CHAPTER 3. Liability for Debts of Deceased Spouse [13550. - 13554.]

Cal. Probate Code - PROB 3.

in effect

Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 13550. Section 13550.

Except as provided in Sections 11446, 13552, 13553, and 13554, upon the death of a married person, the surviving spouse is personally liable for the debts of the deceased spouse chargeable against the property described in Section 13551 to the extent provided in Section 13551.

Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 13551. Section 13551.

The liability imposed by Section 13550 shall not exceed the fair market value at the date of the decedent’s death, less the amount of any liens and encumbrances, of the total of the following: (a) The portion of the one-half of the community and quasi-community property belonging to the surviving spouse under Sections 100 and 101 that is not exempt from enforcement of a money judgment and is not administered in the estate of the deceased spouse. (b) The portion of the one-half of the community and quasi-community property belonging to the decedent under Sections 100 and 101 that passes to the surviving spouse without administration under this part. (c) The separate property of the decedent that passes to the surviving spouse without administration under this part.

Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 13552. Section 13552.

If proceedings are commenced in this state for the administration of the estate of the deceased spouse and the time for filing claims has commenced, any action upon the liability of the surviving spouse pursuant to Section 13550 is barred to the same extent as provided for claims under Part 4 (commencing with Section 9000) of Division 7, except as to the following: (a) Creditors who commence judicial proceedings for the enforcement of the debt and serve the surviving spouse with the complaint therein prior to the expiration of the time for filing claims. (b) Creditors who have or who secure the surviving spouse’s acknowledgment in writing of the liability of the surviving spouse for the debts. (c) Creditors who file a timely claim in the proceedings for the administration of the estate of the deceased spouse.

Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 13553. Section 13553.

The surviving spouse is not liable under this chapter if all the property described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 13502 is administered under this code.

Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 13554. Section 13554.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, any debt described in Section 13550 may be enforced against the surviving spouse in the same manner as it could have been enforced against the deceased spouse if the deceased spouse had not died. (b) In any action or proceeding based upon the debt, the surviving spouse may assert any defense, cross-complaint, or setoff which would have been available to the deceased spouse if the deceased spouse had not died. (c) Section 366.2 of the Code of Civil Procedure applies in an action under this section.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026