California Code
DIVISION 7 - ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES OF DECEDENTS
PART 5 - ESTATE MANAGEMENT

CHAPTER 1 - General Provisions

ARTICLE 1 - Duties and Liabilities of Personal Representative

Section 9600. - 9600. (a) The personal representative has the management and control...

Section 9601. - 9601. (a) If a personal representative breaches a fiduciary duty,...

Section 9602. - 9602. (a) If the personal representative is liable for interest...

Section 9603. - 9603. The provisions of Sections 9601 and 9602 for liability...

Section 9604. - 9604. No personal representative is chargeable upon a special promise...

Section 9605. - 9605. Appointment of a person as personal representative does not...

Section 9606. - 9606. Unless otherwise provided in the instrument or in this...

ARTICLE 2 - Court Supervision

Section 9610. - 9610. Unless this part specifically provides a proceeding to obtain...

Section 9611. - 9611. (a) In all cases where no other procedure is...

Section 9613. - 9613. (a) On petition of any interested person, and upon...

Section 9614. - 9614. (a) On petition of an interested person, the court...

ARTICLE 3 - Summary Determination of Disputes

Section 9620. - 9620. If there is a dispute relating to the estate...

Section 9621. - 9621. If there is a dispute relating to the estate...

ARTICLE 4 - Joint Personal Representatives

Section 9630. - 9630. (a) Subject to subdivisions (b), (c), and (d): (1)...

Section 9631. - 9631. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), where there...

ARTICLE 5 - Independent Administration

Section 9640. - 9640. Nothing in this part limits or restricts any authority...

ARTICLE 6 - Transitional Provision

Section 9645. - 9645. (a) Subject to subdivisions (b) and (c), any petition...

CHAPTER 2 - Estate Management Generally

Section 9650. - 9650. (a) Except as provided by statute and subject to...

Section 9651. - 9651. (a) A personal representative who in good faith takes...

Section 9652. - 9652. (a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c),...

Section 9653. - 9653. (a) On application of a creditor of the decedent...

Section 9654. - 9654. The heirs or devisees may themselves, or jointly with...

Section 9655. - 9655. With respect to a share of stock of a...

Section 9656. - 9656. The personal representative may insure the property of the...

Section 9657. - 9657. The personal representative shall not make profit by the...

CHAPTER 3 - Deposit of Money and Personal Property With Financial Institutions

Section 9700. - 9700. The personal representative may deposit money of the estate...

Section 9701. - 9701. The personal representative may deposit personal property of the...

Section 9702. - 9702. (a) A trust company serving as personal representative may...

Section 9703. - 9703. (a) Upon application of the personal representative, the court...

Section 9704. - 9704. When an order for distribution of money or personal...

Section 9705. - 9705. (a) Subject to subdivision (b), where a trust company...

CHAPTER 4 - Investments and Purchase of Property

Section 9730. - 9730. Pending distribution of the estate, the personal representative may...

Section 9731. - 9731. (a) Pending distribution of the estate, upon a showing...

Section 9732. - 9732. (a) The court may order that money of the...

Section 9733. - 9733. (a) Pending distribution of the estate or at the...

Section 9734. - 9734. (a) If an asset of the estate consists of...

Section 9735. - 9735. (a) After authorization by order of court, the personal...

Section 9736. - 9736. The personal representative may hold a security in the...

Section 9737. - 9737. (a) If an estate by reason of owning securities...

CHAPTER 5 - Operation of Decedent s Business

Section 9760. - 9760. (a) As used in this section, “decedent’s business” means...

Section 9761. - 9761. If a partnership existed between the decedent and another...

Section 9762. - 9762. (a) After authorization by order of court upon a...

Section 9763. - 9763. (a) If the decedent was a general partner, the...

Section 9764. - 9764. (a) The personal representative of the estate of a...

Section 9765. - 9765. (a) Commencing January 1, 2024, a professional fiduciary is...

CHAPTER 6 - Abandonment of Tangible Personal Property

Section 9780. - 9780. Unless the property is specifically devised, subject to the...

Section 9781. - 9781. Unless otherwise provided in the will, subject to the...

Section 9782. - 9782. (a) Except as provided in Section 9785, before disposing...

Section 9783. - 9783. A person described in Section 9782 may personally deliver...

Section 9784. - 9784. (a) A person described in Section 9782 who objects...

Section 9785. - 9785. Notice of the proposed disposition or abandonment need not...

Section 9786. - 9786. A person who objects to the disposition or abandonment...

Section 9787. - 9787. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), a person...

Section 9788. - 9788. (a) Notwithstanding Sections 9783 and 9784, the personal representative...

CHAPTER 7 - Borrowing, Refinancing, and Encumbering Property

Section 9800. - 9800. (a) Subject to subdivision (c), after authorization by order...

Section 9801. - 9801. If property of the estate consists of an undivided...

Section 9802. - 9802. (a) The personal representative or any interested person may...

Section 9803. - 9803. Notice of the hearing on the petition shall be...

Section 9804. - 9804. (a) Subject to subdivision (c), if the court is...

Section 9805. - 9805. (a) The personal representative shall execute and deliver the...

