California probate takes 12 to 18 months on average — and complex estates can take years. A California inheritance advance gets you funds in 48 hours while the courts work through the process.
California has one of the longest and most complex probate processes in the country. Even a straightforward estate typically takes 12 to 18 months to close, and contested or complicated estates can stretch to 2 to 3 years or more. Los Angeles, San Diego, and other major counties are notorious for court backlogs that add months to an already slow process.
The California probate timeline follows a rigid series of steps: filing a petition with the Superior Court (Form DE-111), a first hearing 5 to 6 weeks later, a mandatory 4-month creditor claim period, asset inventory and appraisal by a court-appointed probate referee, debt settlement, tax filings, and finally a second hearing where the judge signs the distribution order. Every one of these stages involves court scheduling, paperwork, and waiting.
During this entire period — which can easily exceed a year — heirs and beneficiaries typically have no access to the funds they're entitled to. That's where we come in.
A California inheritance advance gives you immediate cash against your expected share of an estate currently in probate. We review the estate's petition, will, and asset documentation, verify your status as a beneficiary, and wire funds directly to your account — typically within 24 to 48 hours.
It's not a loan. There are no credit checks, no monthly payments, no interest charges, and no personal liability. When probate eventually closes and the estate is distributed, our share is paid from the estate proceeds. If the estate falls short, you owe nothing.
We work with estates being probated in every California county — Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Sacramento, San Francisco, Alameda, Santa Clara, and all others.
Understanding why probate takes so long in California helps explain why so many heirs need an advance. Here's a typical timeline for a California estate:
With a California inheritance advance, you can have cash in hand within 48 hours — instead of waiting 12 to 18 months for this process to play out.
California does allow a simplified probate process for estates valued under $208,850 (as of April 2025). Using a small estate affidavit, heirs can sometimes bypass formal probate entirely. Additionally, real property valued up to $750,000 can be transferred through a simplified petition process. However, most estates that benefit from an inheritance advance exceed these thresholds — that's precisely why they're stuck in the full probate process.
California's high cost of living makes the probate waiting period especially painful. Heirs regularly need advances to cover mortgage or rent payments on California's expensive housing, funeral and burial costs (which average $8,000 to $12,000 in California), medical bills from a parent's final illness, property maintenance on the deceased's home while it's in probate, legal fees for the estate attorney, credit card debt and daily living expenses, and property taxes that continue accruing on estate real estate.
Our team has deep experience with California probate courts, timelines, and county-specific procedures across LA, San Diego, Orange, SF, and every other county.
While California probate takes 12-18 months, we get you cash in as little as one business day after approval.
California's high cost of living means many heirs carry debt. Your credit score is irrelevant — approval is based on the estate.
If the estate falls short, you owe nothing. California heirs have no personal liability whatsoever.
Full probate, simplified probate, trust administration, contested estates, estates with real property — we handle them all.
One transparent fee, no compounding interest. Whether CA probate takes 12 months or 3 years, your cost stays the same.
California probate typically takes 12 to 18 months for a straightforward estate. Complex estates, contested wills, estates with significant real property, or estates in busy counties like Los Angeles can take 2 to 3 years or longer. The mandatory 4-month creditor claim period alone adds unavoidable delay.
Estates valued under $208,850 may qualify for a simplified small estate affidavit process. Real property up to $750,000 can be transferred through a simplified petition. Assets in a living trust bypass probate entirely. However, estates above these thresholds require full probate.
Probate is handled by the Superior Court in the county where the deceased resided. Each county has its own probate department, and processing times vary significantly. Los Angeles County is among the slowest due to high caseloads.
Advance amounts depend on the estate size and your expected share. We typically advance up to 30-40% of your anticipated inheritance, ranging from $5,000 to $250,000. California estates tend to be larger due to real estate values, which often means larger advance amounts are available.
Estates with real property are common in California and generally qualify for advances. Real estate often needs to be sold during probate, which can add months to the timeline — all the more reason to get an advance rather than waiting.
No. You have the legal right to assign a portion of your expected inheritance. We work with the estate attorney to verify documents and ensure a smooth process, but their permission is not required.
California law sets statutory probate fees based on estate value: 4% of the first $100,000, 3% of the next $100,000, 2% of the next $800,000, and so on. Both the executor and the estate attorney receive these fees, so total fees can be significant — another reason heirs may need an advance to bridge the gap.
Yes. If you're a beneficiary of a trust being administered in California, you may qualify for a trust advance even though the estate isn't in formal probate.
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