Legal Definitions - nonprobate estate

A nonprobate estate refers to assets that are not subject toprobate court proceedings upon the owner's death. These assets pass directly to the designated beneficiaries or joint owners without the need for court intervention.

Examples of nonprobate assets include:

• Jointly owned property
• Life insurance policies with named beneficiaries
• Retirement accounts with designated beneficiaries
• Payable-on-death bank accounts

For instance, if a person owns a house jointly with their spouse, the house automatically passes to the surviving spouse upon the owner's death. The surviving spouse does not need to go through probate court to claim ownership of the property.

Similarly, if a person has a life insurance policy with their child named as the beneficiary, the child will receive the death benefit directly without the need for probate court proceedings.