Probate

Probate & settling an estate

Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate — proving the will, paying debts, and distributing what's left. Most states offer a simplified 'small-estate' shortcut when the estate's value is below a set threshold, letting heirs use an affidavit instead of full administration. Assets with named beneficiaries (life insurance, retirement accounts, payable-on-death accounts) and jointly owned property usually pass outside probate entirely. Thresholds, timelines, and forms vary by state, so confirm with the local probate or surrogate's court.