Legal and Financial Protection
What are my rights if I was left out of the will?
Short answer
If you are a surviving spouse, California law protects you from complete disinheritance — you are entitled to your share of community property regardless of the will. If you are an adult child, you have fewer automatic protections. If you believe the…
What this usually means
If you are a surviving spouse, California law protects you from complete disinheritance — you are entitled to your share of community property regardless of the will. If you are an adult child, you have fewer automatic protections. If you believe the will was the result of undue influence or fraud, consult a probate attorney about contesting it.
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.