What Can Be Avoided in Probate — And What Can’t

Not all assets go through probate — and understanding what does (and doesn’t) can save time, money, and stress.

Assets that usually skip probate include:

• Jointly owned property
• Life insurance payouts with named beneficiaries
• Retirement accounts (like IRAs or 401(k)s) with beneficiaries
• Payable-on-death (POD) bank accounts

However, assets solely in the deceased’s name without a beneficiary typically do go through probate.

Planning ahead with tools like trusts, joint ownership, and updated beneficiary designations can minimize what enters probate — and speed up the process for your loved ones.

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