OK dumb question...why would one want to "avoid probate"? I've never inherited anything(and likely never will) so I don't know anything about the process, is it a costly process or is there some other reason to avoid it? If you either go thru probate, or avoid it, and you end up at the same place...does it really matter?
Related question: If someone dies, is the division of assets/will public? If not how would anyone know if they got what they were supposed to? How would someone who didn't even know they were named in a will if a crooked executor didn't tell them and simply kept the assets for themselves or gave them to the wrong person?