re: Do you need a lawyer for probate?

I believe you did give legal advice and now need to backtrack since the OP is now giving us more information and asking for more advice on what to do and now you realize he might actually reasonably rely on what you say. Process may be simple to you (and me of course) but it’s not simple to him. It’s obvious by the last post he made. I see all sorts of issues he could make mistakes on and cost him a lot more money than he saves by not hiring a succession attorney.

Glad you shut your trap before you stepped in bigger piles of shite, saw the light, and are now advising him to speak to a lawyer. Just like I did from the get go.

To the OP: I am a DIY guy as much as possible but some things you just need to pay someone else to do.

As for running away from a guy like me, I have confidence in my abilities. Usually mistaken by weaker men as being an a-hole. It’s OK. I’ve learned to live with it and laugh (instead of getting mad) when I see others not take my advice and fumble around and frick up.

So do like SlowFlowPro has advised you. Sorry you had to listen to me intellectually beat the right advice out of him.