California Resources
California Probate Code (via California Legislature)
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Revenue & Taxation Code - Prohibition of Gift & Death Taxes (via California Legislature)
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Probate Forms
Official Probate forms from the State of California
www.courts.ca.gov
California Probate Courts
Click here for a guide to California probate courts.
www.courts.ca.gov
Simplified Procedures to Transfer an Estate in Calfornia
California court online guide to simplified probate procedures.
selfhelp.courts.ca.gov
California's Law of Intestacy
Click here to read California's intestacy laws.
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Transfer on Death Deeds. Videos on How to Use Them
Overview of the purpose and use of the TOD deed. Real estate mediator Jim Hildreth gives details on California’s has a new (2016) option for transferring a home to your heirs: the Revocable Transfer on Death (TOD) deed, also called a beneficiary deed. A homeowner can transfer their primary residence to a named beneficiary or beneficiaries upon the owner’s death without a probate proceeding. Applicable forms are available from the Sacramento County Public Law Library’s website.
saclaw.org
California Transfer on Death (TOD) Deed: Naming Beneficiaries and Revoking TOD Deeds
As of Jan. 1, 2022, TOD deeds must now be signed by two witnesses, and after the donor dies, the beneficiaries must notify all heirs and file multiple papers.
saclaw.org
California’s Transfer on Death deed: One option to avoid probate on your home
The Sacramento County Public Law Library has created an excellent online tutorial about using transfer on deeds in California. In addition to step-by-step instructions, they include a video that explains the law, why it is safe to use, and who it is ideal for.
saclaw.org
Transferring Estate Property after Death: Probate and Affidavits
saclaw.org
Resources Applicable to All States
IRS website
The IRS website has the forms and information that you need to get a tax identification number (EIN) for an estate or trust.
www
Department of Veterans Affairs Search Tool for Unclaimed Life Insurance Policies
www.insurance.va.gov
California Probate Court Finder ("Circuit Court")
Probate is handed by the "Circuit Court" in California. Use this link to find the Circuit Court in Ventura County or any California county.
www.courts.state.hi.us
Map showing state inheritance tax rates
www.legalconsumer.com
Capital Gains Tax Rate Calculator
Use this calculator to figure out how much state and federal capital gains taxes would be due upon sale.
www.moneychimp.com
How Financial Aid Counts Custodial Accounts
Read this short article to find out how custodial accounts are counted for financial aid calculations.
finaid.org
When custodial accounts terminate in each state
Click here for a table that shows the age of termination for custodial accounts in each state.
www.finaid.org
eForms: Small Estate Affidavit for California
eForms offers outstanding tools for those looking to handle their own inheritance law matters. They provide fill-in the blank small estate affidavit templates to generate official PDF forms for every state, and provide helpful video tutorials explaining how to use the forms in accordance with California law.
eforms.com
FAQs for IRA Withdrawals from IRS
Summary of the IRA withdrawal options and tax consequences from the IRS.
www.irs.gov
IRS information on taxes to file after a death
IRS summary of taxes that need to be filed after a death with links to tax forms.
www.irs.gov
Map showing combined state and federal capital gains tax rates by state
Table showing combined state and federal capital gains tax rates for each state.
taxfoundation.org
Directory by State for Ordering Death Certificates
Table listing where to order death certificates and other vital records in each state.
www.cdc.gov
State Departments of Motor Vehicles
This is a map with links to each state's department of motor vehicles.
dmv.nv.gov
How to Obtain a Death Certificate In California
The Center For Disease Control maintains these helpful pages for people looking for vial records,
www.cdc.gov
IRS Estate and Gift Tax Update
www.irs.gov
Summary of California's Intestate Succession Laws
A summary of how intestate succession laws work in California.
www.nolo.com
IRS Publication 590-B (2021), Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs)
www.irs.gov
County Property Recorders Directory for California (Deeds.com)
www.deeds.com
OnlineSearches.com Public Land Records Searching for California
www.publicrecords.onlinesearches.com
IRS Instructions for Inherited IRAs
IRS guidance on what you need to do if you’ve inherited an IRA.
www.irs.gov
eForms Transfer on Death Deeds
Transfer on death deeds are available in 30 states.
eforms.com
Naming a TOD Beneficiary for Your Car (Nolo)
If your state allows it, consider naming a transfer-on-death (TOD) beneficiary for your vehicles. Here's Nolo's summary of how the process works.
www.nolo.com
The Complete List of States with Estate Taxes (Updated for 2024)
Excellent resource for estate tax information at the state level.
www.jrcinsurancegroup.com
VIDEO: Are you obligated to pay your deceased spouse's credit cards?
This discussion gives you an excellent understanding of how probate works with unsecured debts like credit cards.
youtu.be
The problem with Ladybird Deeds
Discusses issues that can happen with Ladybird Deeds, and pay on death deeds generally, involving refinancing and other issues. Some concerns are valid, but others are remote or solvable, or involve cases with multiple owners or beneficiaries. TOD and ladybird deeds are ideal when t
youtu.be
How a New Owner Claims Transfer on Death Real Estate (Nolo)
Nolo's take on how a new owner takes ownership of a TOD deed after the owner has died.
www.nolo.com
Transfer-on-Death Deeds: An Overview
Nolo's overview of how TODDs work.
www.nolo.com
Transfer on Death Deed Form
Offers electronic versions of state-specific TOD forms for 30 states.
eforms.com
WillMaker Manual on Transfer on Death Deeds
The legal manual for Nolo's WillMaker is available for free online and contains lots of useful up-to-date information about transfer on death deeds in the in the states that allow them.
www.willmaker.com
Eldercare Locator: Elder Rights
Welcome to the Eldercare Locator, a public service of the Administration for Community Living connecting you to services for older adults and their families. You can also reach us at 1-800-677-1116.
eldercare.acl.gov
PensionHelp.org - Resources
In addition to the resources provided through PensionHelp America, the government agencies and resources listed below may provide assistance to individuals who have experience problems with issues related to pension issues. Private-Sector Pensions Railroad Retirement Pensions Federal Civil Service Pensions Pension Counseling and Information Program National Pension Lawyers Network Pension Assistance List Seniors and Aging Social Security Medicare and Medicaid Veterans’ Benefits Elder Legal Services Employment Law Organized Labor BenefitsCheckUp Financial Planning Retirement Calculators
www.pensionhelp.org
Pension Rights Center
The Pension Rights Center is here to help. If you have a question about a pension, 401(k), or other retirement plan, a pension counseling project may be able to provide you with free legal assistance. Not located within a pension counseling project’s service area? Our PensionHelp America website can refer you to a government agency, legal services or other nonprofit organization that can advise you, or we may be able to find you an attorney through our National Pension Lawyers Network.
pensionrights.org