Who we are
Golden State Explained is written by an independent editorial team. We aren't lawyers, accountants or government employees, and we don't speak for any court, the DMV or the EDD. Our goal is a clear, accurate explanation of each task, with a link to the official place to do it.
What we cover
- Business: naming and registering a business, getting paid, being sued, commercial leases and hiring.
- Driving: registration and smog checks, driver's licenses and REAL ID, buying and selling a car, and DMV online services.
- Work and benefits: unemployment insurance, State Disability Insurance, Paid Family Leave and payroll taxes for employers.
How we work
Every guide starts from the primary source: the statute, court rule, official form or agency page it explains. We link those sources in an official sources list at the end of every guide. The "Updated" date at the top of each guide shows when we last checked it, and we recheck figures that change every January, such as benefit amounts and tax rates. Our calculators use the same published rules, tables and rates the guides explain.
Read the full process in our editorial standards, and see how we make money.
Reviewers
We don't list outside reviewers yet. If a licensed professional reviews a guide in the future, their name, license and the date of review will appear on that guide. Until then, no guide on this site is legal, tax or professional advice.
Spotted a mistake?
Tell us through our contact page. We check every report against the official source and correct the guide, and the "Updated" date at the top of the guide shows when it was corrected.