What is Probate?
Probate is the court process for gathering a decedent's assets, paying taxes and claims, and distributing assets to the beneficiaries. Generally probate is only necessary when a person dies with assets in his or her own name alone. Assets in a living trust, jointly held or with a beneficiary designation do not have to go through probate. Probate has a bad reputation. Sometimes rightfully so, but not always.
