--- title: What If I Don't Have an Estate Plan? description: What Happens If I Am a California Resident and I Don't Have a Will or Living Trust? image: https://www.clarkallison.com/hubfs/jelleke-vanooteghem-kabtmcdcAbk-unsplash.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.clarkallison.com/blog/what-if-i-have-no-estate-plan#main-content) [ (800) 394-1988 ](tel:8003941988) California Estate Planning since 1996 [![clarkallison_logo_dark_v1_for_light_bg](https://www.clarkallison.com/hubfs/clarkallison_logo_dark_v1_for_light_bg.png) ](https://www.clarkallison.com) - [About](https://www.clarkallison.com/aboutus) - [Estate Planning](https://www.clarkallison.com/california-estate-planning) - [Virtual Estate Planning](https://www.clarkallison.com/virtualestateplanning) - [Trust Administration](https://www.clarkallison.com/trust-administration) - [Advisors](https://www.clarkallison.com/advisors) - [Pricing](https://www.clarkallison.com/estateplanningcost) - [Blog](https://www.clarkallison.com/blog) [CONTACT US](https://share.hsforms.com/2fN-sZtACSSKCEEejwrQscw3bokj) - [About](https://www.clarkallison.com/aboutus) - [Estate Planning](https://www.clarkallison.com/california-estate-planning) - [Virtual Estate Planning](https://www.clarkallison.com/virtualestateplanning) - [Trust Administration](https://www.clarkallison.com/trust-administration) - [Advisors](https://www.clarkallison.com/advisors) - [Pricing](https://www.clarkallison.com/estateplanningcost) - [Blog](https://www.clarkallison.com/blog) - [CONTACT US](https://share.hsforms.com/2fN-sZtACSSKCEEejwrQscw3bokj) # What If I Don't Have an Estate Plan? What Happens If I Am a California Resident and I Don't Have a Will or Living Trust? [Clark Allison ](https://www.clarkallison.com/blog/author/clark-allison) June 29, 2023 ![What If I Don't Have an Estate Plan?](https://www.clarkallison.com/hubfs/jelleke-vanooteghem-kabtmcdcAbk-unsplash.jpg) ## Table of Contents If you reside in California and pass away without an estate plan (a will or living trust), your estate will be considered intestate. In other words, you have left no written instructions on how you want your assets to be distributed. As a result, your estate will have to go through the probate process, where a judge will determine the distribution of your assets based on the default guidelines outlined in the California Probate Code. This means that your assets may not be distributed according to your wishes, but rather according to the state's predetermined rules. Also, if you have young children, and you have not left written instructions on who should raise them and be their guardian if something happens to you, a judge will choose the person to raise your children.   ### Share this article Written by ### [Clark Allison](https://www.clarkallison.com/blog/author/clark-allison) ## More to Read [![The First 30 Days as a California Successor Trustee](https://www.clarkallison.com/hubfs/benoit-deschasaux-qigoBVqObSI-unsplash.jpg) ](https://www.clarkallison.com/blog/the-first-30-days-as-a-california-successor-trustee) trust administration ### [The First 30 Days as a California Successor Trustee](https://www.clarkallison.com/blog/the-first-30-days-as-a-california-successor-trustee) July 26, 2026 [![What is a Successor Trustee in California? 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