Butte County, CA Consumer Law

Tools and Resources for Butte County, CA Consumers

California Inheritance Law & Probate Procedure

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

  • In California, there is an Affidavit procedure available as long as the personal property does not exceed $184,000. There's a 40-day waiting period. Cal. Prob. Code 13050.

    There's also an Affidavit procedure that you can use if you have real property worth less than $50,000 (of which there is not much in the Golden State); there's a six month waiting period for this. Cal. Prob. Code 13200 and following.

     You can also use an Affidavit to collect up to $15,000 of salary and other compensation (including unused vacation time) owed to the deceased spouse. Cal. Prob. Code 13600.

    There's also a summary probate procedure that's available for estates worth less than $150,000. This dollar value doesn't count real property outside of California, property that passes by joint tenancy, property left outright to a surviving spouse, life insurance or other assets that pass by beneficiary designation, and property held in living trusts. Cal. Prob. Code 13150 and following.

• California Estate Taxes:

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

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

  • California has allowed TODDs since 2016. However, it recently revised its law in 2022 and now requires a few more formalities when creating one, and for the beneficiary when claiming the property after the original dies. But it still avoids probate.

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California Wage & Hour Law

• California Minimum Wage:  

  • The minimum wage in California is $16 an hour. Because this is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25, employees in The Golden State must be paid at least $16 an hour. 

    As of April 1, 2024, fast food workers minimum wage is $20 per hour. 

    Quite a few local governments in California have passed ordinances establishing a higher minimum wage. If you work in one of these cities or counties, you are entitled to earn the higher local minimum wage amount.

    Butte County Minimum Wage

    The minimum wage in Butte County is currently $16 an hour, the state minimum wage. However, cities and counties in California are free to adopt their own higher local minimum wage, and dozens of local governments across the country have done so. To find out whether Butte County has passed its own minimum wage law since we last updated, visit the county’s website at http://www.buttecounty.net/. 

  • Learn more about California's minimum wage at https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/minimum_wage.htm. 

• 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.

  • If you work more than eight hours in a workday or more than 40 hours in a workweek, your employer must pay you 1-1/2 times your regular hourly wage for each overtime hour you work, unless you are exempt. And, your employer must pay you double your regular hourly wage for all hours you work over 12 hours in any workday and for all hours you work in excess of eight hours on the seventh consecutive day of work in a workweek. Find out more about California's overtime rules and exemptions at the Overtime page on the California Department of Industrial Relations website. 

• Wage Claims: If you're being unlawfully underpaid, you need to learn how to file a "Wage Claim" in California. 

  • You can find instructions and links to the forms to file a wage claim at the California Department of Industrial Relations website. 

• Tips : Every state has special pay rates for tipped workers. Find out the rules for tipped workers in California.

  • The tipped minimum wage in California is the same as the regular minimum wage: $16 an hour. Tips don't count against the employer's obligation to pay the minimum wage.

• State Labor Board:
  • Learn more about your rights under California law from the California Department of Industrial Relations. 844-522-6734

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California Unemployment Benefits

• Benefit Amounts in California: Learn how unemployment works, how much you'll get, and for how long.
  • In California, unemployment benefits range from $40 per week to $450 per week.
  • Formula:

    Generally, your weekly benefit in California will be one twenty-sixth of your earnings in the highest paid quarter of the base period. If your earnings are lower, however, this might vary. You can look up how much you will receive in the Unemployment Insurance Benefit Table. 

  • 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.
• Unemployment Office Near Me? How to find your local unemployment office.

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Bankruptcy & Debt

• Free California MEANS TEST CALCULATOR for Butte 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 April 1, 2024)
• Free 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. 
• California BANKRUPTCY COURT ESSENTIAL INFO: Get information about using your local bankruptcy court.

  California is divided into 4 federal districts with main cities in

  • San Francisco (Northern District)
  • Sacramento (Eastern Distrcit)
  • Los Angeles (Central District)
  • San Diego (Southern District)
• FREE BANKRUPTCY FORMS:
  We'll tell you which bankruptcy forms you need and where to find them.

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Child Custody & Family Courts in California 

• State Standards For Custody Decisions: How California Courts make child custody decisions
• Family Court for Butte County: Butte County Family Court information, including maps, forms and links.
• Enforcement of Custody Orders: Can you enlist local police to help enforce a custody court order?
• Child Custody Lawyers: To help you handle your child custody matters.

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California Obamacare

• Sign Up: We have the latest on how to sign up for Obamacare Insurance in California!
• Is Health Insurance Mandatory in California? Learn about whether California imposes tax penalties for not having health insurance.
• Special Enrollment Periods: How to enroll because of a "special enrollment period."
• Rates & Providers in Your County: Information and rates for providers for Butte County if you live in a state served by Healthcare.gov.

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Democracy In California, Butte County, Chico 

• 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 Butte 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 Butte 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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