When it is determined that the value of the decedent's estate is small, summary proceedings may be utilized rather than formal probate proceedings.

REAL ESTATE WORTH LESS THAN $20,000
The personal property and California real property may be set aside to the surviving spouse or minor children of the deceased if the net value of the entire estate does not exceed $20,000.00.

ALL PROPERTY LESS THAN $100,000
When the gross fair market value of the decedent's California estate, including real and personal property, does not exceed $100,000.00, the beneficiaries can receive the assets of the deceased by an affidavit procedure rather than through formal probate proceedings.

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Estate Tax Faces Its Own Life-and-Death Struggle

"Parties are at odds on how to deal with a levy set to disappear entirely in 2010 before being resurrected at full pre-Bush level..."
www.WSJ.com

Commercial Real Estate’s $1 Trillion Time Bomb

"According to analysts at Deutsche Bank AG, as property value declines and scarce credit continue to drive commercial property developers and investors into default, total lifetime losses on banks' $1 trillion 'core' commercial-mortgage holdings..."
www.WSJ.com

Debate Over Estate Tax Likely to Wait Till 2010

"A split among Democrats and a busy fall agenda is likely to have lawmakers hold off this year on debating the future of the estate tax, even though it expires at the end of the year..."
www.TheHill.com