The court-supervised legal process of validating a deceased person's will, paying debts and taxes, and distributing remaining assets to beneficiaries. If no will exists, probate still occurs to settle the estate according to state intestacy laws.
From Latin 'probatum' meaning 'something proved,' from 'probare' (to test, prove). Medieval ecclesiastical courts originally handled probate since wills were considered spiritual matters involving oaths before God.
Surprise: probate isn't punishment for poor planning—it's actually protection! This ancient process ensures debts get paid, taxes handled, and rightful heirs identified, preventing chaos when someone dies. Many assets like joint accounts and life insurance skip probate entirely through beneficiary designations.
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