Probate is the court-supervised process for handling a deceased person’s estate — confirming the will (if there is one), appointing a personal representative, identifying and valuing assets, paying valid debts and claims, and distributing what’s left to the people entitled to receive it. Not every estate requires probate; some property (like assets held in a living trust, or certain jointly-owned or beneficiary-designated accounts) can pass outside the probate process.
Why it matters
Whether a specific house needs to go through probate depends on how it was titled, whether it was held in a trust, and other facts about the estate — this glossary entry describes what probate is in general, not whether it applies to your situation. See the California probate process for a fuller walkthrough, and is your house in probate or in a trust? if you’re not yet sure which applies.
General California probate and trust real-estate education. Not legal, tax, title, appraisal, or court advice. Talk with a qualified professional about your situation.