A significant change in probate law will become effective on January 1, 2012.  Currently if a decedent's estate (excluding assets in trust, joint tenancy etc. - See post of August 8, 2010 for details) exceeds $100,000, a court supervised probate proceeding is required to transfer assets from the decedent to the beneficiaries.  As of the first of the year, the threshold amount will increase to $150,000.  This should keep many estates out of probate and simplify transfer of assets for many families.