For years, transferring a deceased parent's home meant full probate — often 9 to 18 months and tens of thousands of dollars in statutory fees. California's AB 2016 changed that for many families.
This is an educational guide prepared by a Legal Document Assistant. It is not legal advice, and ProbateClear is not a law firm.
What changed
For deaths in 2025 or later, the succession-to-real-property petition now reaches a primary residence worth up to $750,000. Instead of a full probate administration, heirs can use a single streamlined court petition — Form DE-310 (Probate Code §13151) — to transfer the family home.
The process still has real steps: a court-appointed probate referee appraises the home to confirm it's within the limit, and there's one court hearing. But it's far lighter, faster, and cheaper than opening a formal probate.
Who this helps
This is a genuine opportunity for families where the home was titled in the decedent's name alone — no joint tenancy, no survivorship, no trust, no transfer-on-death deed — and is worth up to $750,000. If that's you, you may be able to skip full probate entirely.
- See the full walkthrough: Succession to Real Property (California).
- Not sure which path fits your situation? Start with Do I Need Probate in California? or check the current small-estate limits & thresholds.
The fastest way to find out whether your home qualifies is to answer a few questions about how it's titled and what it's worth.
Not sure which path is yours?
Answer a few questions about the estate — it takes about 2 minutes.