Many go longer. Also, probate is an emotionally traumatic experience for many. It is difficult enough having a family member die, but then to be thrust into court hearings, paper work, real estate sales, and other legal matters for months and years on end is a burden on the whole family. But serious drawbacks accompany holding title to a home, for example, in Joint Tenancy. For instance, if you put you child's name on you house as a joint tenant, you actually have made a gift of a portion of the house to your child.
Joint tenancy can be a quick and expensive fix.
First, the trust is drafted by legal consul. The trust is signed and given a date. You retain all rights of ownership that you had before the trust was created. The trust names a successor trustee. Because distribution takes place outside of a probate court's jurisdiction, the disbursal of your estate can be entirely private.