What Is Probate Administration?

Probate administration is the legal process of filing a will with the court after death. If there are no objections, the probate judge then declares the will valid and appoints the executor named in the deceased person's will or, if there is no will, a close relative of the deceased person.

The probate administrator has many responsibilities and must adhere to state probate laws. The probate process can be complicated, so understanding the law and organizing the probate process is critical.

What happens during probate administration?

• Distributing assets to beneficiaries

• Paying bills and taxes from the estate

• Wrapping up the deceased person's affairs

• Notifying creditors of the death

• Inventorying and appraising the deceased person's assets

• Transfer ownership of assets, such as a house, car, and furniture

• Managing probate litigation, if necessary

Most executors hire a probate attorney to help with the probate process. Executors can also probate the estate themselves, but this is usually not recommended unless the estate is very small or the executor is very familiar.