Probating an estate is an expensive, time-consuming and sometimes adversarial affair. It is possible, and sometimes advisable, to avoid probate. With the help of an estate planner and, perhaps, an ...

If you die without a will, your state's probate court decides where to transfer your property and personal belongings. Intestate succession laws vary by state.

Whether your estate is large or modest, these options are available to help you avoid getting your estate stuck in probate.

The probate process gets a bad reputation, but it's the reality many families will face, and it's a process that can function well for some small estates. [ Read: How to Prepare to Be an Executor ...

We constantly hear from advisors that we should plan our affairs in such a way as to avoid probate.

Do retirement accounts go through probate? Discover how beneficiary designations work -- and how to keep IRAs, 401(k)s & ...

Pennsylvania Probate Timeline How long probate takes in Pennsylvania varies depending on several factors, but the average process can take anywhere from nine months to over a year.

Probate is a legal step that grants a person, or people, authority to execute a Will and manage a person's estate, and is always required when the deceased own property.