[John Knobelsdorf II]

When someone says: "to avoid probate" then (in my experience) everything becomes very state specific.

For us in Texas, probate is not the burden I see in other states. Given that I feel "avoiding probate" makes the planning become specific for the planner's own state of domicile and/or residence(s)* - generalizations become less valuable.

I do respect the idea to "avoid probate" for certain states. If I had property in some states, I would hold it in a trust for just that reason.

Please OP, do share what you work out for yourself.

* Note: the words "domicile" and "residence" are for two (2) different things. Much like "liquid" does not equal "fluid" and "twisted" is not the same as "twist" when referring to steel. And don't even get me started about the "situs" of a trust (another whole topic unto itself that you can find a lot of seminar papers written about).