Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 140. Section 140.
As used in this chapter, “waiver” means a waiver by the surviving spouse of any of the rights listed in subdivision (a) of Section 141, whether signed before or during marriage.
CHAPTER 1. Surviving Spouse’s Waiver of Rights [140. - 147.]
Cal. Probate Code - PROB 1.
in effectCal. Probate Code - PROB § 141. Section 141.
(a)
The right of a surviving spouse to any of the following may be waived in whole or in part by a waiver under this chapter:
(1)
Property that would pass from the decedent by intestate succession.
(2)
Property that would pass from the decedent by testamentary disposition in a will executed before the waiver.
(3)
A probate homestead.
(4)
The right to have exempt property set aside.
(5)
Family allowance.
(6)
The right to have an estate set aside under Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 6600) of Part 3 of Division 6.
(7)
The right to elect to take community or quasi-community property against the decedent’s will.
(8)
The right to take the statutory share of an omitted spouse.
(9)
The right to be appointed as the personal representative of the decedent’s estate.
(10)
An interest in property that is the subject of a nonprobate transfer on death under Part 1 (commencing with Section 5000) of
Division 5.
(b)
Nothing in this chapter affects or limits the waiver or manner of waiver of rights other than those referred to in subdivision (a), including, but not limited to, the right to property that would pass from the decedent to the surviving spouse by nonprobate transfer upon the death of the decedent, such as the survivorship interest under a joint tenancy, a Totten trust account, or a pay-on-death account.
Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 142. Section 142.
(a)
A waiver under this chapter shall be in writing and shall be signed by the surviving spouse.
(b)
Subject to subdivision (c), a waiver under this chapter is enforceable only if it satisfies the requirements of subdivision (a) and is enforceable under either Section 143 or Section 144.
(c)
Enforcement of the waiver against the surviving spouse is subject to the same defenses as enforcement of a contract, except that:
(1)
Lack of
consideration is not a defense to enforcement of the waiver.
(2)
A minor intending to marry may make a waiver under this chapter as if married, but the waiver becomes effective only upon the marriage.
Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 143. Section 143.
(a)
Subject to Section 142, a waiver is enforceable under this section unless the surviving spouse proves either of the following:
(1)
A fair and reasonable disclosure of the property or financial obligations of the decedent was not provided to the surviving spouse prior to the signing of the waiver unless the surviving spouse waived such a fair and reasonable disclosure after advice by independent legal counsel.
(2)
The surviving spouse was not represented by independent legal counsel at the time of signing of the waiver.
(b)
Subdivision (b) of Section 721 of the Family Code does not apply if the waiver is enforceable under this section.
Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 144. Section 144.
(a)
Except as provided in subdivision (b), subject to Section 142, a waiver is enforceable under this section if the court determines either of the following:
(1)
The waiver at the time of signing made a fair and reasonable disposition of the rights of the surviving spouse.
(2)
The surviving spouse had, or reasonably should have had, an adequate knowledge of the property and financial
obligations of the decedent and the decedent did not violate the duty imposed by subdivision (b) of Section 721 of the Family Code.
(b)
If, after considering all relevant facts and circumstances, the court finds that enforcement of the waiver pursuant to subdivision (a) would be unconscionable under the circumstances existing at the time enforcement is sought, the court may refuse to enforce the waiver, enforce the remainder of the waiver without the unconscionable provisions, or limit the application of the unconscionable provisions to avoid an unconscionable result.
(c)
Except as provided in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), subdivision (b) of Section 721 of the Family Code does not apply if the waiver is enforceable under this section.
Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 145. Section 145.
Unless the waiver or property settlement provides to the contrary, a waiver under this chapter of “all rights” (or equivalent language) in the property or estate of a present or prospective spouse, or a complete property settlement entered into after or in anticipation of separation or dissolution or annulment of marriage, is a waiver by the spouse of the rights described in subdivision (a) of Section 141.
Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 146. Section 146.
(a)
As used in this section, “agreement” means a written agreement signed by each spouse or prospective spouse altering, amending, or revoking a waiver under this chapter.
(b)
Except as provided in subdivisions (c) and (d) of Section 147, unless the waiver specifically otherwise provides, a waiver under this chapter may not be altered, amended, or revoked except by a subsequent written agreement signed by each spouse or prospective spouse.
(c)
Subject to subdivision (d), the agreement is enforceable only if it satisfies the requirements of subdivision (b) and is enforceable under either subdivision (e) or subdivision (f).
(d)
Enforcement of the agreement against a party to the agreement is subject to the same defenses as enforcement of any other contract, except that:
(1)
Lack of consideration is not a defense to enforcement of the agreement.
(2)
A minor intending to marry may enter into the agreement as if married, but the agreement becomes effective only upon the marriage.
(e)
Subject to subdivision (d), an agreement is enforceable under this subdivision unless the party to the agreement against whom enforcement is sought
proves either of the following:
(1)
A fair and reasonable disclosure of the property or financial obligations of the other spouse was not provided to the spouse against whom enforcement is sought prior to the signing of the agreement unless the spouse against whom enforcement is sought waived such a fair and reasonable disclosure after advice by independent legal counsel.
(2)
The spouse against whom enforcement is sought was not represented by independent legal counsel at the time of signing of the agreement.
(f)
Subject to subdivisions (d) and (g), an agreement is enforceable under this subdivision if the court determines that the agreement at the time of signing made a fair and reasonable disposition of the rights of the spouses.
(g)
If, after
considering all relevant facts and circumstances, the court finds that enforcement of the agreement pursuant to subdivision (f) would be unconscionable under the circumstances existing at the time enforcement is sought, the court may refuse to enforce the agreement, enforce the remainder of the agreement without the unconscionable provisions, or limit the application of the unconscionable provisions to avoid an unconscionable result.
(h)
Subdivision (b) of Section 721 of the Family Code does not apply if the agreement is enforceable under this section.
Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 147. Section 147.
(a)
Subject to subdivisions (c) and (d), a waiver, agreement, or property settlement made after December 31, 1984, is invalid insofar as it affects the rights listed in subdivision (a) of Section 141 unless it satisfies the requirements of this chapter.
(b)
Nothing in this chapter affects the validity or effect of any waiver, agreement, or property settlement made prior to January 1, 1985, and the validity and effect of such waiver, agreement, or property settlement shall continue to be determined by the law applicable to the waiver, agreement, or settlement prior to
January 1, 1985.
(c)
Nothing in this chapter affects the validity or effect of any premarital property agreement, whether made prior to, on, or after January 1, 1985, insofar as the premarital property agreement affects the rights listed in subdivision (a) of Section 141, and the validity and effect of such premarital property agreement shall be determined by the law otherwise applicable to the premarital property agreement. Nothing in this subdivision limits the enforceability under this chapter of a waiver made under this chapter by a person intending to marry that is otherwise enforceable under this chapter.
(d)
Nothing in this chapter limits any right one spouse otherwise has to revoke a consent or election to disposition of his or her half of the community or quasi-community property under the will of the other spouse.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026