What is Probate Court?

The probate court is the division of the state's court system that has general charge of decedent's estates and their settlements. In general, the probate division of the court will oversee the liquidation of decedent's estates, making provisions for the desires of the decedent if that was expressed in a valid will, or make a statutory distribution of the estate assets to the intestate heirs. A person is intestate if they leave no valid will. Of course, there are tax issues that will interest the probate court. Good estate planning can forestall many of the problems that can arise in the probate system.