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HomeFamily CodeDiv. 4Pt. 2Ch. 5§ 853 Will Statements And Transmutations

§ 853 Will Statements And Transmutations

Family Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 853 Will Statements And Transmutations

Key Takeaways

  • •If someone writes in their will that something is theirs alone, it doesn’t automatically mean it’s not shared with their spouse.
  • •Giving up certain retirement benefits doesn’t mean you’re giving up your share of shared property with your spouse.
  • •If both spouses agree in writing to give away shared property after death, it’s treated like a special kind of agreement, not just a regular gift.

Example

A husband writes in his will that his house is his alone, but he and his wife bought it together.

The will can’t be used to prove the house isn’t shared property if someone argues about it before the husband dies.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 853 Will Statements And Transmutations

(a) A statement in a will of the character of property is not admissible as evidence of a transmutation of the property in a proceeding commenced before the death of the person who made the will. (b) A waiver of a right to a joint and survivor annuity or survivor’s benefits under the federal Retirement Equity Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-397) is not a transmutation of the community property rights of the person executing the waiver. (c) A written joinder or written consent to a nonprobate transfer of community property on death that satisfies Section 852 is a transmutation and is governed by the law applicable to transmutations and not by Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 5010) of Part 1 of Division 5 of the Probate Code. (Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 219, Sec. 100. Effective January 1, 1994.)

Last verified: January 21, 2026

Key Terms

transmutationcommunity propertywritten joindernonprobate transferRetirement Equity Act of 1984

Related Statutes

  • § 850 Spousal Property Transmutation Rules
  • § 851 Transmutation Fraudulent Transfer Rules
  • § 852 Spousal Property Transmutation Rules
  • § 761 Community Property Trust Rules
  • § 1000 Spousal Liability Exceptions

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Family Code. Section 853.
View Official Source