CaliforniaCalifornia extends county officials’ property certificates to 60 days
County guardians, conservators, and administrators can use property certificates for 60 days, and public administrators can seek records and safe-deposit box access for decedents’ property.
What it does
Public administrators may request information about a decedent’s property and access a safe-deposit box even when it is not held solely in the decedent’s name.
Certificates used by county guardians, conservators, and administrators last 60 days. Their forms include the affected person’s Social Security number, birth date, and last address.
After at least 30 days’ written notice, a court may order an organization that does not follow a certificate’s requirements to pay at least $1,000 per violation, plus fees and costs.
Argument forLonger certificates and access to records for property not held solely in a decedent’s name may help county officials protect estates and settle them.
Argument againstBanks and other organizations may face costs to identify and turn over property, and courts may order them to pay at least $1,000 per violation after notice.
More detail
The law lets public administrators request information about a decedent’s property and access a safe-deposit box without the property or box being held solely in the decedent’s name. This applies when a public administrator uses the listed authority to handle a decedent’s estate.
Certificates from public guardians, public conservators, and public administrators are valid for 60 days; required certificate forms now include the person’s Social Security number, birth date, and last address. These certificates cover taking or controlling property, restraining transfers from a trust, and handling a decedent’s estate. The certificate must be signed and dated by the appropriate official and bear that official’s seal. The 60-day period starts on the certificate’s issue date.
A court may order an organization that fails to comply with the listed requirements to pay sanctions of at least $1,000 per violation for fees and costs incurred. This applies to financial institutions and other listed organizations that receive a certificate and fail to follow the related requirements. A court order is required. The organization must first receive at least 30 days’ written notice to comply. The notice period must be at least 30 days before sanctions may be sought.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 20Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 369, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 20Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Aug 25Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 19Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 72. Noes 2. Page 6245.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 1660 Schiavo Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 17In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB1660 Schiavo By Niello. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 17Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 5498.).Passed Senate
- Aug 5Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 4Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Jun 25Read second time and amended. Ordered to third reading.Major
- Jun 24From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (June 23).Major
- Jun 23
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 17Measure version as amended on June 15 corrected.Major
- Jun 15From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.Major
- May 13Referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- May 5In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- May 4Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 52. Noes 10. Page 4900.)Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded AB 1660 Schiavo Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 13Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Apr 9Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- Apr 8From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (April 8).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 12Re-referred to Com. on APPR. pursuant to Assembly Rule 97.Minor
- Mar 11Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Mar 10From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (March 10).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 17Referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Jan 30From printer. May be heard in committee March 1.
- Jan 29Read first time. To print.Introduced
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