Because non-probate assets aren't part of the probate process, they aren't listed with the probate court. Non-probate property includes:Assets titled in the name of a trust or designating a trust as beneficiary. Many people set up living trusts specifically to avoid probate. The trustee named in the trust is authorized to carry out the trust's instructions, including distributing trust assets to beneficiaries.
Property with a named beneficiary. Common examples include life insurance policies, IRAs, 401(k)s, and pensions.
Bank accounts with beneficiaries. These do not go through probate if they have a payable on death (POD) designation. Other property such as real estate or vehicles is non-probate property if there's a transfer on death (TOD) designation.
Property owned jointly, with survivorship rights. This means that, if one owner dies, the other owner automatically gets the deceased owner's interest in the property. Married couples often own their home this way. Look for the words "joint tenancy with right of survivorship" or "tenancy by the entirety" in the title documents. If you live in a community property state, your state laws may also provide a right of survivorship.
Once you've identified the assets that pass outside of probate, the rest of the decedent's assets are probably part of the probate estate.