Free Tools and Information
for Alameda County, CA Consumers

California Inheritance Law & Probate Procedure

• California PROBATE COURT FINDER:
  
  • Probate Court for Alameda County: Key information about your local probate court (Circuit Court in California) for Alameda County.
• How Probate Works in California: How to handle the probate of an inheritance at Alameda County's probate court.
  • Here are links to:
    • California Probate Forms and the
    • California State Probate Court Website.
• Small Estates Procedures in California: Learn how to use California's Small Estate procedures that can save you time and money.

  • You can use an Affidavit in Illinois for estates with less than $100,000, not counting liens or encumbrances (like a mortgage).

    755 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/25-1 and following.

    You can use a summary probate procedure for estates in which the value of the probate estate is less than $100,000. All heirs and benefiaries must consent in writing. 

    755 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/9-8 and following.

• California Estate Taxes:

  • The state of Illinois imposes an estate tax on property owned in Illinois. If you are inheriting property from the state of Illinois, it may be subject to estate tax if the overall value of the estate is more than $4,000,000.

• Avoiding Probate in California. Find out what property bypasses probate death and goes directly to beneficiaries. such as:
  • Transfer on Death Deeds (TODDs)

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Bankruptcy & Debt

• MEANS TEST CALCULATOR
  • for Alameda County, California (applies the state and county income and expense standards into your means test calculation. Updated with the latest median income and expense standards for May 15, 2024)
• California BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTION FINDER: Search detailed listings of bankruptcy exemptions under California law and Federal law, for use in filing out Schedule C, when you file for bankruptcy. 
  • Federal Exemptions available in California?:  

    • No. 735 Ill. Comp. Stat. § 5/12-1201

  • California Homestead Exemption

    • Real or personal property including a farm, lot, & buildings, condo, co-op, or mobile home to $15,000 (husband and wife may double); sale proceeds exempt for 1 year

  • California Vehicle Exemption

    • $2,400

• California BANKRUPTCY COURT ESSENTIAL INFO: Get information about using your local bankruptcy court.
• FREE BANKRUPTCY FORMS:
  We'll tell you which bankruptcy forms you need and where to find them.

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Democracy In California, Alameda County, Livermore 

• Elected Representatives: Find out the websites and phone numbers of those representing you at the Federal, State, County, and City levels of government.
• How to Vote: Learn how to register and where and when to vote in Alameda County, CA.
  • Key Links:
    • Check Your California Voter Registration Status: https://ova.elections.il.gov/RegistrationLookup.aspx
• Gerrymandering in California: Has your state been gerrymandered? Find out how to end gerrymandering and have voters pick politicians, not vice versa.
• Tracking Issues: Organizations that track legislation you care about 

 

California Unemployment Benefits

• Benefit Amounts in California: Learn how unemployment works, how much you'll get, and for how long.
  • Minimum: 
    • $51 per week
  • Maximum: 
    • $578 per week
  • Duration: 

    • In Illinois, you can receive unemployment benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks.

• Eligibility: >Whether you qualify for unemployment.
• How to Apply: How to apply for unemployment in California.
  • Illinois Department of Employment Security 
    • 800-244-5631
• Unemployment Office Near Me? How to find your local unemployment office.
• COVID-19 Benefits: We tracked the rise and fall of COVID-19 unemployment benefit payments.

• California Wage & Hour Law

  • California Minimum Wage:  

    • The minimum wage in Illinois is $14 an hour. Because this is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25, employees in Illinois must be paid at least $14 an hour.  

      Alameda County Minimum Wage

      The minimum wage in Alameda County is $14 an hour, the state minimum wage. However, cities and counties in California are free to adopt their own higher minimum wage, and dozens of cities and counties across the country have done so. To find out whether Alameda County has passed its own minimum wage law since we last updated, visit http://www.acgov.org/.

  • Overtime Pay: Every state has rules about weekly maximum hours and overtime. Learn about the overtime laws in California and whether they apply to you.
  • Wage Claims: If you're being unlawfully underpaid, you need to learn how to file a "Wage Claim" in California. 
  • Tips : Every state has special pay rates for tipped workers. Find out the rules for tipped workers in California.

    • In California, your employer may pay you a minimum wage of no less than $8.40 an hour, as long as you earn enough in tips to bring your total hourly pay up to the full minimum wage, $14 an hour. If you don’t earn enough in tips to bring your compensation to the full minimum wage, your employer must make up the difference.

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Find a Lawyer in Alameda County, CA

• Our Lawyers by Zipcode section allows users to find a local lawyer using the best online resources, including on topics we don't cover.
• DUI, Criminal Defense
• Auto Accidents & Personal Injury
• Immigration
• Legal Aid
  • Illinois Legal Aid Online 

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