Section 9806. - 9806. (a) Every mortgage, deed of trust, or security interest...

Section 9807. - 9807. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), no judgment...

CHAPTER 8 - Actions and Proceedings by or Against Personal Representative

Section 9820. - 9820. The personal representative may: (a) Commence and maintain actions...

Section 9822. - 9822. The personal representative may bring an action on the...

Section 9823. - 9823. (a) If the decedent leaves an undivided interest in...

CHAPTER 9 - Compromise of Claims and Actions; Extension, Renewal, or Modification of Obligations

Section 9830. - 9830. (a) Unless this chapter or some other applicable statute...

Section 9831. - 9831. Unless the time for filing creditor claims has expired,...

Section 9832. - 9832. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), authorization by...

Section 9833. - 9833. Authorization by order of court is required for a...

Section 9834. - 9834. Authorization by order of court is required for any...

Section 9835. - 9835. Authorization by order of court is required for the...

Section 9836. - 9836. The court authorization required by this chapter shall be...

Section 9837. - 9837. (a) A petition for an order authorizing a compromise,...

Section 9838. - 9838. (a) If an order made under Section 9837 authorizes...

Section 9839. - 9839. If the personal representative pays a claim for less...

CHAPTER 10 - Acceptance of Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure or Trustee s Sale; Grant of Partial Satisfaction or Partial Reconveyance

Section 9850. - 9850. (a) If it is to the advantage of the...

Section 9851. - 9851. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (c), if it...

CHAPTER 12 - Purchase of Claims or Estate Property by Personal Representative or Personal Representative s Attorney

Section 9880. - 9880. Except as provided in this chapter, neither the personal...

Section 9881. - 9881. Upon a petition filed under Section 9883, the court...

Section 9882. - 9882. Upon a petition filed under Section 9883, the court...

Section 9883. - 9883. (a) The personal representative may file a petition requesting...

Section 9884. - 9884. This chapter does not prohibit the purchase of property...

Section 9885. - 9885. This chapter does not prevent the exercise by the...

CHAPTER 13 - Dedication or Conveyance to Governmental Entity; Easements and Access Rights

Section 9900. - 9900. If it is to the advantage of the estate...

Section 9901. - 9901. (a) The personal representative or any interested person may...

CHAPTER 14 - Exchange of Property

Section 9920. - 9920. If it is to the advantage of the estate...

Section 9921. - 9921. To obtain an order under this chapter, the personal...

Section 9922. - 9922. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), notice of...

Section 9923. - 9923. No omission, error, or irregularity in the proceedings under...

CHAPTER 15 - Leases

Section 9940. - 9940. For the purpose of this chapter: (a) “Lease” includes,...

Section 9941. - 9941. If it is to the advantage of the estate,...

Section 9942. - 9942. (a) The personal representative may lease, as lessor, real...

Section 9943. - 9943. (a) To obtain an order under this chapter, the...

Section 9944. - 9944. (a) Notice of the hearing on the petition shall...

Section 9945. - 9945. (a) At the hearing, the court shall entertain and...

Section 9946. - 9946. (a) Subject to Section 9947, an order authorizing the...

Section 9947. - 9947. (a) Except as provided in this section, the term...

Section 9948. - 9948. (a) The personal representative shall execute, acknowledge, and deliver...

CHAPTER 16 - Granting Option to Purchase Real Property

Section 9960. - 9960. After authorization by order of court obtained under this...

Section 9961. - 9961. To obtain an order under this chapter, the personal...

Section 9962. - 9962. The purchase price of the real property subject to...

Section 9963. - 9963. Notice of the hearing on the petition shall be...

Section 9964. - 9964. (a) The court shall make an order authorizing the...

Section 9965. - 9965. An option granted pursuant to an order made under...

Section 9966. - 9966. No omission, error, or irregularity in the proceedings under...

CHAPTER 17 - Option to Purchase Given in Will

Section 9980. - 9980. (a) Where an option to purchase real or personal...

Section 9981. - 9981. (a) Where an option to purchase real or personal...

Section 9982. - 9982. The court shall not make an order under this...

Section 9983. - 9983. No omission, error, or irregularity in the proceedings under...

CHAPTER 18 - Sales

ARTICLE 1 - General Provisions

Section 10000. - 10000. Subject to the limitations, conditions, and requirements of this...

Section 10001. - 10001. (a) If the personal representative neglects or refuses to...

Section 10002. - 10002. (a) Subject to subdivision (b), if directions are given...

Section 10003. - 10003. Subject to Part 4 (commencing with Section 21400) of...

Section 10004. - 10004. (a) Where the personal representative determines in his or...

Section 10005. - 10005. (a) If any property in the estate is sold...

Section 10006. - 10006. If property in the estate is to be sold...

ARTICLE 2 - Contract With Agent, Broker, or Auctioneer

Section 10150. - 10150. (a) The personal representative may enter into a written...

Section 10151. - 10151. (a) The personal representative may enter into a written...

ARTICLE 3 - Compensation of Agent, Broker, or Auctioneer

Section 10160. - 10160. The estate is not liable to an agent, broker,...

