Jointly owned assets generally pass on to the joint owner without going through probate, but for assets without a joint owner or designated beneficiary, you may have to change the way the assets are held in order to avoid probate.

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Instead you can receive distributions from your IRA that are part of a series of substantially equal periodic payments (not less frequently than annually) based on your life expectancy or the joint life expectancies of you and your beneficiary without having to pay the 10 percent penalty.

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