Death of real property owner

The Assessor’s Office must be notified upon the death of an owner within 150 days of the date of death, or if the estate is probated at the time the inventory and appraisal is filed. The Change in Ownership Statement Death of Real Property Owner Form (BOE-502-D) is required to be completed and submitted to the Assessor’s Office, even if the decedent held the property in a trust.

Failure to file a Change in Ownership Statement within the time prescribed by law may result in a penalty of either $100 or 10% of the taxes applicable to the new base year value of the real property or manufactured home, whichever is greater, but not to exceed $5,000 on property eligible for the homeowners’ exemption and $20,000 for property not eligible for the homeowners’ exemption if that failure to file was not willful. This penalty is added to the assessment roll and is collected like any other delinquent property tax and subject to the same penalties for nonpayment.