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California law

Estate Planning Laws in California.

California estate-planning and probate work is governed primarily by the California Probate Code, which covers wills, intestate succession, trusts, probate administration, conservatorships, powers of attorney, and health-care directives. California law strongly favors revocable living trusts as a probate-avoidance tool, which shapes much of the state’s estate-planning practice.

Last verified: 2026-04-17

State law

Key California Statutes

California Probate Code — TrustsCal. Prob. Code §§ 15000 et seq.

California’s Trust Law governs creation, modification, administration, and termination of trusts, including trustee duties, beneficiary rights, and trust contests.

California Probate Code — Wills and Intestate SuccessionCal. Prob. Code §§ 6100 et seq., 6400 et seq.

California governs the formal requirements of wills and the rules of intestate succession when there is no valid will.

California’s Power of Attorney Law governs the creation and scope of durable powers of attorney for financial and property decisions.

State law

Official Sources

Not Legal Advice

This page summarizes publicly available statutes and rules for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by viewing this content. Laws change — always verify with the primary source or consult a licensed attorney in California.

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