California Code
Probate Code - PROB
DIVISION 2 - GENERAL PROVISIONS

PART 1 - EFFECT OF DEATH OF MARRIED PERSON ON COMMUNITY AND QUASI-COMMUNITY PROPERTY

Section 100. - 100. (a) Upon the death of a person who is...

Section 101. - 101. (a) Upon the death of a person who is...

Section 102. - 102. (a) The decedent’s surviving spouse may require the transferee...

Section 103. - 103. Except as provided by Section 224, if spouses die...

Section 104. - 104. Notwithstanding Section 100, community property held in a revocable...

Section 104.5. - 104.5. Transfer of community and quasi-community property to a revocable...

Section 105. - 105. This part does not apply where the decedent died...

PART 2 - SURVIVING SPOUSE'S RIGHT IN CALIFORNIA REAL PROPERTY OF NONDOMICILIARY DECEDENT

Section 120. - 120. If a married person dies not domiciled in this...

PART 3 - CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS RELATING TO RIGHTS AT DEATH

CHAPTER 1 - Surviving Spouse s Waiver of Rights

Section 140. - 140. As used in this chapter, “waiver” means a waiver...

Section 141. - 141. (a) The right of a surviving spouse to any...

Section 142. - 142. (a) A waiver under this chapter shall be in...

Section 143. - 143. (a) Subject to Section 142, a waiver is enforceable...

Section 144. - 144. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), subject to...

Section 145. - 145. Unless the waiver or property settlement provides to the...

Section 146. - 146. (a) As used in this section, “agreement” means a...

Section 147. - 147. (a) Subject to subdivisions (c) and (d), a waiver,...

PART 4 - ESTABLISHING AND REPORTING FACT OF DEATH

CHAPTER 1 - Proceedings to Establish Death

Section 200. - 200. If title to or an interest in real or...

Section 201. - 201. (a) Proceedings under this chapter shall be commenced in...

Section 202. - 202. If proceedings for the administration of the decedent’s estate...

Section 203. - 203. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), notice of...

Section 204. - 204. (a) The petition and supporting affidavits may be received...

CHAPTER 2 - Recording Evidence of Death

Section 210. - 210. If title to real property is affected by the...

Section 211. - 211. (a) A document establishing the fact of death recorded...

Section 212. - 212. A document establishing the fact of the death of...

CHAPTER 3 - Reporting Fact of Death

Section 215. - 215. Where a deceased person has received or may have...

Section 216. - 216. (a) For the purposes of this section “confined” means...

Section 217. - 217. (a) A business that receives an oral or written...

PART 5 - SIMULTANEOUS DEATH

CHAPTER 1 - General Provisions

Section 220. - 220. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, if the...

Section 221. - 221. (a) This chapter does not apply in any case...

Section 222. - 222. (a) If property is so disposed of that the...

Section 223. - 223. (a) As used in this section, “joint tenants” includes...

Section 224. - 224. If the insured and a beneficiary under a policy...

Section 226. - 226. This chapter does not apply where a person the...

CHAPTER 2 - Proceedings to Determine Survival

Section 230. - 230. A petition may be filed under this chapter for...

Section 231. - 231. A petition may be filed under this chapter by...

Section 232. - 232. (a) The petition shall be filed in the estate...

Section 233. - 233. Notice of the hearing on the petition shall be...

Section 234. - 234. If the court determines that the named persons are...

PART 6 - DISTRIBUTION AMONG HEIRS OR BENEFICIARIES

CHAPTER 1 - Intestate Distribution System

Section 240. - 240. If a statute calls for property to be distributed...

Section 241. - 241. Section 240 does not apply where the death of...

CHAPTER 2 - Distribution Under a Will, Trust, or Other Instrument

Section 245. - 245. (a) Where a will, trust, or other instrument calls...

Section 246. - 246. (a) Where a will, trust, or other instrument calls...

Section 247. - 247. (a) Where a will, trust, or other instrument calls...

CHAPTER 3 - Identity of Heirs

Section 248. - 248. When title to real or personal property, or any...

Section 248.5. - 248.5. The clerk shall set the petition for hearing by...

Section 249. - 249. At any time before the hearing any person interested...

Section 249.5. - 249.5. For purposes of determining rights to property to be...

Section 249.6. - 249.6. (a) Upon timely receipt of the notice required by...

Section 249.7. - 249.7. If the written notice required pursuant to Section 249.5...

Section 249.8. - 249.8. Notwithstanding Section 249.6, any interested person may file a...

PART 7 - EFFECT OF HOMICIDE OR ABUSE OF AN ELDER OR DEPENDENT ADULT

Section 250. - 250. (a) A person who feloniously and intentionally kills the...

