CHAPTER 2. Parent and Child Relationship [6450. - 6455.]

Cal. Probate Code - PROB 2.

in effect

Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 6450. Section 6450.

Subject to the provisions of this chapter, a relationship of parent and child exists for the purpose of determining intestate succession by, through, or from a person in the following circumstances: (a) The relationship of parent and child exists between a person and the person’s natural parents, regardless of the marital status of the natural parents. (b) The relationship of parent and child exists between an adopted person and the person’s adopting parent or parents.

Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 6451. Section 6451.

(a) An adoption severs the relationship of parent and child between an adopted person and a natural parent of the adopted person unless both of the following requirements are satisfied: (1) The natural parent and the adopted person lived together at any time as parent and child, or the natural parent was married to or cohabiting with the other natural parent at the time the person was conceived and died before the person’s birth. (2) The adoption was by the spouse of either of the natural parents or after the death of either of the natural parents. (b) Neither a natural parent nor a relative of a natural parent, except for a wholeblood brother or sister of the adopted person or the issue of that brother or sister, inherits from or through the adopted person on the basis of a parent and child relationship between the adopted person and the natural parent that satisfies the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a), unless the adoption is by the spouse or surviving spouse of that parent. (c) For the purpose of this section, a prior adoptive parent and child relationship is treated as a natural parent and child relationship.

Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 6452. Section 6452.

(a) A parent does not inherit from or through a child on the basis of the parent and child relationship if any of the following apply: (1) The parent’s parental rights were terminated and the parent-child relationship was not judicially reestablished. (2) The parent did not acknowledge the child. (3) The parent left the child during the child’s minority without an effort to provide for the child’s support or without communication from the parent, for at least seven consecutive years that continued until the end of the child’s minority, with the intent on the part of the parent to abandon the child. The failure to provide support or to communicate for the prescribed period is presumptive evidence of an intent to abandon. (b) A parent who does not inherit from or through the child as provided in subdivision (a) shall be deemed to have predeceased the child, and the intestate estate shall pass as otherwise required under Section 6402.

Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 6453. Section 6453.

For the purpose of determining whether a person is a “natural parent” as that term is used in this chapter: (a) A natural parent and child relationship is established where that relationship is presumed and not rebutted pursuant to the Uniform Parentage Act (Part 3 (commencing with Section 7600) of Division 12 of the Family Code). (b) A natural parent and child relationship may be established pursuant to any other provisions of the Uniform Parentage Act, except that the relationship may not be established by an action under subdivision (c) of Section 7630 of the Family Code unless any of the following conditions exist: (1) A court order was entered during the parent’s lifetime declaring parentage. (2) Parentage is established by clear and convincing evidence that the parent has openly held out the child as that parent’s own. (3) It was impossible for the parent to hold out the child as that parent’s own and parentage is established by clear and convincing evidence, which may include genetic DNA evidence acquired during the parent’s lifetime. (c) A natural parent and child relationship may be established pursuant to Section 249.5.

Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 6454. Section 6454.

For the purpose of determining intestate succession by a person or the person’s issue from or through a foster parent or stepparent, the relationship of parent and child exists between that person and the person’s foster parent or stepparent if both of the following requirements are satisfied: (a) The relationship began during the person’s minority and continued throughout the joint lifetimes of the person and the person’s foster parent or stepparent. (b) It is established by clear and convincing evidence that the foster parent or stepparent would have adopted the person but for a legal barrier.

Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 6455. Section 6455.

Nothing in this chapter affects or limits application of the judicial doctrine of equitable adoption for the benefit of the child or the child’s issue.

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