Probate Court supervises the process of administering someone’s estate once they have died. If the person died with a will, the Court accepts the will and appoints the executor. If there is no will, the Court appoints an administrator. The Court supervises the opening of the estate, the filing of the inventory, and the closing of the estate.
The Court deals with will contest, estate litigation, creditor issues, and other problems that might arise in the administration.
The Court makes sure the executor follows the terms of the will or the law in distributing the estate to the heirs. The Court requires notice and has hearing at each of the major steps to allow objecting parties to have their day in Court.