Repealed and added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 1055, Sec. 20.
Any individual of sound mind and over the age of 18 may execute a California statutory will under the provisions of this chapter.
Article 2 - General Provisions
California Probate Code — §§ 6220-6227
Sections (8)
Repealed and added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 1055, Sec. 20.
A California statutory will shall be executed only as follows:
(a)The testator shall complete the appropriate blanks and shall sign the will.
(b)Each witness shall observe the testator’s signing and each witness shall sign his or her name in the presence of the testator.
Repealed and added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 1055, Sec. 20.
The execution of the attestation clause provided in the California statutory will by two or more witnesses satisfies Section 8220.
Repealed and added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 1055, Sec. 20.
(a)There is only one California statutory will.
(b)The California statutory will includes all of the following:
(1)The contents of the California statutory will form set out in Section 6240, excluding the questions and answers at the beginning of the California statutory will.
(2)By reference, the full texts of each of the following:
(A)The definitions and rules of construction set forth in Article 1 (commencing with Section 6200).
(B)The property disposition clauses adopted by the testator. If no property disposition clause is adopted, Section 6224 shall apply.
(C)The mandatory clauses set forth in Section 6241.
(c)Notwithstanding this section, any California statutory will or California statutory will with trust executed on a form allowed under prior law shall be governed by the law that applied prior to January 1, 1992.
Repealed and added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 1055, Sec. 20.
If more than one property disposition clause appearing in paragraphs 2 or 3 of a California statutory will is selected, no gift is made. If more than one property disposition clause in paragraph 5 of a California statutory will form is selected, or if none is selected, the residuary estate of a testator who signs a California statutory will shall be distributed to the testator’s heirs as if the testator did not make a will.
Repealed and added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 1055, Sec. 20.
Only the texts of property disposition clauses and the mandatory clauses shall be considered in determining their meaning. Their titles shall be disregarded.
Repealed and added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 1055, Sec. 20.
(a)A California statutory will may be revoked and may be amended by codicil in the same manner as other wills.
(b)Any additions to or deletions from the California statutory will on the face of the California statutory will form, other than in accordance with the instructions, shall be given effect only where clear and convincing evidence shows that they would effectuate the clear intent of the testator. In the absence of such a showing, the court either may determine that the addition or deletion is ineffective and shall be disregarded, or may determine that all or a portion of the California statutory will is invalid, whichever is more likely to be consistent with the intent of the testator.
(c)Notwithstanding Section 6110, a document executed on a California statutory will form is valid as a will if all of the following requirements are shown to be satisfied by clear and convincing evidence:
(1)The form is signed by the testator.
(2)The court is satisfied that the testator knew and approved of the contents of the will and intended it to have testamentary effect.
(3)The testamentary intent of the maker as reflected in the document is clear.
Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 50, Sec. 87. (SB 1005) Effective January 1, 2017.
(a)If after executing a California statutory will the testator’s marriage is dissolved or annulled, or the testator’s registered domestic partnership is terminated, the dissolution, annulment, or termination revokes any disposition of property made by the will to the former spouse and any nomination of the former spouse as executor, trustee, guardian, or custodian made by the will. If any disposition or nomination is revoked solely by this section, it is revived by the testator’s remarriage to, or entry into a subsequent registered domestic partnership with, the former spouse.
(b)In case of revocation by dissolution or annulment:
(1)Property prevented from passing to a former spouse because of the revocation passes as if the former spouse failed to survive the testator.
(2)Provisions nominating the former spouse as executor, trustee, guardian, or custodian shall be interpreted as if the former spouse failed to survive the testator.
(c)For purposes of this section, dissolution or annulment means any dissolution or annulment that would exclude the spouse as a surviving spouse within the meaning of Section 78. A decree of legal separation which does not terminate the status of spouses is not a dissolution or annulment for purposes of this section.
(d)This section applies to any California statutory will, without regard to the time when the will was executed, but this section does not apply to any case where the final judgment of
dissolution or annulment of marriage occurs before January 1, 1985; and, if the final judgment of dissolution or annulment of marriage occurs before January 1, 1985, the case is governed by the law that applied prior to January 1, 1985.