A professional blog header featuring a blurred architectural building and legal documents with a fountain pen. Centered white serif text reads, "As a Trustee, When Do You Have to Notify the County About a Death Involving Real Estate?" beneath which is the Lucas Real Estate Group logo.

As a Trustee, When Do You Have to Notify the County About a Death Involving Real Estate? A simple guide for children, heirs, and trustees handling a deceased parent’s home in California.

  • February 13, 2026
  • devinlucas

When a parent passes away, one of the most common questions trustees ask is: “When do I have to notify the county about the home?” In most cases, California law requires a Change in Ownership Statement within 150 days of death. California actually has multiple timelines—some with penalties if missed—and they apply even if the property stays in the trust and no sale is planned. In this guide, we break down the 150-day rule, the 90-day rule, and how Proposition 19 fits into the picture so you can protect your family’s property taxes and avoid costly mistakes.

Promotional graphic showing a luxury Newport Beach oceanfront home at sunset with text explaining how the Garn–St. Germain Act may allow homeowners to transfer a low mortgage rate to their children, featuring the Lucas Real Estate logo.

The Garn–St. Germain Act: How a Little-Known Federal Law May Let You Transfer Your Ultra-Low Mortgage Rate to Your Children

  • January 14, 2026
  • devinlucas

Many Newport Beach and Costa Mesa homeowners are sitting on historically low mortgage rates—and don’t realize a federal law may allow them to transfer property, and their low mortgage, to their children without triggering a refinance. The Garn–St. Germain Act of 1982 can protect certain family transfers, but only when done correctly. In this article, we break down what the law allows, where it doesn’t apply, and how local families are using it as part of smart real estate, tax, and estate planning.