Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in California

estate accounts don't have beneficiary designations.

I agree with Ms. Cusack. Estate accounts do not have named beneficiaries. If you are referring to an account that belonged to the decedent at the time of death rather than the estate's account, then, no the estate administratorcannot name a beneficiary to that account. This account's funds would be divided according to intestate succession.