<p>In California, the property owned by a husband and wife is called   community property. If one dies, then the surviving spouse inherits the   deceased spouse's property if there is no will. If the decedent had a   will, he or she can give one half of the property to whomever he wants,   for example to his children instead of his wife. However, the surviving   wife is allowed to keep her one half of the community and the husband   may not give that property away in his will. Of course, the husband can   given his property by will to his wife and after his death, his wife   will own all of the community property. These same rules apply if the   wife dies first and the husband survives her.</p>