The probate process can be long and costly, often taking weeks or months to complete. For such reasons, many people will try to avoid the probate process whenever possible. Our Rockford estate planning attorneys explain what you can do to avoid the probate process and leave your potential heirs with fewer inheritance burdens.
The most common method to avoid probate is transferring assets outside of the probate process, saving the estate a lot of time and expense, and helping your loved ones avoid legal hassles. Below we have put together the most common ways to transfer assets to avoid probate:
Joint Property Ownership
A common way to avoid probate is with joint property ownership. Jointly owned property with the right of survivorship helps you avoid probate because the deceased joint owner will no longer own the property when it passes to the living joint owner.
To create joint property ownership, you will need to create a written document that sets out the terms and the right of survivorship.
Revocable Living Trusts
Creating a living trust is another popular way to avoid probate. The living owner (which is typically also the trustee) would transfer the property’s title to a trust. They would continue to manage and have control over the estate until their death. Then the successor trustee would transfer the property to the beneficiaries named in the trust.
Death Beneficiaries
In Illinois, you can add a “payable-on-death” (POD) designation to bank accounts, stocks, bonds, and even vehicles. You still control all the money in the account and your POD beneficiary would have no right to the money, stocks, or assets until your death.
Once you pass away, the beneficiary can claim the assets without probate proceedings.
The most helpful tip to avoiding probate is to have an experienced attorney on your side. Contact our Rockford lawyers today at (815) 987-4050 to schedule a case review!
The blog published by Reno & Zahm LLP is available for informational purposes only and is not considered legal advice on any subject matter. By viewing blog posts, the reader understands there is no attorney-client relationship between the reader and the blog publisher. The blog should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a licensed professional attorney, and readers are urged to consult legal counsel on any specific legal questions concerning a specific situation.