You may want to consider having an estate plan in order to reduce the amount of estate taxes that will have to be paid if the plan is not in place. There could be a substantial amount of state and federal taxes that must be paid if there is no estate plan. Married couples can eliminate this possibility by setting up an AB trust. This is a little complicated for the average person to comprehend but hiring a lawyer to take care of it and explain what is being done is your best way of understand how to do this and avoid probate.