Which account or arrangement will avoid probate at the owner's death?

Which account or arrangement will avoid probate at the owner's death?

• A. Only a POD account
• B. Tenancy by entirety
• C. A funded inter vivos trust
• D. I, II, III, and IV

Answer: (D)

The arrangement that will avoid probate at the owner's death includes a variety of accounts and structures, each serving to ensure the transfer of assets outside the probate process. A Payable on Death (POD) account is designed specifically for this purpose, allowing the named beneficiary to directly receive the funds upon the account holder's death, bypassing probate entirely. Similarly, Tenancy by the Entirety is a form of joint property ownership typically available only to married couples, which ensures that upon the death of one spouse, the surviving spouse automatically becomes the sole owner without going through probate. A funded inter vivos trust, also known as a living trust, enables the grantor to place assets into a trust during their lifetime. Upon the grantor's death, the assets held in the trust do not enter probate, as they are transferred according to the terms of the trust. Therefore, the combination of these arrangements, along with being inclusive of other options that also avoid probate, supports the conclusion that all specified arrangements effectively circumvent the probate process at the owner's death. This comprehensive understanding of asset transfers is crucial in estate planning to ensure that assets are distributed efficiently and in accordance with the owner's wishes.

The arrangement that will avoid probate at the owner's death includes a variety of accounts and structures, each serving to ensure the transfer of assets outside the probate process.

A Payable on Death (POD) account is designed specifically for this purpose, allowing the named beneficiary to directly receive the funds upon the account holder's death, bypassing probate entirely. Similarly, Tenancy by the Entirety is a form of joint property ownership typically available only to married couples, which ensures that upon the death of one spouse, the surviving spouse automatically becomes the sole owner without going through probate.

A funded inter vivos trust, also known as a living trust, enables the grantor to place assets into a trust during their lifetime. Upon the grantor's death, the assets held in the trust do not enter probate, as they are transferred according to the terms of the trust.

Therefore, the combination of these arrangements, along with being inclusive of other options that also avoid probate, supports the conclusion that all specified arrangements effectively circumvent the probate process at the owner's death. This comprehensive understanding of asset transfers is crucial in estate planning to ensure that assets are distributed efficiently and in accordance with the owner's wishes.