Part 19. Conveyance Or Transfer Of Property Claimed To Belong To Decedent Or Other Person of California Probate Code >> Division 2. >> Part 19.

(a) The following persons may file a petition requesting that the court make an order under this part:
  (1) A guardian, conservator, or any claimant, in the following cases:
  (A) Where the conservatee is bound by a contract in writing to convey real property or to transfer personal property, executed by the conservatee while competent or executed by the conservatee's predecessor in interest, and the contract is one that can be specifically enforced.
  (B) Where the minor has succeeded to the interest of a person bound by a contract in writing to convey real property or to transfer personal property, and the contract is one that can be specifically enforced.
  (C) Where the guardian or conservator or the minor or conservatee is in possession of, or holds title to, real or personal property, and the property or some interest therein is claimed to belong to another.
  (D) Where the minor or conservatee has a claim to real or personal property title to or possession of which is held by another.
  (2) The personal representative or any interested person in any of the following cases:
  (A) Where the decedent while living is bound by a contract in writing to convey real property or to transfer personal property and dies before making the conveyance or transfer and the decedent, if living, could have been compelled to make the conveyance or transfer.
  (B) Where the decedent while living binds himself or herself or his or her personal representative by a contract in writing to convey real property or to transfer personal property upon or after his or her death and the contract is one which can be specifically enforced.
  (C) Where the decedent died in possession of, or holding title to, real or personal property, and the property or some interest therein is claimed to belong to another.
  (D) Where the decedent died having a claim to real or personal property, title to or possession of which is held by another.
  (3) The trustee or any interested person in any of the following cases:
  (A) Where the trustee is in possession of, or holds title to, real or personal property, and the property, or some interest, is claimed to belong to another.
  (B) Where the trustee has a claim to real or personal property, title to or possession of which is held by another.
  (C) Where the property of the trust is claimed to be subject to a creditor of the settlor of the trust.
  (b) The petition shall set forth facts upon which the claim is based.

(a) At least 30 days prior to the day of the hearing, the petitioner shall cause notice of the hearing and a copy of the petition to be served in the manner provided in Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 413.10) of Title 5 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure on all of the following persons where applicable:
  (1) The personal representative, conservator, guardian, or trustee as appropriate.
  (2) Each person claiming an interest in, or having title to or possession of, the property.
  (b) Except for those persons given notice pursuant to subdivision (a), notice of the hearing, together with a copy of the petition, shall be given as provided in Section 1220 if the matter concerns a decedent estate, as provided in Section 1460 if the matter concerns a conservatorship or guardianship, or as provided in Section 17203 if the matter concerns a trust to all of the following persons:
  (1) Each person listed in Section 1220 along with any heir or devisee whose interest in the property may be affected by the petition if the matter concerns a decedent estate.
  (2) Each person listed in Section 1460 if the matter concerns a conservatorship or guardianship.
  (3) Each person listed in Section 17203 if the matter concerns a trust.
  (c) The court may not shorten the time for giving the notice of hearing under this section.

An interested person may request time for filing a response to the petition for discovery proceedings, or for other preparation for the hearing, and the court shall grant a continuance for a reasonable time for any of these purposes.

A person having or claiming title to or an interest in the property which is the subject of the petition may, at or prior to the hearing, object to the hearing of the petition if the petition is filed in a court which is not the proper court under any other provision of law for the trial of a civil action seeking the same relief and, if the objection is established, the court shall not grant the petition.

If a civil action is pending with respect to the subject matter of a petition filed pursuant to this chapter and jurisdiction has been obtained in the court where the civil action is pending prior to the filing of the petition, upon request of any party to the civil action, the court shall abate the petition until the conclusion of the civil action. This section shall not apply if the court finds that the civil action was filed for the purpose of delay.

An action brought under this part may include claims, causes of action, or matters that are normally raised in a civil action to the extent that the matters are related factually to the subject matter of a petition filed under this part.

Except as provided in Sections 853 and 854, if the court is satisfied that a conveyance, transfer, or other order should be made, the court shall make an order authorizing and directing the personal representative or other fiduciary, or the person having title to or possession of the property, to execute a conveyance or transfer to the person entitled thereto, or granting other appropriate relief.

The court may not grant a petition under this chapter if the court determines that the matter should be determined by a civil action.

(a) The order is prima facie evidence of the correctness of the proceedings and of the authority of the personal representative or other fiduciary or other person to make the conveyance or transfer.
  (b) After entry of an order that the personal representative, other fiduciary, or other person execute a conveyance or transfer, the person entitled thereunder has the right to the possession of the property, and the right to hold the property, according to the terms of the order as if the property had been conveyed or transferred in accordance with the terms of the order.

If a proceeding has been brought under this part by a conservator on behalf of a conservatee, or by a guardian on behalf of a minor, and the conservatee or minor dies during the pendency of the proceeding, the personal representative of the conservatee or minor's estate or other successor in interest may proceed with the matter and the existing proceeding shall not be dismissed on account of the death of the conservatee or minor.

If a court finds that a person has in bad faith wrongfully taken, concealed, or disposed of property belonging to a conservatee, a minor, an elder, a dependent adult, a trust, or the estate of a decedent, or has taken, concealed, or disposed of the property by the use of undue influence in bad faith or through the commission of elder or dependent adult financial abuse, as defined in Section 15610.30 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the person shall be liable for twice the value of the property recovered by an action under this part. In addition, except as otherwise required by law, including Section 15657.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the person may, in the court's discretion, be liable for reasonable attorney's fees and costs. The remedies provided in this section shall be in addition to any other remedies available in law to a person authorized to bring an action pursuant to this part.