Probate court proceedings after a death can drag out and cost tens of thousands of dollars in attorney and court fees--money that would otherwise have gone directly to your loved ones.

This topselling guide shows you the most effective ways to skip the probate process:

• name payable-on-death beneficiaries for financial accounts
• own property jointly
• leave real estate with transfer-on-death deeds
• use a living trust
• name the right beneficiaries for IRAs, 401(k)s, and other retirement plans, and
• use probate shortcuts for small estates.

Completely updated, this edition includes the latest state laws on probate avoidance methods, and covers all the estate-related impacts of the recent changes to federal rules on retirement distributions.