Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in California
Free California forms for planning an estate or settling one: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed, and the probate forms an executor files.
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Last Will and Testament
In California, a will is signed before 2Cal. Prob. Code § 6110Verified Oct 18, 2026View source witnesses, and the witnesses sign an affidavit at probate instead of a self-proving affidavitCal. Prob. Code § 6110Verified Oct 18, 2026View source.
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Healthcare Power of Attorney
California allows a choice for a healthcare power of attorney: 2Cal. Prob. Code § 4701Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses or a notary.
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Financial Power of Attorney
California requires explicit durability language for a power of attorney to survive incapacityCal. Prob. Code §§ 56, 4053, 4120, 4121, 4122, 4123, 4124, 4127, 4128, 4129, 4130, 4150, 4152, 4200, 4230, 4264, 4300, 4401, 4402, 4450, 4451, 4452, 4453, 4455, 4456, 4457, 4459, 4461, 4462, 4463, 4464, 4465; Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1095, 1189, 1556, 2356, 2933; Cal. Fam. Code § 6500; AB 2199 (Stats. 2026, ch. 47) §§ 4401, 4466 eff. 2027-01-01 per Cal. Const. art. IV § 8(c)(1); verified against leginfo.legislature.ca.gov 2026-07-14, re-verified 2026-09-18; Cal. Prob. Code §§ 3, 872, 879.1, 879.2, 4054, 4409 and Stats. 2024, ch. 799 (SB 1458) read 2026-10-11Verified Sep 18, 2026View source, and it is signed before 2Cal. Prob. Code §§ 56, 4053, 4120, 4121, 4122, 4123, 4124, 4127, 4128, 4129, 4130, 4150, 4152, 4200, 4230, 4264, 4300, 4401, 4402, 4450, 4451, 4452, 4453, 4455, 4456, 4457, 4459, 4461, 4462, 4463, 4464, 4465; Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1095, 1189, 1556, 2356, 2933; Cal. Fam. Code § 6500; AB 2199 (Stats. 2026, ch. 47) §§ 4401, 4466 eff. 2027-01-01 per Cal. Const. art. IV § 8(c)(1); verified against leginfo.legislature.ca.gov 2026-07-14, re-verified 2026-09-18; Cal. Prob. Code §§ 3, 872, 879.1, 879.2, 4054, 4409 and Stats. 2024, ch. 799 (SB 1458) read 2026-10-11Verified Sep 18, 2026View source witnesses or a notary.
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Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in California
Free calculators and checklists for planning or settling an estate in California: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay, and inheritance taxes.
How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?
In California, four years at a public university cost about $99,700NCES Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 330.20, public 4-year in-state tuition, fees, room and board, academic year 2022-23Verified Oct 17, 2026View source and the cost of living is 11% above the U.S. averageBEA Regional Price Parities, all items, by state, 2024Verified Oct 17, 2026View source;no state estate or inheritance tax appliesNo state estate, inheritance, or gift tax; prohibited by Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code § 13301 (voter Prop 6, 1982). California Estate Tax Return no longer required for decedents dying on/after Jan. 1, 2005 (CA State Controller's Office).Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
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What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?
An attorney-prepared revocable trust in California runs $4,320Estimate: 10 hours at $432, Clio's California Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $6,480Estimate: 15 hours at $432, Clio's California Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source and a simple will $1,329Estimate: 3 hours at $443, Clio's California Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,658Estimate: 6 hours at $443, Clio's California Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
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Who Inherits Without a Will?
California is a community property state, so the surviving spouse already owns half of what the couple acquired during the marriage. Without a will in California, descendants divide what passes to them per capita with representationCal. Prob. Code § 240Verified Sep 10, 2026View source, and an heir must survive the decedent by 120 hoursCal. Prob. Code § 6403(a)Verified Sep 10, 2026View source to inherit.
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to discuss your situation and verify their current practice areas and availability.
Los Angeles boutique focused on trust and probate litigation and administration, taking cases anywhere in California. Represents beneficiaries, heirs, trustees, and executors in trust and will contests, breach-of-fiduciary-duty claims, conservatorships, and guardianships. David Shapiro is a State Bar board certified specialist in estate planning, trust and probate law. Free case evaluation.
PracticesTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigationand 5 more
Office
5757 Wilshire Blvd, Penthouse 3Los Angeles, CA 90036
Irvine practice serving Orange County and the rest of Southern California with probate and trust administration, trust review and litigation, guardianships, and conservatorships alongside estate and estate-tax planning. W. Bailey Smith is certified by the State Bar of California as a specialist in estate planning, trust and probate law and was admitted in 1971.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTrust Litigationand 4 more
Rancho Cucamonga office serving San Bernardino, Riverside, and the Pomona area with probate, trust administration and litigation, and conservatorships and guardianships alongside estate planning. Priscilla C. Solario started the firm in 2008; the office quotes flat fees and offers a free initial consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTrust Litigationand 2 more
Office
9431 Haven Avenue, Suite 108Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
Palm Springs firm serving the Coachella Valley, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties with probate and estate administration, trust administration, and will-contest and trust litigation alongside estate planning, conservatorships, and guardianships. Led by a bar-certified specialist in estate planning, trust and probate law; the attorneys have over 170 years of combined experience.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 6 more
Office
801 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 100Palm Springs, CA 92262
Long Beach office on Bellflower Boulevard serving Los Angeles County, established more than 50 years ago. Robert M. Stone handles probate administration for executors moving a will through the court, estate administration, guardianships, and living-trust work for families after a death.
Stockton estate and tax attorney serving San Joaquin County since 1988. Jeffrey E. Prag guides executors through probate, from filing the will to valuing and liquidating estate assets and paying the decedent's taxes and debts, and administers living trusts, stepping into mediation or litigation when disputes arise between beneficiaries.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 3 more
Office
5250 Claremont Avenue, Suite 117Stockton, CA 95207