What is Probate?

Probate is a legal process whereby a probate court supervises the distribution of a deceased person's assets to the deceased person's heirs after payment of debts and taxes. A will may describe who will be a personal representative (executor) to oversee the deceased persons affairs. Having a will does not avoid probate! This is often a long, drawn-out process for those involved, as they must wait for the creditors and lawyers to take their piece of the hard-earned finances and personal property the deceased has left behind. But it doesn’t have to be this way…