Probate is the court process used to determine whether a will is valid, appoint the estate representative, address claims and expenses, and authorize distribution of estate property. Procedures, costs, and timelines differ by state and estate size.
General information
- A will does not avoid probate by itself.
- Some property passes outside probate by trust, title, or beneficiary form.
- Small-estate procedures may be available.
Service steps to consider
- Locating the original will and death certificate.
- Identifying the proper state or county court.
- Get legal help when the estate is contested, insolvent, taxed, or complex.
Quick check
- Has a person, asset, or address changed?
- Do all account forms match the plan?
- Can the right person find the current forms?
How Complete Wills can help
Complete Wills offers document updates through its published update service and can help customers access or revise eligible online documents. Support cannot decide whether a life event legally changes an existing document. Only a state-licensed attorney can provide that analysis. Customer support can explain website features and questionnaire fields, but it cannot choose documents, people, distributions, or legal terms, interpret a completed document, or explain how the law applies to a person's facts. Only a separately engaged licensed attorney may provide legal advice within the attorney's engagement.
Important limits
- Risk: writing changes on a signed will or trust while assuming they are valid. A licensed attorney can advise about a properly executed amendment or replacement.
- After a death, the executor, trustee, family, and experts must follow the controlling documents, account contracts, court rules, and tax law. This article gives general information only. A licensed attorney can explain how state law applies to a specific estate plan or document.
Verified September 1, 2026. Prices, offers, state availability, and laws can change; use the linked current source.