Section 251. - 251. A joint tenant who feloniously and intentionally kills another...

Section 252. - 252. A named beneficiary of a bond, life insurance policy,...

Section 253. - 253. In any case not described in Section 250, 251,...

Section 254. - 254. (a) A final judgment of conviction of felonious and...

Section 255. - 255. This part does not affect the rights of any...

Section 256. - 256. An insurance company, financial institution, or other obligor making...

Section 257. - 257. This part does not apply where the decedent was...

Section 258. - 258. A person who feloniously and intentionally kills the decedent...

Section 259. - 259. (a) Any person shall be deemed to have predeceased...

PART 8 - DISCLAIMER OF TESTAMENTARY AND OTHER INTERESTS

CHAPTER 1 - Definitions

Section 260. - 260. Unless the provision or context otherwise requires, the definitions...

Section 262. - 262. “Beneficiary” means the person entitled, but for the person’s...

Section 263. - 263. (a) “Creator of the interest” means a person who...

Section 264. - 264. “Disclaimant” means a beneficiary who executes a disclaimer on...

Section 265. - 265. “Disclaimer” means any writing which declines, refuses, renounces, or...

Section 266. - 266. “Employee benefit plan” includes, but is not limited to,...

Section 267. - 267. (a) “Interest” includes the whole of any property, real...

CHAPTER 2 - General Provisions

Section 275. - 275. A beneficiary may disclaim any interest, in whole or...

Section 276. - 276. A disclaimer on behalf of a conservatee shall be...

Section 277. - 277. (a) A disclaimer on behalf of a minor shall...

Section 278. - 278. The disclaimer shall be in writing, shall be signed...

Section 279. - 279. (a) A disclaimer to be effective shall be filed...

Section 280. - 280. (a) A disclaimer shall be filed with any of...

Section 281. - 281. A disclaimer, when effective, is irrevocable and binding upon...

Section 282. - 282. (a) Unless the creator of the interest provides for...

Section 283. - 283. A disclaimer is not a voidable transfer by the...

Section 284. - 284. A person who could file a disclaimer under this...

Section 285. - 285. (a) A disclaimer may not be made after the...

Section 286. - 286. The right to disclaim exists regardless of any limitation...

Section 287. - 287. An interest created before January 1, 1984, that has...

Section 288. - 288. This part does not limit or abridge any right...

CHAPTER 3 - Disclaimers Effective Under Federal Law

Section 295. - 295. Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, if as...

PART 9 - TRUST COMPANY AS FIDUCIARY

Section 300. - 300. A trust company may be appointed to act as...

Section 301. - 301. (a) A trust company appointed to act as a...

PART 10 - IMMEDIATE STEPS CONCERNING DECEDENT'S TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY AND SAFE DEPOSIT BOX

Section 330. - 330. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), a public...

Section 331. - 331. (a) This section applies only to a safe deposit...

PART 11 - FIDUCIARIES' WARTIME SUBSTITUTION LAW

CHAPTER 1 - General Provisions

ARTICLE 1 - Short Title and Definitions

Section 350. - 350. This part may be cited as the Fiduciaries’ Wartime...

Section 351. - 351. Unless the provision or context otherwise requires, the definitions...

Section 352. - 352. “Consultant” means a person, other than a trustee, designated...

Section 353. - 353. “Estate” means a trust estate, a decedent’s estate, a...

Section 354. - 354. “Interested person” means, in addition to the meaning given...

Section 355. - 355. “Original fiduciary” means a fiduciary who is replaced by...

Section 356. - 356. A fiduciary or consultant is engaged in war service...

ARTICLE 2 - Scope of Part

Section 360. - 360. This part applies to all fiduciaries and consultants, whether...

Section 361. - 361. This part does not apply to the extent an...

ARTICLE 3 - Procedural Provisions

Section 365. - 365. Proceedings under this part are in the court having...

Section 366. - 366. Notice of a hearing under this part shall be...

CHAPTER 2 - Appointment of Substitute Fiduciary

Section 370. - 370. If a fiduciary is engaged in war service, on...

Section 371. - 371. A substitute fiduciary has all the powers, including discretionary...

Section 372. - 372. Except as otherwise ordered by the court, a substitute...

Section 373. - 373. After the expiration of an original fiduciary’s war service,...

Section 374. - 374. A substitute fiduciary or an original fiduciary reinstated under...

CHAPTER 3 - Delegation of Powers

ARTICLE 1 - Delegation by Fiduciary

Section 380. - 380. (a) A fiduciary who is or will be engaged...

Section 381. - 381. The right of delegation does not exist to the...

Section 382. - 382. After the expiration of the original fiduciary’s war service,...

Section 383. - 383. The original fiduciary is not liable for the acts...

