It's been said before that estate law is a lot more complex than most people think. One of the things that makes it more complicated is the probate process. Due to this, many people look for ways to avoid probate to ensure that their assets are distributed in a timely manner. One popular way to circumvent probate is to use a payable-on-death designation on bank accounts and certain assets. Learn about when this can be a good idea, and when it can be disadvantageous.