Avoid probate to keep your estate private

Description

Abstract: Circumventing the probate process is usually a good idea, because its public nature can lead to family disputes over asset distribution. But it’s possible to keep much (or even all) of an estate out of the probate process (and the public eye) by using the right estate planning techniques. This article describes several tools to avoid (or minimize) probate, but explains that, for larger, more complicated estates, a living trust (also commonly called a “revocable” trust) generally is the most effective tool.