The Journal — Plain-English Estate Law
Plain-English guidance on wills, trusts, probate, and protecting your family in California.
Can You Change an Irrevocable Trust in California?
Irrevocable doesn't mean untouchable. Beneficiary consent, court modification, decanting, and trust protectors — the real ways to change an irrevocable trust in California.
Read →Can a Trustee Sell the House Without the Beneficiaries’ Approval? (California)
A California trustee can usually sell trust property without beneficiary sign-off — but owes fiduciary duties. What beneficiaries can and can't do about a sale.
Read →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 →No-Contest Clauses in California Trusts
A no-contest clause looks absolute on paper, but California's 2010 statutory rewrite narrowed it a lot. Here's what actually triggers forfeiture and what doesn't.
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 →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 →Want a straight read on where you stand?
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