Probate is a legal process that validates a will, settles debts, and distributes remaining assets to beneficiaries—or, if there's no will, follows state intestacy laws.
What Is Probate? Probate is a legal process that occurs after a death. In most cases, probate is a key part of settling the estate of a deceased person.
Probate is a court-supervised proceeding that authenticates your Will (if you have one) and approves your named Executor so he or she can distribute your property and belongings. During the probate process, all your assets must be located and assessed for total value.
Probate is the legal process that your estate goes through after you die. During probate, the court will recognize the decedent's will and appoint an executor to handle their estate affairs.
Probate is a legal process overseen by the court to validate a will or distribute assets under intestacy rules. It involves appointing an executor or probate attorney to inventory assets, pay debts, and distribute inheritance legally.
The process begins when someone (usually the named executor) files the original will and a petition to open probate with the probate court in the county where the deceased lived.
"Minimizing your estate's exposure to probate can not only keep costs down but also help your family focus on what matters most: themselves and those around them." Here's how probate works—and what you can do today to reduce its impact on your heirs.
Probate is a court-supervised legal process for validating a will and administering a deceased person’s estate. It involves settling debts, filing taxes, paying expenses, and distributing assets to beneficiaries.