Probate Estate

Probate specifically refers to the Court procedure by which a Will is proved to be valid or invalid, however more generally refers to the legal process where the Estate of a Decedent is administered. Generally, the Probate process involves collecting the assets of the Estate, liquidating liabilities, paying necessary taxes and distributing property to heirs. These activities are carried out by the Executor (Personal Representative in Arizona). Probate can be a time-consuming, expensive and public process which involves extensive procedure and knowledge of technical laws and statutes.