What does "probating an estate" mean?

When someone dies, we often hear people referring to “getting probate”. This is an

application for a grant of probate from the court and refers to the process of formally

proving a deceased person’s will is valid.

When the court issues a grant of probate a personal representative will be authorized to act on behalf of a deceased person’s estate, including dealing with land titles, banks, insurance etc., and being authorized to distribute the net assets to beneficiaries.

However, sometimes a grant of probate may not be necessary, as some banks and

other third parties may accept a personal representative’s authority based on the will alone, without probate being completed, depending on the specific situation.

Contact a lawyer to find out what approach is best in your circumstances.