Document pack
California Executor Kit: First 30 Days, Small Estate Limits by Date of Death, Probate Timeline and Logs
California lets families collect personal property without probate up to $208,850 for deaths on or after April 1, 2025, once 40 days have passed. Check that route before you petition the Superior Court.
$25 one time · Word and PDF · download link by email
Who it is for
Executors named in a California will, and family members settling the estate of someone who lived in or owned property in California, through the Superior Court or with a small estate affidavit.
Not the right fit if
The person didn't live in or own property in California, or a will contest or family dispute means you need a probate attorney.
Why it is different
- Small estate figures come from the Judicial Council's Probate Code 890 adjusted-amounts table; the next adjustment is April 1, 2028.
- Lists the Judicial Council forms in order: DE-140, DE-150, DE-157, DE-160, DE-172, DE-174 and DE-295.
- Probate steps follow the Orange County Superior Court flow chart, with Riverside County's self-help page for filing the will.
What is inside
- First 30 days. Certified death certificates, Social Security and the $255 lump-sum payment, filing the will with the Superior Court within 30 days, and getting an EIN once you're appointed.
- Probate and small estate steps. The Probate Code 890 amounts by date of death, the affidavit conditions, the $750,000 primary-residence petition, and full probate from petition to the discharge petition (DE-295).
- California tax status. The State Controller's answer: no California estate tax return for deaths on or after January 1, 2005, and inheritance tax only for deaths before June 8, 1982.
- Creditor deadlines and log. Notice to creditors on form DE-157, claims due by the later of 4 months after letters or 60 days after notice, and allowance or rejection on DE-174 within 30 days.
- Asset and debt inventory. Everything owned and owed, with the gross value of California property checked against the small estate limit for the date of death.
- Distribution log. Each distribution after the court's order for final distribution, with a receipt and release template for the estate's attorney to review.
- Inventory and distribution workbook (Excel). Works out the 40-day affidavit date and picks the small estate limit that matches the date of death.
A look inside
The first pages, as you will get them
Get it
California Executor Kit
Want every toolkit? The toolkit membership includes all of them, with a lower rate if you pay yearly.
Delivered as a zip of editable Word files and printable PDFs. For one business, your own use. General information and templates, not legal, tax or accounting advice. An organizer, not legal, tax or financial advice. California probate runs through the Superior Court in each county; ask its clerk or an attorney about your case. Not affiliated with the Judicial Council, any court or any California agency. Payment is handled by Stripe. If a file will not open or something looks wrong, reply to your order email and we will make it right.
Questions
Common questions
What do I get and how is it delivered?
The CA Executor Kit comes as a zip with six documents, each as an editable Word file and a printable PDF: First 30 Days, Probate and Small Estate Steps, California Tax Status, Creditor Deadlines and Log, Asset and Debt Inventory, and Distribution Log, plus an Excel workbook (CA Estate Inventory and Distribution Workbook). The download link arrives by email after payment.
Will it open on a Mac, Google Sheets or my phone?
The PDFs open in any PDF reader, and the Word files edit in Word, Google Docs or LibreOffice. The workbook is built for Excel and tested in LibreOffice; it should open in Google Sheets, but not every feature is tested there. If a file will not open or something looks wrong, reply to your order email and we will make it right.
Is this legal or tax advice?
An organizer, not legal, tax or financial advice. Probate rules are complex; talk to the court clerk or an attorney.
Can I use a small estate affidavit in California?
For personal property, if at least 40 days have passed, no probate is open in California, and the gross value of California property (leaving out what the form excludes) is within the limit for the date of death: $208,850 on or after April 1, 2025, $184,500 from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2025, and $166,250 before that.
Free sample
Try one page first
Get a real page or file from this product by email. We send one confirmation email, and no series follows.
Also from MCC Solutions
New Jersey Notary Starter Kit
The paperwork a new notary has to build from scratch, ready to print or edit: a journal laid out for what New Jersey's manual says to record, checklists, forms and client emails.
$29
Start a Mobile Notary Business in NJ: Guide
A plain-language guide to getting commissioned in New Jersey and setting up a mobile notary business, with the state's rules cited and a first-month plan.
$19