The Journal
Plain-English Estate Law
Plain-English guidance on wills, trusts, probate, and protecting your family in California.
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 →Can Siblings Force the Sale of an Inherited House in California?
Yes. Any co-owner can file for partition. But California's newer partition law gives you a right to buy your siblings out first. How it works and what changed.
Read →Inheriting a House With a Reverse Mortgage in California
A reverse mortgage comes due when the borrower dies. Heirs have real options (keep it for 95% of value, sell, or walk away) but the deadlines are short.…
Read →Want a straight read on where you stand?
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