All of the decedent's assets that are in the decedent's name alone are part of which estate?

• A. Probate estate
• B. Nonprobate estate
• C. Personal property
• D. Real property

Answer: (A)

The main idea is how title at death affects probate versus nonprobate transfer. Assets owned solely in the decedent’s name at death have no survivor or beneficiary designation to take them outside the probate process, so they must go through probate. This collection of assets—both real and personal—that are owned only by the decedent and don’t pass by contract or survivorship forms the probate estate. By contrast, assets held in joint tenancy with right of survivorship or those with named beneficiaries (like certain life insurance or retirement accounts) bypass probate and become part of the nonprobate estate. So those assets in the decedent’s name alone belong to the probate estate.