The term can actually mean two things: 1) the court that has jurisdiction over wills, trusts, and protected individuals; or 2) the process of changing titled (ownership) of property from the decedent to someone else. Probate is often a time-consuming process. It can take several months from the time a will is submitted to the court before assets can actually be distributed. It can also be expensive (court costs and legal fees).
Visit our Probate page for more information on this subject.