Inheriting a House in California

Inheriting a house in California raises a specific set of questions: what happens to the mortgage, whether the property tax gets reassessed, how to get the title into your name, and what it means if siblings inherit together and disagree about keeping or selling. The answers turn on how the property was held, whether it was in a trust, and Prop 19. These guides cover the mortgage, the deed and title transfer, the capital-gains and step-up-in-basis math when you sell, and the options when more than one person inherits the same house. If your situation does not fit the general rule, talk to Eric.

The house

• Add Your Kids to the Deed Instead of a Trust? (California) — Putting your kid on the deed feels simple and free. In California it quietly creates a tax bill, a creditor exposure, and a refinance…
• Buying Out a Sibling on an Inherited House Without Losing the Prop 19 Basis — How to buy out your siblings on an inherited California home and keep the low property-tax basis — why a third-party trust loan, not a cash…
• California Quitclaim Deed Form: How to File (2026) — California quit claim deed explained: what it transfers, grant deed vs quitclaim, how to file step by step, mortgage traps, Prop 19 risks…
• 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 …
• Can You Refinance a House That's in Your Living Trust? (California) — Yes — and it won't trigger reassessment. Why some lenders move title out temporarily, and the one mistake that leaves your home exposed to…
• Estate Planning 2026: Homeowner's Guide — What is Estate Planning and Why is it Important for Homeowners? Estate planning is the process of organizing and documenting how your…
• How Deeds and Property Transfers Work in California — Grant deed, quitclaim, TOD deed, recording steps, transfer tax, and Prop 19 reassessment rules in one complete California guide.
• How to Transfer a Car Title After a Death in California — You usually don't need probate for a vehicle. The DMV REG 5 affidavit, the surviving-spouse option, and the exact steps to transfer a car…
• How to Transfer a Mobile Home After a Death in California — Most mobile homes aren't 'real estate' — they're titled through HCD, not the county recorder, and AI tools get this wrong constantly. The…
• 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 dea…
• Is a Transfer-on-Death Deed a Good Idea in California? — A CA TOD deed avoids probate on one home but needs a notary plus two witnesses, recording within 60 days, and sunsets 1/1/2032. Call (805)…
• Life Estate vs. Transfer-on-Death Deed vs. Trust in California — Three ways to pass your home: a life estate, a revocable TOD deed, or a living trust. An honest comparison of control, cost, and who each…
• Prop 19 and the Inherited House: Should You Keep It or Sell It? — Prop 19 caps the parent-child tax break at base value plus $1,044,586 (2/16/2025-2/15/2027); the child must move in within a year. Call…
• Prop 19 for Over-55 Homeowners: Take Your Property Tax Base With You — If you're 55+, Prop 19 lets you move anywhere in California and keep your low property tax base — up to three times. The rules, the math,…
• Property Transfer: Attorney's Guide 2026 — Deeds and Property Transfer: The Attorney's Role When it comes to transferring property, the process can seem daunting. Between the legal…
• What Happens to the Mortgage When You Inherit a House? (California) — The mortgage doesn't vanish or come due when you inherit. How Garn-St. Germain protects you, your keep/refinance/sell options, and how…
• Why College Students Away from Home Need Medical Powers of Attorney — "Why College Students Away from Home Need Medical Powers of Attorney" Why College Students Away

Property transfers

• Does My Property Get Reassessed When I Put It Into a Trust in California? — Moving your home into your own revocable trust triggers no reassessment (R&TC §62(d)) and no due-on-sale (12 U.S.C. §1701j-3(d)(8)). Call…

More guides

• 2026 Real Estate Estate Plan Guide
• CA Inherited Property Tax Traps: 2026 — Prop 19 reassessment and sibling partition actions can force the sale of inherited California real estate. Attorney Eric Ridley explains…
• CA Real Estate Protection: Guide 2026
• CA Rental Property LLC: Is it Right for You? (2026) — Most California landlords don't need an LLC for their rentals. The $800/yr franchise tax adds cost without matching what good insurance…
• California Real Estate for Families 2026 — Discover 7 current trends in California real estate impacting families, property owners, and estate planning. Learn how to protect your…
• Essential Steps After Property Owner’s Death in California — Discover the essential steps after property owner’s death in California. Follow a clear, step-by-step guide for smooth estate transition…
• 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 paperwo…
• How to Refuse an Inherited Timeshare in California — You are not required to inherit a timeshare. The 9-month disclaimer window, the one mistake that locks you in, and what happens to the ma…
• Understanding California's Community Property Laws in Estate Planning — Understanding California's Community Property Laws in Estate Planning Planning for the future often involves navigating through complex…
• Understanding Community Property Estate Planning in California — Learn how California community property rules affect your estate plan, including the double step-up in basis tax benefit. Free consult…
• Why You Need a Will: Family Guide