Lost a loved one in Woodland Hills?Talk to a lawyer for free.

The spouse or registered domestic partner, the children, and the children of a child who has died; if there are none, the relatives who would inherit by law, such as parents or brothers and sisters. Some who depended on the person for support can also bring one: a putative spouse (one who believed in good faith that the marriage was valid), that spouse's children, stepchildren, parents, and a minor who lived in the home for the last 180 days and relied on the person for at least half of their support (Code of Civil Procedure §377.60). The family usually brings one case together, and the court divides any award.

The law can't pay for grief itself: California courts don't award money for a family's grief or sorrow (Krouse v. Graham, 1977). What it counts is what the family lost: the financial support your loved one would have given, gifts or benefits you would have received, funeral and burial costs, the value of the help they gave at home, and their love, companionship, comfort, care, protection and moral support (California jury instructions). We'll explain what applies to your family, plainly and without pressure.

Their own injury claim doesn't end at death: it passes to their estate, separately from the family's claim. It covers what they lost before death, such as medical bills and wages, and can include punitive damages they could have recovered. For cases filed from 2022 through 2025 it could also include their pain and suffering; for cases filed since January 1, 2026, California law again leaves that out. Without a probate case, the family member who inherits the claim can bring it as "successor in interest" by signing a sworn declaration with a certified copy of the death certificate attached (Code of Civil Procedure §377.32).

Mostly not. The Medical Examiner doesn't choose a funeral home or make arrangements: your family chooses one and gives it the case number. If your family objects to an autopsy, tell the office as soon as you can; it tries to honor a family's wishes, but some autopsies are required. A religious objection must be filed in writing before the autopsy, and it doesn't apply to children under 18. Belongings are released to the legal next of kin; call the Personal Property Section at (323) 343-0515 before going.

There may be. When a crime caused the death, such as a drunk or hit-and-run driver or vehicular manslaughter, California's Victim Compensation Board can help pay funeral and burial costs, up to $12,818, after other sources pay. The person responsible for paying for the funeral applies, and it doesn't pay coroner's charges or a funeral bought in advance. A claim against the driver and their insurer is separate, and if the driver is convicted of a felony for the death, the family's lawsuit can also seek punitive damages.

Yes. When a child who had no spouse or children of their own dies, the claim goes to the relatives who would inherit, which usually means the parents (Code of Civil Procedure §377.60). We'll explain what it covers for your family, gently and at your pace.

A wrongful death lawsuit generally must be filed within two years of the death. If a public agency may share responsibility, such as the City of Los Angeles for a street's design, Metro for a bus or Caltrans for the 101, a written claim must reach that agency within six months of the death, before any lawsuit. We can keep track of the deadlines for your family.

Yes. Our office is at 22440 Clarendon St, Suite 200, Woodland Hills, CA 91367, a block off Ventura Boulevard. Your family doesn't have to come in: call us 24/7 at (800) 985-9565 and we'll come to your home, at a time that suits you.

Nothing upfront. Your consultation is free, and no attorney's fees are owed unless we recover compensation for you. You may be responsible for case-related costs and expenses; we'll explain them before you sign.