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 with another, the assets are not included in a probate estate, and may be transferred by other simple procedures, like filing an Affidavit Death of Joint Tenant for each piece of real property owned by the deceased. Named Beneficiaries.   Bank accounts and other financial assets can have named "payable on death" or "transferable on death" beneficiaries.  Accounts with named beneficiaries are not considered part of a probate estate.  Living Revocable Trusts.   A Revocable Trust provide the best control of your assets during your lifetime, and the most flexibility for your plans to distribute your assets after your death.  Consulted an experienced estate planning attorney to discuss your options.