WILLS

Last Will and Testament in California

A will or trust built around your family, prepared by me from start to finish.

Schedule Your Free Design Session

Flat fee
Quoted in writing up front

You work with me
Start to finish

Anywhere in California
By phone or email

Trust deed included
Prepared for your home

Prepared by Jay S. Yu, Esq., California Licensed Attorney · Yu & Yu Law, Fullerton · Last reviewed October 2026

PROTECT WHAT MATTERS MOST

Planning for your family’s security

Proper planning is about more than documents. It is the peace of mind that comes from knowing your family is provided for. An up-to-date plan makes sure your assets go where you choose, not where California’s intestate succession rules would send them.

THE FOUNDATIONS

Will or trust: what each one does

01

Last will and testament

A will is your voice when you are no longer here. It lets you:

Name guardians for minor children
Decide how your assets are divided
Back up a trust with a pour-over will, so nothing is left out

02

Revocable living trust

For many California residents, a will alone is not enough. A trust adds:

Probate avoidance, which saves your family time and cost
Management of your property if you become ill or injured, without a court proceeding
Privacy, because a trust is not a public record

HOW IT WORKS

Three steps to a finished plan

01

Design session

I talk with you by phone about your family, your assets, and your goals.

02

Your custom plan

I design the plan with you, then personally draft every document.

03

Signing

I guide you through signing so your documents are executed correctly.

QUESTIONS CLIENTS ASK

How wills work in California

Do I need a lawyer to make a will in California?

No. California recognizes a statutory will form and a handwritten will, and neither requires a lawyer. The risk is in what a form cannot do: plan for a blended family, hold an inheritance for a young child, or coordinate with a trust and your beneficiary designations. A will that misses a formality can also lead to a dispute in probate.

Does a will need to be notarized in California?

No. A typed will is signed in front of two adult witnesses who are present at the same time and who also sign (Prob. Code § 6110). A notary is not part of it. Your witnesses should be disinterested, meaning they receive nothing under the will, because a gift to a witness can be challenged.

Is a handwritten will valid in California?

It can be. A holographic will is valid without witnesses if the signature and the material provisions are in your own handwriting (Prob. Code § 6111). Problems come from missing dates, unclear wording, and pages that conflict with an earlier will, and a court has to decide what you meant after you are gone.

Does a will avoid probate in California?

No. A will tells the probate court what you want, but it does not keep your estate out of court. As of 2026, an estate with more than $208,850 in assets passing under a will generally goes through probate (Prob. Code § 13100). Read how probate works and how families avoid it.

Does my will become public?

Yes, after you die. Whoever holds your original will must deliver it to the superior court clerk within 30 days after learning of your death (Prob. Code § 8200), and a will admitted to probate is part of the public court file. A living trust does not go to the court, which is one reason many families use one.

Can I name a guardian for my children in my will?

Yes. A will is where you nominate a guardian for minor children, and a living trust cannot do that job. That is why a trust-based plan still includes a pour-over will. You can also choose who manages money your children inherit. Read how a pour-over will works with a trust.

Will or trust: which is better in California?

For most California homeowners, a living trust with a pour-over will does more than a will alone, because the trust keeps assets out of probate and covers incapacity. A will alone can be enough for a small estate. See living trust vs. will in California and how a living trust works.

How much does a will cost?

I prepare wills as part of the Complete Estate Plan, a flat fee quoted in writing before any work begins. The plan includes a living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and the trust deed for your home. See what is included.