Well the difference between probate and non-probate property is the distinction of whether or not it has to go through the court before going to the beneficiaries.

Any property that’s left in a will must go through the probate process, which is a legal process in the Probate Court, which can take anywhere from a year or so and a good amount of legal fees.

Non-probate property is property that’s designated in some way to pass directly to a named individual either by naming them in an account like an IRA named beneficiary or being the joint account holder in a bank account or real estate. Those types of property will pass directly and immediately upon your passing whereas the probate assets have to go through the legal process first.