Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Will substitutes are like a special kind of will that gives someone your things when you die, but they don't get to use or enjoy them while you're still alive. The difference is that with a will substitute, the person gets ownership of your things before you die, so they don't have to go through a special court process called probate.
Will substitutes are legal documents that function similarly to a will. They allow the designated beneficiary to receive assets upon the death of the donor, but unlike a will, the beneficiary does not receive any benefits during the donor's lifetime. The main difference between a will and a will substitute is that the title of the asset is transferred to the beneficiary during the donor's lifetime, which means that the asset does not have to go through probate court.
These examples illustrate how will substitutes work. In each case, the beneficiary receives the asset upon the donor's death, but does not have any ownership or access to the asset during the donor's lifetime. This allows the asset to avoid probate court and be transferred directly to the beneficiary.