Probate

Probate is the first step in the legal process of administering the estate of a deceased individual, resolving all claims and distributing the deceased individual's property under a Will. A probate court (Surrogate Court) decides the legal validity of a Testator's Will and appoints those nominated to be Executor. The probated Will becomes a legal document which may be enforced by the Executor in the law-courts, as Executors have legal power to dispose of the Testator's assets in the manner specified in the will.