Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in California

If your brother died without a will, then his estate passes to his children and spouse, if any. If there are no children, then the spouse, if any, gets all community property and half of the separate property.

If there is no children and no spouse, then his parents inherit everything. If the parents are deceased, then the estate passes to the brothers and sisters, with the living descendants of any dead brothers or sisters taking their parent's share.

However, in practice, the family usually divides up the personal possessions themselves. If there's a dispute, then it becomes tricky, because the legal fees in resolving such a dispute in most cases rapidly surpass the value of the possessions the family is fighting over.