What is probate?
Probate is the court process that settles a person's estate after they die. The court confirms the will, if there is one, appoints someone to handle the estate, and oversees paying the debts and passing what's left to the heirs.
Not every estate has to go through full probate. Many states have a simpler procedure for small estates, with a dollar limit set by state law. The case is usually filed with the probate court in the county where the person lived.
Find the county probate court
Address, phone, hours, filing fees and forms for county probate courts in all 50 states, on our sister site ProbateUS.
Probate court directoryYour state's probate rules
State-by-state guides to the small estate limit, typical timeline and filing fees, plus the court's own probate forms.
State probate guidesProbate lawyers
Attorneys who handle probate and estate work, listed by state on ProbateUS.
Probate attorneys by stateFuneralUS also has guides to some county probate courts. Browse the guides.
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