Friedemann Goldberg Wargo Hess LLP

The New Simplified Probate Procedures for Residences of less than $750,000

Assembly Bill 2016 (AB 2016), signed into law on September 21, 2024, and effective April 1, 2025, introduces significant amendments to California’s probate procedures, particularly concerning the administration of small estates. This legislation aims to streamline the transfer of decedents’ primary residences and reduce the necessity for formal probate proceedings in qualifying cases.

Key Provisions of AB 2016:
- Increased Threshold for Small Estates: The bill raises the gross value limit for a decedent’s primary residence to qualify for simplified probate procedures from $166,250 to $750,000. This adjustment reflects California’s current real estate market and allows more estates to utilize expedited processes.
- Focus on Primary Residences: AB 2016 specifically targets the decedent’s primary residence for these simplified procedures. Other real property holdings, such as secondary homes or investment properties, remain subject to traditional probate processes if their value exceeds existing thresholds.

Procedural Changes:
- Petition Process: Successors can file a petition in the superior court of the county where the estate may be administered, seeking a court order that determines their succession to the primary residence. This process eliminates the need for procuring letters of administration or awaiting the probate of the will.
- Notice Requirements: The petitioner must deliver notice of the petition to each heir and devisee named in the petition, ensuring transparency and the opportunity for interested parties to respond.
- Repeal of Section 13158: The bill repeals Section 13158 of the Probate Code, which previously required compliance when an affidavit or declaration was furnished for personal property. This repeal simplifies the process for successors managing small estates.

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COVID-19 UPDATE | Friedemann Goldberg Wargo Hess LLP Because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, most of the Bay Area has been placed under a “shelter in place” order. Friedemann Goldberg Wargo Hess LLP offices are in areas covered by this order. Certain essential businesses such as providers of healthcare, food, supplies, and financial servic...