First Week As A Surviving Spouse
What if we had no estate planning at all?
Short answer
California's intestate succession laws still protect you as a surviving spouse — you inherit all community property and a share of separate property. But no planning means more time, more court involvement, and more cost. Consult a probate attorney early. And once…
What this usually means
California's intestate succession laws still protect you as a surviving spouse — you inherit all community property and a share of separate property. But no planning means more time, more court involvement, and more cost. Consult a probate attorney early. And once things settle, please do your own estate planning — the experience of not having it usually motivates people to fix it.
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What to do next
- Start the PathAfter checklist for situation-aware first steps.
- Find California county phone numbers for coroner, vital records, and local offices.
- Open the First 72 Hours Call Log before making calls.
- Open the Documents to Find Checklist when you are ready for paperwork.