Avoiding Probate

• Article - Probate: What It Is -- and How to Avoid It

  You can't help your parent avoid death or taxes at death. But you can save time and money by helping her plan to have her property avoid probate.

Questions & Answers

• Question - Can checking accounts be set up to avoid probate?

  Ownership of bank accounts can be engineered to pass free of probate.

• Question - Does a joint will have to go through probate?

  First, get straight on what's joint property and what's a joint will. Then understand that while most wills must be probated, some can go through a simplified procedure.

• Question - If I have a living trust, do I also need a will?

  While it requires a little extra thought and paperwork, a simple back-up will may help prevent estate planning slip-ups.

• Question - is it a good idea to put your IRA in a revocable living trust?

  Should I put my IRA in a revocable trust? There are good reasons to put an IRA in a revocable living trust. For one, a revocable trust avoids probate.