When you make that decision to plan your estate, it is important that you contact a lawyer to guide you.
Some of the tools you can use to plan your estate are the following:

• Wills & Testaments
• Trusts
• Power of Attorney
• Life Insurance Policies
• Joint Ownership
• Beneficiary designations
• Business succession 

While most of the above will enable one to bypass the probate and administration process in court, there are some instances that will need the estate to go through the court process in cases where some assets in the estate are not covered in those tools. 
A Will has to also go through probate process for validation.
For further guidance on your estate planning please consult a legal and a financial professional.
All the best in your estate planning journey.