Inherited Property

California raised the small-estate threshold to $750,000 for a primary residence, but San Marino home values often still exceed it — heres what that means for an heir.

Temple City’s century of first-generation homeownership means many inherited houses carry old titles. Here’s the probate and tax-basis rules that apply.

A probate referee is a state-appointed appraiser who values a deceased person’s non-cash assets for the court, and California caps their fee by statute at 0.1% of the appraised value.

A probate bond protects an estate’s beneficiaries if the executor mismanages assets, and California requires one in most cases unless the will waives it or every beneficiary agrees in writing.

California sets no single deadline to open probate, but a 30-day rule for the will itself and a one-year creditor clock make delay costlier than most heirs expect.

If you’ve been named successor trustee of a California trust that owns a house, you likely can sell it without probate court — but that authority comes with fiduciary duties that carry personal liability.

Los Angeles adds its own wrinkles to selling an inherited house: the busiest probate court in California and a Prop 19 tax bill most heirs don’t expect.

A spousal property petition can clear title to the house in months instead of the 9 to 18 months full probate takes. Here is what it costs and covers.

Yes, but only if the life tenant and remainderman both sign. Here is how a life estate sale actually works in California, and what it does to your taxes.