California / Inheritance guide

Who might inherit without a plan?

See the common paths California law uses when there is no clear estate plan—or when documents do not cover everything.

Tell us about the family and estate.

Are they married or in a registered domestic partnership?

California generally gives registered domestic partners the same rights as spouses.

Do they have children?

Include adopted children; stepchildren can have different rights.

Are all children also the spouse or partner’s children?

A “no” answer flags a blended-family situation, which can change the planning conversation.

Do they have living parents?

This matters most when there is no spouse or child.

Do they have siblings?

This matters most when there is no spouse, child, or living parent.

Approximate estate value

Use gross value before debts. This helps illustrate stakes—not exact legal shares.

Do they own California real estate?

Property in one person’s name can create a probate question.

Did they have a will?

A valid will generally directs probate assets.

Did they have a living trust?

A trust only directs assets that were actually funded into it.

A plain-English starting point. No sign-up needed.

Your inheritance snapshot.

See the default path in context.

Your answers help identify which family relationships may matter most.

01Spouse or partner
02Children and parents
03Assets and documents

The default rules are only a starting point.

California distinguishes community, quasi-community, and separate property; ownership, beneficiary forms, and family facts all matter. Registered domestic partners generally have the same state-law rights as spouses. Having no trust does not necessarily mean there is no valid will. Read what happens without a trust in California for the broader probate and transfer context.

For general education, not legal advice. This is not a calculation of legal shares or a substitute for advice about a specific estate.

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