noun

probate

/ˈproʊbeɪt/ · say it: PROH·bayt

the legal process of validating and executing a will

In more detail

1. (noun) the legal process of proving that a will is valid and then distributing a dead person's property according to that will

2. (verb) to go through the legal process of proving a will is valid

Examples

1. The probate of her father's will took several months.
2. They had to probate the estate before distributing the money to the heirs.

How to use probate

Probate is a formal, legal term used primarily in legal and financial contexts to describe the official court process of validating a will and distributing an estate. It is commonly used when discussing estate planning, property inheritance, or legal procedures after someone's death. The term can function as both noun and verb, though the noun form is more frequent in general usage.

Common phrases

probate court
probate process
probate fee
probate estate
in probate
probate dispute

Synonyms

will administration · estate settlement · will validation · succession · testament execution

Word family

probated (adjective/past tense) · probating (present participle) · probate (noun/verb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse probate with simply inheriting property; probate is specifically the court-supervised legal procedure, not the act of receiving an inheritance.

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