Probate

Probate is the legal process that transfers the legal title of property from the estate of the deceased to their beneficiaries.   During the probate process the estate trustee of your will goes before the courts and identifies and catalogues all the property you owned, appraises the property, and pays all debts and taxes, proves that the will is valid and legal, and distributes the property according to the instructions of the will. Probate can be a long, drawn-out legal process, and there are some probate-avoidance plans in place. Simply speak to your lawyer to find out what you can do to avoid probate in your area.