Short answer

In Alaska, a will alone does not by itself avoid probate. A will controls how probate distributes assets that are part of your probate estate. To have property pass outside probate, you must use nonprobate tools: beneficiary designations (retirement accounts, life insurance), payable‑on‑death (POD) or transfer‑on‑death (TOD) registrations for certain accounts or property, joint ownership with right of survivorship, or a properly funded revocable trust. Combining a will with up‑to‑date beneficiary designations and proper titling lets you often achieve the goal of avoiding probate for most assets.

Detailed answer — what each tool does and how it works in Alaska

1. Wills

A will states who should get your probate assets and who should serve as executor and guardian for minor children. In Alaska, a will must meet formal signing and witnessing requirements to be valid. Even a valid will normally must be admitted to probate so the court can supervise creditor claims and transfer title to probate assets to beneficiaries. In short: a will is essential for naming guardians and stating your wishes, but it does not, by itself, avoid probate for assets titled in your name alone.

2. Beneficiary designations and payable‑on‑death (POD) accounts

Accounts and contracts that allow a beneficiary designation (life insurance, annuities, IRAs, 401(k)s) pass directly to the named beneficiary outside of probate. Bank accounts and some investment accounts can often be titled POD or if the institution supports it, transfer‑on‑death (TOD). These beneficiary mechanisms typically bypass probate, but they are controlled entirely by the beneficiary form you file with the account holder. If a beneficiary designation is blank, ambiguous, or names a deceased person without a contingent beneficiary, that asset may go through probate.

3. Joint ownership with right of survivorship

Joint tenancy with right of survivorship (or tenancy by the entirety where available) passes ownership immediately to the surviving joint owner at death, avoiding probate. But joint ownership carries risks: the co‑owner gains access to and control of the asset during your life, and the asset may be vulnerable to creditors of the co‑owner. Using joint ownership solely to avoid probate can create unintended tax, Medicaid, or creditor problems.

4. Transfer on Death (TOD) deeds and registrations

Some states permit transfer‑on‑death registration for securities, vehicles, and real property through a TOD (beneficiary) deed or registration. If Alaska law and local recording rules allow a TOD form for real property or permit TOD registration for securities or accounts, properly completed TOD instruments can move that property outside probate. Because the availability and exact procedure can vary by asset type, confirm with an attorney or the relevant recorder’s office and the account custodian that TOD is an accepted method for that asset.

5. Revocable living trusts

A revocable living trust lets you own assets in the name of the trust during your lifetime and name successor trustees and beneficiaries who will receive trust assets after your death without a probate proceeding. To avoid probate, you must retitle assets into the trust. A trust does not avoid all administrative tasks (e.g., transferring title to real property may still require recording documents), but it commonly avoids formal probate for assets properly funded into the trust.

6. Small‑estate procedures and summary transfer

When an estate’s value falls below statutory thresholds, Alaska provides simplified procedures that make probate quicker and less expensive. These small‑estate options change over time, so check current resources or speak with counsel. Courts still supervise transfers where needed, and some assets still require documentation outside the probate process.

7. How conflicts arise and how to prevent them

Conflicts commonly arise from inconsistent documents: a will that gives an asset to one person and an account with a beneficiary form that gives it to another. Beneficiary designations and TOD/POD designations generally control for the specific asset, even if the will says otherwise. To prevent conflict, coordinate your will, beneficiary forms, TOD deeds, trust documents, and account titling so they all reflect the same final plan.

8. Practical steps to make sure your plan works

1. Inventory all assets: bank accounts, retirement plans, life insurance, brokerage accounts, real estate, vehicles, and business interests.
2. Check titling and beneficiary forms: update them after marriage, divorce, births, or deaths.
3. Retitle assets into a revocable trust if you want to avoid probate for assets that do not allow beneficiary designations.
4. Record any required TOD or beneficiary deed properly (for real property, follow local recording requirements).
5. Keep a clear, signed will for any assets that will pass through probate and for naming guardians for minor children.
6. Review the plan every 3–5 years or after major life events.

For an overview of Alaska probate and estate planning procedures, see the Alaska Statutes on estates and probate at the Alaska Legislature website: https://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#13. The Alaska Court System also maintains practical information about estate administration and probate processes: https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/estate/estate.htm.

Helpful hints

• Don’t assume a will avoids probate. It controls probate distributions but does not bypass the probate process for assets titled in your name alone.
• Beneficiary forms trump a conflicting will for the specifically designated asset. Keep beneficiary designations current and consistent with your overall plan.
• Use POD/TOD registrations where available for bank and investment accounts to move assets outside probate quickly.
• Retitle property into a revocable trust to avoid probate for real estate and other non‑designated assets, and remember to fund the trust.
• Be cautious with joint ownership — it gives the other owner immediate control and may create unintended legal or tax consequences.
• Make a complete inventory and keep instructions about where to find account statements, beneficiary forms, deeds, and trust documents to ease administration after death.
• When in doubt, consult a licensed Alaska attorney for a tailored plan that considers tax, Medicaid, creditor, and family law implications.