Roseville, CA estate planning & probate attorney Kristin M. Kaminski explains how the probate process works in California. Probate, in the state of California, is a court-supervised process that typically spans an average of 16 months. It functions as a mechanism for transferring a decedent’s assets to their beneficiaries or heirs. In cases where no will is present, the assets are distributed to heirs according to California state law. However, if the decedent left a last will, the assets are directed to the beneficiaries named in the will.