When someone in your family passes away, the last thing you want is a long, expensive legal process. But probate—the court process for settling a person’s estate—can sneak up on families. Many people think they’ve done enough to avoid it, but small mistakes or oversights can send everything straight to probate court. This matters because probate can eat up time, money, and privacy. It can also create stress and conflict among family members. Knowing how probate gets triggered can help you avoid it and keep things simple for your loved ones. Here are seven ways a family member can accidentally trigger probate, and what you can do to prevent it.
