Are all wills subject to probate?
Maybe. It depends on the estate and the planning done beforehand. Talk to a probate lawyer to know whether your will is subject to probate or not. In most cases, the answer is yes. A will that doesn't go through probate can still be recorded as a grant of administration : an official statement of inheritance that is filed with the probate court. This process avoids the fees and time commitment of probate; however, it means that the terms of your will cannot change after your death. There are some circumstances in which a person's assets are not subject to estate probate. If all or part of the inheritance is not in cash or real estate, it doesn't have to go through probate. Property like this does not have to be accounted for, so there's no need for a grant of administration. Examples include stocks, bonds, and bank accounts—anything that represents ownership of something without physical form (such as electronic services like cell phone plans). If you want to keep ...