When it comes to estate planning, avoiding probate is one of the main motivators.

Whether it's designating beneficiaries or putting assets in a living trust , there are several ways assets can be directly transferred to heirs without going through probate.

But simply shielding assets from probate doesn't automatically mean assets will be distributed the way you intended. Sometimes, the same strategies used to avoid probate can unintentionally override other parts of an estate plan, potentially leaving loved ones without the protection you put in place.

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