Want to save your family money and hassle? Read this book! 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.