Santa Clara County, CA Consumer Law

Free Tools and Information for Santa Clara County, CA Consumers

California Inheritance Law & Probate Procedure

• California PROBATE COURT FINDER:
  
  • Probate Court for Santa Clara County: Key information about your local probate court (Probate Court in California) for Santa Clara County.
• How Probate Works in California: How to handle the probate of an inheritance at Santa Clara 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 Maine for estates with less than $40,000, not counting liens or encumbrances (like a mortgage). There is a thirty-day waiting period.

    Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. 3-1201 and following.

    You can use a summary probate procedure for estates in which the value of the estate, less liens or encumbrances, doesn't exceed the homestead allowance, exempt property, family allowance, and cots of administration, funeral expenses, and last illness expenses.

    Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. 3-1203 and following.

    A surviving spouse who inherits everything outright can also use a summary probate procedure.

• California Estate Taxes:

  • The state of Maine imposes an estate tax on property owned in Maine. If you are inheriting property from the state of Maine, it may be subject to estate tax if the overall value of the estate is more than $6,410,000.

• 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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California Wage & Hour Law

• California Minimum Wage:  

  • The minimum wage in Maine is $14.15 an hour. Because this is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25, employees in Maine must be paid at least $14.15 an hour.

    Santa Clara County Minimum Wage

    The minimum wage in Santa Clara County is $14.15 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 Santa Clara County has passed its own minimum wage law since we last updated, visit  https://www.sccgov.org/sites/scc/Documents/home.html.

    Sunnyvale Minimum Wage    

    In the city of Sunnyvale, the minimum wage is $18.55 an hour currently.

• 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 $7.08 an hour, as long as you earn enough in tips to bring your total hourly pay up to the full minimum wage, $14.15 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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Bankruptcy & Debt

• MEANS TEST CALCULATOR
  • for Santa Clara 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 April 1, 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. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 14, § 4426.

  • California Homestead Exemption

    • Real or personal property (including cooperative) used as residence to $80,000; if debtor has minor dependents in residence, to $160,000; if debtor over age 60 or physically or mentally disabled, $160,000 (joint debtors in this category may double); proceeds of sale exempt for six months

  • California Vehicle Exemption

    • $10,000

• 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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California Unemployment Benefits

• Benefit Amounts in California: Learn how unemployment works, how much you'll get, and for how long.
  • Minimum: 
    • $100 per week
  • Maximum: 
    • $573 per week
  • Duration: 

    • In California, you can receive unemployment benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks under state law. 

• Eligibility: >Whether you qualify for unemployment.
• How to Apply: How to apply for unemployment in California.
  • Maine Department of Labor 
    • 800-593-7660
• 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.

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Democracy In California, Santa Clara County, Sunnyvale 

• 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 Santa Clara County, CA.
• 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 

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Find a Lawyer in Santa Clara 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

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