Probate is the legal process of settling an estate. Understanding how it works helps whether you're planning ahead or administering a loved one's estate.
Expert information to help you understand your rights and options
Probate is the legal process for validating wills, paying debts, and distributing assets under court supervision. While often avoidable with proper planning, many estates must go through probate. Learn what triggers probate, typical timelines and costs, and the executor role in the process.
Executors handle everything from securing assets and notifying creditors to filing taxes and distributing inheritances. The role carries personal liability for mistakes. Learn executor responsibilities timeline, compensation rules, when to hire professionals, and common pitfalls to avoid.
Several tools can help assets pass outside probate—joint ownership, beneficiary designations, transfer-on-death deeds, and living trusts. Each has trade-offs for control, taxes, and creditor protection. Learn which assets must go through probate and strategies for minimizing probate exposure.
Probate follows a defined sequence: petition filing, executor appointment, creditor notification, asset inventory, debt payment, and beneficiary distribution. Missing steps or deadlines can delay the process significantly. Follow the complete probate timeline with key deadlines and court requirements.
Estates below certain thresholds qualify for simplified procedures that avoid full probate—often using affidavits rather than court proceedings. Dollar limits vary by state from $20,000 to $200,000. Learn your state small estate threshold, required procedures, and assets that qualify.