ARTICLE 2 - Delegation by Consultant

Section 385. - 385. (a) A consultant who is or will be engaged...

Section 386. - 386. If a consultant who is engaged in war service...

Section 387. - 387. If a consultant has delegated or the court has...

Section 388. - 388. A consultant who delegates powers under this article is...

PART 12 - PROBATE REFEREES

CHAPTER 1 - Appointment and Revocation

Section 400. - 400. (a) The Controller shall appoint at least one person...

Section 401. - 401. (a) Appointment shall be from among persons passing a...

Section 402. - 402. (a) The qualification examination for applicants for appointment to...

Section 403. - 403. (a) The term of office of a probate referee...

Section 404. - 404. (a) The Controller shall establish and may amend standards...

Section 405. - 405. Notwithstanding Section 404, the Controller may, at the Controller’s...

Section 406. - 406. (a) The authority of a person to act as...

Section 407. - 407. (a) As used in this section, “prohibited political activity”...

Section 408. - 408. The appointment of a probate referee by the Controller...

CHAPTER 2 - Powers of Probate Referee

Section 450. - 450. Upon designation by the court, the probate referee has...

Section 451. - 451. (a) For the purpose of appraisal of property in...

Section 452. - 452. (a) The probate referee may: (1) Examine and take...

Section 453. - 453. (a) On petition of a person required to appear...

PART 13 - LITIGATION INVOLVING DECEDENT

CHAPTER 1 - Liability of Decedent Covered byInsurance

Section 550. - 550. (a) Subject to the provisions of this chapter, an...

Section 551. - 551. Notwithstanding Section 366.2 of the Code of Civil Procedure,...

Section 552. - 552. (a) An action under this chapter shall name as...

Section 553. - 553. The insurer may deny or otherwise contest its liability...

Section 554. - 554. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), either the...

Section 555. - 555. (a) This chapter does not apply to an action...

PART 14 - POWERS OF APPOINTMENT

CHAPTER 1 - General Provisions

Section 600. - 600. Except to the extent that the common law rules...

Section 601. - 601. If the law existing at the time of the...

CHAPTER 2 - Definitions; Classification of Powers of Appointment

Section 610. - 610. As used in this part: (a) “Appointee” means the...

Section 611. - 611. (a) A power of appointment is “general” only to...

Section 612. - 612. (a) A power of appointment is “testamentary” if it...

Section 613. - 613. A power of appointment is “imperative” where the creating...

CHAPTER 3 - Creation of Powers of Appointment

Section 620. - 620. A power of appointment can be created only by...

Section 621. - 621. (a) A power of appointment is created only if...

CHAPTER 4 - Exercise of Powers of Appointment

ARTICLE 1 - Donee s Capacity

Section 625. - 625. (a) A power of appointment can be exercised only...

ARTICLE 2 - Scope of Donee s Authority

Section 630. - 630. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this part, if...

Section 631. - 631. (a) Where an appointment does not satisfy the formal...

Section 632. - 632. If the creating instrument expressly directs that a power...

Section 633. - 633. (a) If the creating instrument requires the consent of...

Section 634. - 634. A power of appointment created in favor of two...

Section 635. - 635. Nothing in this chapter affects the power of a...

ARTICLE 3 - Donee s Required Intent

Section 640. - 640. (a) The exercise of a power of appointment requires...

Section 641. - 641. (a) A general residuary clause in a will, or...

Section 642. - 642. If a power of appointment existing at the powerholder’s...

ARTICLE 4 - Types of Appointments

Section 650. - 650. (a) The powerholder of a general power of appointment...

Section 651. - 651. Subject to the limitations imposed by the creating instrument,...

Section 652. - 652. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), the powerholder...

ARTICLE 5 - Contracts to Appoint; Releases

Section 660. - 660. (a) The powerholder of a power of appointment that...

Section 661. - 661. (a) Unless the creating instrument otherwise provides, a general...

Section 662. - 662. (a) A release on behalf of a minor powerholder...

CHAPTER 5 - Effect of Failure to Make Effective Appointment

Section 670. - 670. An exercise of a power of appointment is not...

Section 671. - 671. (a) Unless the creating instrument or the powerholder, in...

Section 672. - 672. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), if the...

Section 673. - 673. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), if an...

Section 674. - 674. (a) Unless the creating instrument expressly provides otherwise, if...

Section 675. - 675. If a powerholder exercises a power of appointment in...

Section 676. - 676. Unless the terms of the instrument creating or exercising...

CHAPTER 6 - Rights of Creditors

Section 680. - 680. The donor of a power of appointment cannot nullify...

Section 681. - 681. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), property covered...

Section 682. - 682. (a) To the extent that the property owned by...

