Quick summary
Probate is the legal process that includes filing a deceased person's will with a court, locating and gathering the assets owned at death, paying all final debts and taxes due -- and, eventually, distributing the property that remains as the will directs. If someone dies without leaving a valid will and without setting up any of the other ways to pass property discussed below, the property will be distributed according to a formula set out in state law.
My mother hired an attorney and he drew up a pay on death deed to transfer her house to my brother on her death and we went to her bank and she signed a form that her bank account to be divided equally between her four children upon her death. Would this be enough to avoid probate?