What if I don’t have an estate plan when I die?

There is nothing like a devastating global pandemic to make us ponder our own mortality.  We all hope for the best, but it is important to be prepared for whatever comes.  If your wishes do not line up with the California Probate Code and you do not have a valid estate plan (will or trust) in place when the time comes, the state will have no choice but to give your property to your next of kin as defined by California law.