Traditionally when we think of estate planning, we think of transferring assets upon death pursuant to wishes conveyed as part of a Last Will and Testament or a Revocable Trust. Assets held in a revocable trust will pass directly to beneficiaries named in the trust agreement without the need for probate. Some assets held in your individual name will be subject to probate and will pass according to your Last Will and Testament or by law if you do not have a Will. However, many people hold a significant portion of their wealth in assets which do not pass through the probate system – appropriately called “non-probate” assets. It is therefore important to know what those non-probate assets are and how to manage those assets so that you can be sure they are conveyed upon your death in a manner that is consistent with the rest of your estate plan.
