Definition

The legal process of administering a deceased person’s estate, including validating the will and distributing assets.

What to consider

  • Understand that probate can be time-consuming and costly.
  • Consider estate planning tools to possibly avoid it.
  • Review the process so you know what to expect.

Real world scenarios

  • After her aunt passed away, Lily had to go through probate to legally settle the estate and distribute assets according to the will.

Related terms

Legal & Estate Planning