Probate exists to confirm the authenticity of a will and guarantee that creditors, tax authorities, and other obligations get paid before anything is handed to heirs. Even if someone meticulously prepared a will, the courts generally want to check that everything stands up legally. If an estate is valued over $100,000 or contains real property (like a house), formal proceedings often become necessary. Those who have smaller estates may sometimes qualify for a simpler, more informal approach, thanks to the small estate affidavit system.

Probate exists to confirm the authenticity of a will and guarantee that creditors, tax authorities, and other obligations get paid before anything is handed to heirs. Even if someone meticulously prepared a will, the courts generally want to check that everything stands up legally. If an estate is valued over $100,000 or contains real property (like a house), formal proceedings often become necessary. Those who have smaller estates may sometimes qualify for a simpler, more informal approach, thanks to the small estate affidavit system.