Probate is a term used to describe the legal process of transferring the property of the deceased's Estate to those who will inherit. During this process a Will (if one exists) is reviewed before a court of law. An executor or administrator is appointed by the court to manage and distribute the deceased's property as defined by the Will and/or by state law. Different states may have different requirements regarding Probate.
To determine if an Estate needs to go through Probate consult an attorney or the county or state Probate court for the area where the deceased lived. A telephone number for the Probate court is usually available in the county or state government listings of the phone book, or through an internet search. Questions about the Probate court process should be discussed with an attorney.