Probate is the default process for passing property to your heirs that has no other way of reaching them. It applies to any property which is not automatically paid to a designated beneficiary, joint owner, etc. It requires that your Will be admitted, takes many months, and requires several court filings. Some people try to avoid probate by owning assets jointly or by designating beneficiaries, but those arrangements can cause unequal distribution depending on how your assets are managed or consumed if you become incompetent. A much safer way is through a Revocable Living Trust, which holds your assets and uses them for your benefit during your lifetime (with yourself as trustee), then safely distributes them upon your death according to your wishes without probate, saving time and money.