California Complete Simplified-Probate Kit: Every DIY Path in One

Someone you love has passed away, and you're the one sorting out everything they left behind. The home, the bank accounts, maybe a surviving spouse's share, and a few debts. This is the complete kit. Whatever the estate holds, there's a California shortcut for it here, and this walkthrough puts every one of them in a single place, one calm step at a time.

What's inside

A 23-step guided walkthrough organized into six modules, which you can follow on your phone or your computer. It starts by helping you find which path or paths you need, then walks each one at full depth:

• Money and belongings: the full Small Estate Affidavit path (Probate Code 13100-13101) for bank accounts, paychecks, and belongings, with the template, the notary step, the bank letter, the vehicle, and shared property.
• The home: the full AB 2016 path, line by line, the appraisal, the Petition to Determine Succession to Real Property (DE-310), the heir notices, the hearing, and recording the order. The same depth as the standalone Home Transfer Kit.
• Other property paths: low-value real estate (DE-305) and the spouse or domestic partner petition (DE-221).
• Debts and creditors: the part most kits skip, including what you are and aren't responsible for and a calm script for a creditor call.
• Find your path and finish strong: a path-finder up front, the mistakes to avoid, and an honest map of when an estate is complex enough to bring in a lawyer.

Who it's for

The person handling a full estate who wants one guide that covers all the simplified paths, not just one piece. If you're not yet sure which path you need, this kit sorts that out for you first. You can do this, and you'll have a guide that walks with you the whole way.

How it works

Find your path, wait the 40 days while you build your document folder, value the estate the right way, then run the modules that match. Handle creditors from estate funds, attend any short hearing, and record the order to finish. The kit holds your place and gives you the wording at each step.

What you get

Instant access to the full guided kit the moment you buy. It works on any device, and you can save or print it to keep beside you while you file.

Which kit is right for me?

If you only need the bank accounts and belongings, the Small Estate Affidavit Kit ($79) covers that. If you only need the family home, the Home Transfer Kit ($149) covers the DE-310 path. This Complete Kit ($199) is the superset: every path at full depth, plus creditor handling and a path-finder, for when you have more than one piece or you're not sure yet which path fits.

Good to know

This kit covers California's simplified probate and small estate paths. A large or contested estate that needs full probate (DE-111) is outside its scope, and the kit tells you clearly when that's the case. There's a 7-day refund if it isn't right for you. ClaimKit Help is an educational guide, not a law firm, and this kit gives you information, not legal advice.

Common questions

What does the Complete Kit cover that the other kits don't?

It covers all four simplified paths in one walkthrough (the affidavit, the DE-310 home petition, the DE-305 low-value real estate, and the DE-221 spousal petition), each at full depth, plus a section on handling debts and creditors and a path-finder to tell you which one you need. The $79 and $149 kits each cover one path.

I'm not sure which path I need. Will this help?

Yes. The first step is a path-finder that walks you through what the person left and points you to the right path or paths. Most estates use one or two.

What are the dollar limits?

For a death on or after April 1, 2025: personal property up to $208,850 by affidavit, a primary residence up to $750,000 by DE-310, and low-value real estate up to $69,625 by DE-305. The spousal petition (DE-221) has no limit. The date of death sets the figures, which next adjust April 1, 2028.

Does it cover the person's debts?

Yes. There's a full section on what you are and aren't responsible for, how debts get paid from the estate, and a calm script for handling a creditor call. As a rule, you don't inherit a person's debt personally.

What if the estate is large or contested?

That's full probate (DE-111), and it's outside this kit's scope. The kit gives you a clear, honest list of the situations where a lawyer is the smart call, so you don't file the wrong thing.

Is this legal advice?

No. ClaimKit Help is an educational guide, not a law firm. The kit gives you information about California's simplified probate procedures, and using it doesn't create an attorney-client relationship.

Can I get a refund?

Yes, there's a 7-day refund if it isn't the right fit.