Short answer — what you most likely need to know

If you leave all your property to your daughter in a will but do not change beneficiary designations or titles, some assets may pass directly to named beneficiaries or joint owners outside of probate. A will controls only assets that pass through probate. If you want certain accounts or pieces of property to avoid probate and pass automatically to your daughter, use the appropriate nonprobate transfers (for example, payable‑on‑death (POD) for bank accounts, beneficiary designations for retirement and life insurance, or a transfer‑on‑death method where available). These nonprobate designations generally govern distribution regardless of what a will says.

Detailed answer — how this works in Kentucky

Start with two basic categories of assets:

• Probate assets: assets titled only in your name and without any beneficiary or joint‑owner designation. These pass under the terms of your will or, if you die without a valid will, under Kentucky intestacy law.
• Nonprobate assets: assets that have a designated beneficiary, are held in joint tenancy with rights of survivorship, or otherwise have a transfer method that bypasses probate (POD accounts, payable‑on‑death registrations, beneficiary deeds if available, life insurance, retirement accounts, etc.).

Which controls: the will or the beneficiary designation?

Generally, a valid beneficiary designation or other nonprobate transfer controls. If a bank account is designated POD to someone else, or a retirement account names a beneficiary, those assets normally pass to the named beneficiary directly—even if your will says something different. That means a will that leaves everything to your daughter will not override separate beneficiary designations that name someone else.

Why you might still want POD or TOD even if your will names your daughter

• Avoid probate delay and cost. Probate can take months and involve court filing fees and executor responsibilities. POD/TOD and beneficiary designations move assets directly and typically faster.
• Privacy. Probate records are public. Nonprobate transfers are private.
• Certainty for small or simple assets. Bank accounts, brokerage accounts with TOD registration, and retirement accounts are commonly handled by beneficiary forms.

Assets to review and how they transfer

• Bank and savings accounts: Can often be set up as POD (payable on death) with a named beneficiary. That will pass outside probate to the beneficiary named with the bank.
• Brokerage accounts and securities: Some brokers allow transfer‑on‑death (TOD) registration. Securities may also pass via beneficiary forms.
• Retirement plans and life insurance: These typically pass by beneficiary designation completed with the plan or insurer. The beneficiary form overrides a contrary will.
• Real property: Transfer methods depend on how title is held. Joint tenancy with rights of survivorship passes to the surviving joint owner. Some states permit a beneficiary (transfer‑on‑death or “beneficiary”) deed for real estate; check whether Kentucky provides a statute or local procedure allowing this type of deed and how to record it.
• Motor vehicles: Title transfer rules vary. Some states permit beneficiary or TOD instructions on vehicle titles; check Kentucky Transportation Cabinet guidance for vehicle‑title transfers at death.

What if the beneficiary designation is inconsistent with the will?

If an asset has an effective nonprobate beneficiary designation, that designation typically controls even if the will attempts to distribute the same asset differently. That can create results you did not expect if you relied only on your will. To make your estate plan consistent, coordinate beneficiary forms, account titles, and your will.

Practical steps under Kentucky law

1. Inventory all assets and check current titles and beneficiary designations (banks, brokers, retirement plans, life insurance, deeds, vehicle titles).
2. Decide which items you want to pass outside probate and complete the institution’s beneficiary or POD/TOD paperwork where applicable.
3. If you want real estate to transfer outside probate and Kentucky recognizes a beneficiary/transfer‑on‑death deed where you live, record the proper deed following local recording requirements. If Kentucky does not allow a recorded beneficiary deed for real property in your county, consult an attorney about other options (joint ownership, living trusts, etc.).
4. Update or execute a will that coordinates with beneficiary designations so it covers only probate assets and avoids conflicting provisions.
5. Keep copies and make sure your daughter and your executor know where to find important documents and account contact information.

Where to look for Kentucky law and official guidance

To read Kentucky statutes and find specific language on probate and related matters, use the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov. For practical probate forms and court information, see the Kentucky Court of Justice: https://courts.ky.gov. For vehicle title questions, consult the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: https://transportation.ky.gov. These official sources can point you to the exact statutes and administrative rules that apply.

Helpful hints

• Do not assume a will covers everything—check titles and beneficiary forms for every account and asset.
• Beneficiary designations trump wills for those specific assets—update beneficiary forms after major life events (marriage, divorce, births, deaths).
• If you want to avoid probate for real property but you are unsure whether Kentucky allows a beneficiary deed where you live, ask a local attorney or your county clerk. If a beneficiary deed isn’t an option, consider other tools such as joint ownership or a living trust.
• Keep copies of beneficiary forms and account information where your daughter or your executor can find them; tell financial institutions where you want records sent after death if allowed.
• Make relatively small changes (e.g., adding a POD to a bank account) directly with the institution; for more complex arrangements, consult an attorney experienced with Kentucky probate and estate planning.