Public probate records encompass various documents that provide insight into the administration of a deceased person's estate. Probate records in California are generally considered public records. This means that the public has the right to view and copy most documents and records filed with the probate court.
Once you've identified all liabilities of your estate, you will then subtract the total value of those liabilities from the total amount of your assets to determine your estate value.
If they used a Will, then it is the executor who should be notifying you, generally within a few months of the death. If they used a Trust, then it is the trustee who should be notifying you. The timeline is much shorter. California laws, for example, require that beneficiaries are notified within 60 days of the death.
In this regard, California Probate Code Section 9050 requires the personal representative or executor to notify heirs and beneficiaries within a specified period. Personal representatives must begin notification within 60 days from their appointment date.
A Beneficiary need not know about a trust of which he or she is a Beneficiary, and neither the Settlor nor the Trustee (if the Settlor waived the requirement for the Trustee to keep the beneficiaries informed) needs to inform the Beneficiary of the existence of the trust; but if the beneficiary finds out about it and ...
The includible property may consist of cash and securities, real estate, insurance, trusts, annuities, business interests and other assets. Once you have accounted for the Gross Estate, certain deductions (and in special circumstances, reductions to value) are allowed in arriving at your "Taxable Estate."
Deduct all encumbrances of record from the market value to determine the net market value of the property. Use the Life Estate Value Table to determine the life estate value factor based upon the life tenant's current age. Multiply the life estate value factor by the net market value found in Step 2.
State laws typically govern the specific timeframe for keeping an estate open after death, but the average is about two years. The duration an estate remains open depends on how fast it goes through the probate process, how quickly the executor can fulfill their responsibilities, and the complexity of the estate.
The executor of a will can take everything only if they are the sole beneficiary of a decedent's estate and all of the decedent's debts have been paid.
Online platforms that allow access to wills and probate records include probate court websites, public records repositories, and genealogy sites like Ancestry.com. Some sites, like FamilySearch, provide free access, while others might require fees or offer trial periods.
Californian law prohibits hiding or withholding a will without lawful excuse. According to California Probate Code Section 8250(a), any person found guilty of intentionally hiding or omitting a will without legal justification is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Many people worry about the estate tax affecting the inheritance they pass along to their children, but it's not a reality most people will face. In 2025, the first $13,990,000 of an estate is exempt from federal estate taxes, up from $13,610,000 in 2024. Estate taxes are based on the size of the estate.
Your estate consists of all property and personal belongings you own or are entitled to possess at the time of your death. This includes real estate, personal property, cash, savings and checking accounts, stocks, bonds, automobiles, jewelry, etc.
Inheritance checks are generally not reported to the IRS unless they involve cash or cash equivalents exceeding $10,000. Banks and financial institutions are required to report such transactions using Form 8300. Most inheritances are paid by regular check, wire transfer, or other means that don't qualify for reporting.
The basis of property inherited from a decedent is generally one of the following: The fair market value (FMV) of the property on the date of the decedent's death (whether or not the executor of the estate files an estate tax return (Form 706, United States Estate (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return)).
Try a tax assessor
Visit the tax assessor at your local county or municipality where they should be able to locate the information you need by using your address. This information will either be in a book or on their website, depending on the age of your house.
If you are the designated beneficiary on a deceased person's bank account, you typically can go to the bank immediately following their death to claim the asset. In general, there is no waiting period for beneficiaries to access the money; however, keep in mind that laws can vary by state and by bank.
Ways an Executor Can Override a Beneficiary
For example, the executor may decide to sell estate property that one or more of the beneficiaries were hoping to receive as part of their inheritance.