The Journal — Plain-English Estate Law
Plain-English guidance on wills, trusts, probate, and protecting your family in California.
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 →California Transfer on Death Deed in 2026: How It Works and When a Trust Beats It
A California transfer on death deed, also called a revocable TOD deed or RTODD, lets you name a beneficiary for a house or condo so it passes to…
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…
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…
Read →What Happens If You Die Without a Will in California
If you die without a will in California, you die “intestate,” and the state’s intestate succession statutes decide who inherits your property, not you: the split depends on…
Read →How Much Does an Executor or Trustee Get Paid in California?
They are paid under two different systems. A probate executor or administrator (the personal representative) earns a statutory fee set by a fixed percentage of the estate’s value…
Read →How to Choose a Trustee in California Without a Family Fight
The right trustee isn't the oldest child or the one who'd be offended to be passed over. It's the person who can stay calm, keep records, and treat…
Read →Want a straight read on where you stand?
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