Section 10160.5. - 10160.5. The estate is not liable to an agent or...

Section 10161. - 10161. (a) Subject to the provisions of this article, whether...

Section 10162. - 10162. (a) Subject to subdivision (b), where the bid returned...

Section 10162.3. - 10162.3. (a) This section applies if all of the following...

Section 10162.5. - 10162.5. Subject to Section 10162.6, where an agent or broker...

Section 10162.6. - 10162.6. (a) This section applies if both of the following...

Section 10162.7. - 10162.7. (a) Subject to Section 10162.6, this section applies if...

Section 10163. - 10163. Subject to Sections 10162 and 10162.6, where the original...

Section 10164. - 10164. (a) This section applies only where the court confirms...

Section 10165. - 10165. (a) Subject to Section 10162.6, where the court confirms...

Section 10166. - 10166. Notwithstanding that a bid contains a condition that a...

Section 10167. - 10167. (a) Subject to subdivision (b), whether or not the...

Section 10168. - 10168. This article does not supersede any agreement cooperating agents...

ARTICLE 4 - Special Provisions Applicable to Particular Types of Property

Section 10200. - 10200. (a) As used in this section, “securities” means “security”...

Section 10201. - 10201. (a) For purposes of this section: (1) “Federal association”...

Section 10202. - 10202. Notwithstanding Section 10200, if an estate by reason of...

Section 10203. - 10203. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), where property...

Section 10204. - 10204. Property of the estate that consists of a partnership...

Section 10205. - 10205. A chose in action belonging to the estate may...

Section 10206. - 10206. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, if...

Section 10207. - 10207. (a) Real property suitable for a shift-in-land-use loan to...

ARTICLE 5 - Sale of Personal Property

Section 10250. - 10250. Subject to Sections 10251 and 10252 and except as...

Section 10251. - 10251. (a) If it is shown that it will be...

Section 10252. - 10252. Personal property may be sold with or without notice,...

Section 10253. - 10253. (a) The notice of sale given pursuant to Section...

Section 10254. - 10254. (a) Unless the court orders otherwise pursuant to subdivision...

Section 10255. - 10255. (a) A private sale of personal property may not...

Section 10256. - 10256. Whether a sale of personal property is private or...

Section 10257. - 10257. (a) Personal property may be sold for cash or...

Section 10258. - 10258. (a) On petition of the personal representative, the court...

Section 10259. - 10259. (a) Title to the following personal property passes upon...

Section 10260. - 10260. (a) Except as provided in Sections 10200, 10201, 10202,...

Section 10261. - 10261. (a) Except as provided in this subdivision, at the...

Section 10262. - 10262. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), if a...

Section 10263. - 10263. If notice of the sale was required, before an...

Section 10264. - 10264. No omission, error, or irregularity in the proceedings under...

ARTICLE 6 - Sale of Real Property

Section 10300. - 10300. (a) Except as provided in Sections 10301 to 10303,...

Section 10301. - 10301. (a) If it appears from the inventory and appraisal...

Section 10302. - 10302. (a) If it is shown that it will be...

Section 10303. - 10303. Real property may be sold with or without notice,...

Section 10304. - 10304. (a) The notice of sale given pursuant to this...

Section 10305. - 10305. (a) A sale of real property at public auction...

Section 10306. - 10306. (a) A private sale of real property may not...

Section 10307. - 10307. Whether a sale of real property is private or...

Section 10308. - 10308. (a) Except as provided in Section 10503, all sales...

Section 10309. - 10309. (a) Except as provided in Section 10207, no sale...

Section 10310. - 10310. (a) Except as provided in this subdivision, at the...

Section 10311. - 10311. (a) Subject to subdivisions (b), (c), (d), and (e),...

Section 10312. - 10312. If notice of the sale was required, before an...

Section 10313. - 10313. (a) The court shall make an order confirming the...

Section 10314. - 10314. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), upon confirmation...

Section 10315. - 10315. (a) If a sale is made on credit, the...

Section 10316. - 10316. No omission, error, or irregularity in the proceedings under...

ARTICLE 7 - Vacating Sale for Purchaser s Default; Liability of Defaulting Purchaser for Damages

Section 10350. - 10350. (a) If after court confirmation of sale of real...

Section 10351. - 10351. (a) The court may vacate the order of confirmation...

ARTICLE 8 - Application of Sale Proceeds of Encumbered Property; Sale to Lienholder

Section 10360. - 10360. As used in this article: (a) “Amount secured by...

Section 10361. - 10361. (a) If encumbered property is sold, the purchase money...

Section 10361.5. - 10361.5. The personal representative or any interested party may, at...

Section 10361.6. - 10361.6. (a) At least 30 days prior to the day...

Section 10362. - 10362. (a) If encumbered property is sold, the purchase money,...

Section 10363. - 10363. (a) At a sale of real or personal property...

ARTICLE 9 - Damages and Recovery of Property

Section 10380. - 10380. The personal representative is liable to an interested person...

Section 10381. - 10381. In addition to any other damages for which the...

Section 10382. - 10382. (a) No action for the recovery of property sold...