No. Many individuals are under the impression that their will alone is sufficient to avoid probate. Unfortunately, a will is simply an expression of your wishes and must go through some kind of court process before the assets can be distributed to the heirs. The reason probate is needed is because since the owner of the property is deceased, a formal legal proceeding is required to remove the decedent’s name from the property and title the asset in the new owner’s name. Depending on the complexity of your estate and whether any disputes or claims arise, this process can take years.