Probate Shortcuts.
Probate Shortcuts Surviving Spouses. Assets inherited by the surviving spouse can be transferred by a simple procedure called Spousal Property Petition. The petition must be submitted to the probate court for approval, but the process is simple and much faster than regular probate. There is no limit on the value of property that can be transferred in this way. Claiming Property With a Simple Affidavit. California has a procedure that permits inheritors to skip probate altogether when the value of the estate is less than $150,000. If the deceased owned real estate, the real estate must have a value of $50,000 or less. An inheritor must sign a short sworn document, an Affidavit, stating that he or she is entitled to a certain asset. There is a 40-day waiting period for this Affidavit Process. Joint Tenancy With Right of Survivorship. If real property or financial assets are held in joint tenancy w...