This course is part of WealthCounsel’s Exploring Trusts and Estates series, which is intended for attorneys who are new to estate planning, transitioning into the practice, eager to refresh their foundational knowledge, and/or looking for new ways to discuss estate planning matters with clients. 

This presentation, Ways to Transfer Property Without a Will or Trust (Nonprobate Transfers), will explore assets that pass outside of the probate process. This includes various forms of joint ownership with survivorship rights, transfer-on-death or payable-on-death designations (sometimes called Totten trusts), and assets such as life insurance and retirement accounts with beneficiary designations. The presenter will address the benefits and burdens of such arrangements and how they interact with other estate planning techniques.