Free Tools and Information
for , Consumers

Inheritance Law & Probate Procedure

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

  • For property that did not have a beneficiary designation or was not in a living trust, there may be "simplified probate" procedures or "small estate affidavit" procedures in for transferring certain kinds of property at death, which can avoid the cost and time of a full-blown court-supervised probate proceeding.

     

• Estate Taxes:

  • , like most states, does not impose an estate or inheritance tax. Only a few states do.

• Avoiding Probate in . 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 Sonoma County,  (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)
• BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTION FINDER: Search detailed listings of bankruptcy exemptions under law and Federal law, for use in filing out Schedule C, when you file for bankruptcy. 
  • Federal Exemptions available in ?:  

    • Although the federal bankruptcy code provides a list of exemptions, these exemptions are not available in . law requires you to use the exemptions found in state law -- not the U.S. bankruptcy code.

  • Homestead Exemption
  • Vehicle Exemption
• 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 , Sonoma County,  

• 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 , .
  • Key Links:
    • Check Your Voter Registration Status:
• Gerrymandering in : 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 

 

Unemployment Benefits

• Benefit Amounts in : Learn how unemployment works, how much you'll get, and for how long.
  • Minimum: 
  • Maximum: 
  • Duration: 

    • In , 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 .
  •  
• 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.

• Wage & Hour Law

  • Minimum Wage:  

    • The minimum wage in is the same as the federal minimum wage: $7.25 an hour. 

      Sonoma County Minimum Wage

      The minimum wage in Sonoma County is $7.25 an hour, the state minimum wage. To find out if Sonoma County has passed its own minimum wage law, visit https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Home/.

  • Overtime Pay: Every state has rules about weekly maximum hours and overtime. Learn about the overtime laws in 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 . 
  • Tips : Every state has special pay rates for tipped workers. Find out the rules for tipped workers in .

    • In , your employer may pay you a minimum wage of $2.13 an hour, as long as you earn enough in tips to bring your total hourly pay up to the full minimum wage, $7.25 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 ,

• 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
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