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