deceased relative's safe deposit box in California to look for the will: the statute, the steps, and what you can…
Read →How to Access a Deceased Parent’s Bank Account in California
Frozen account? California's small-estate affidavit lets you collect a deceased parent's bank accounts without probate if the estate is under the current limit. Exact steps.
Read →How to Remove a Trustee in California
A trustee who won't communicate, won't account, or is quietly draining a trust can be removed by court order. Here's the process, the evidence you need, and what…
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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