@BobKamman In WI you do not need a trust or a will to by pass probate, but you do need to have the property filed with deed registered with  “Transfer on Death” (TOD) designation, which usually needs the help of an attorney. I am not going to get into all the benefits of a trust, but they do more than just avoid probate. Bob you don't even know me, so how can you say what I believe. "writers like you who think there is a federal probate code: