When a loved one dies, there are often many things that must be taken care of, including probating the estate. Probate is the legal process of distributing a deceased person’s assets to his/her heirs. It occurs whether the person dies with or without a will.

If your loved one had a will, its validity will be determined during probate. Additionally, your loved one’s property will be identified, inventoried and valued. The estate’s debts and taxes will be paid during this time and any money due to the estate will be collected. Finally, the estate’s property will be distributed according to the validated will or, if there is no will, according to state law.