Section 683. - 683. Property subject to a general power of appointment created...

Section 684. - 684. For the purposes of Sections 682 and 683, a...

CHAPTER 7 - Rule Against Perpetuities

Section 690. - 690. The statutory rule against perpetuities provided by Part 2...

CHAPTER 8 - Revocability of Creation, Exercise, or Release of Power of Appointment

Section 695. - 695. (a) Unless the power to revoke is in the...

PART 15 - DEPOSIT OF ESTATE PLANNING DOCUMENTS WITH ATTORNEY

CHAPTER 1 - Definitions

Section 700. - 700. Unless the provision or context otherwise requires, the definitions...

Section 701. - 701. “Attorney” means an individual licensed to practice law in...

Section 702. - 702. “Deposit” means delivery of a document by a depositor...

Section 703. - 703. “Depositor” means a natural person who deposits the person’s...

Section 704. - 704. “Document” means any of the following: (a) A signed...

CHAPTER 2 - Duties and Liabilities of Attorney

Section 710. - 710. If a document is deposited with an attorney, the...

Section 711. - 711. If a document deposited with an attorney is lost...

Section 712. - 712. Notwithstanding failure of an attorney to satisfy the standard...

Section 713. - 713. The acceptance by an attorney of a document for...

Section 714. - 714. (a) If so provided in a written agreement signed...

Section 715. - 715. An attorney may give written notice to a depositor,...

Section 716. - 716. Notwithstanding Section 710, if an attorney has given written...

CHAPTER 3 - Termination of Deposit

ARTICLE 1 - Termination by Depositor

Section 720. - 720. A depositor may terminate a deposit on demand, in...

ARTICLE 2 - Termination by Attorney

Section 730. - 730. An attorney with whom a document has been deposited,...

Section 731. - 731. An attorney may terminate the deposit by one of...

Section 732. - 732. (a) An attorney may terminate a deposit under this...

Section 733. - 733. (a) An attorney transferring one or more documents under...

Section 734. - 734. (a) In cases not governed by subdivision (b) or...

Section 735. - 735. (a) If the attorney is deceased or lacks legal...

PART 16 - JURISDICTION

Section 800. - 800. The court in proceedings under this code is a...

Section 801. - 801. The court, on its own motion or on the...

PART 17 - LEGAL MENTAL CAPACITY

Section 810. - 810. The Legislature finds and declares the following: (a) For...

Section 811. - 811. (a) A determination that a person is of unsound...

Section 812. - 812. Except where otherwise provided by law, including, but not...

Section 813. - 813. (a) For purposes of a judicial determination, a person...

PART 18 - RIGHT TO TRIAL

Section 825. - 825. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this code, there...

PART 19 - CONVEYANCE OR TRANSFER OF PROPERTY CLAIMED TO BELONG TO DECEDENT OR OTHER PERSON

Section 850. - 850. (a) The following persons may file a petition requesting...

Section 851. - 851. (a) At least 30 days prior to the day...

Section 851.1. - 851.1. A petitioner in a proceeding under Section 850 may...

Section 852. - 852. An interested person may request time for filing a...

Section 853. - 853. A person having or claiming title to or an...

Section 854. - 854. If a civil action is pending with respect to...

Section 855. - 855. An action brought under this part may include claims,...

Section 856. - 856. Except as provided in Sections 853 and 854, if...

Section 856.5. - 856.5. The court may not grant a petition under this...

Section 857. - 857. (a) The order is prima facie evidence of the...

Section 858. - 858. If a proceeding has been brought under this part...

Section 859. - 859. If a court finds that a person has in...

PART 20 - Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act

Section 870. - 870. This part shall be known, and may be cited,...

Section 871. - 871. As used in this part, the following terms shall...

Section 872. - 872. (a) This part shall apply to any of the...

Section 873. - 873. (a) A user may use an online tool to...

Section 874. - 874. (a) This part does not change or impair a...

Section 875. - 875. (a) When disclosing the digital assets of a user...

Section 876. - 876. If a deceased user consented to or a court...

Section 877. - 877. Unless the user prohibited disclosure of digital assets or...

Section 878. - 878. Unless otherwise ordered by the court, directed by the...

Section 879. - 879. Unless otherwise ordered by the court, directed by the...

Section 880. - 880. (a) The legal duties imposed on a fiduciary charged...

Section 881. - 881. (a) Not later than 60 days after receipt of...

Section 882. - 882. This part modifies, limits, or supersedes the federal Electronic...

Section 883. - 883. Disclosure of the contents of the deceased user’s or...

Section 884. - 884. If any provision of this part or its application...

PART 21 - Periodic Adjustment of Dollar Amounts

Section 890. - 890. (a) On April 1, 2022, and at each three-year...