Probate is the legal process that transfers the legal title of property from the estate of the deceased to their beneficiaries. During the probate process the executor of your will goes before the courts and identifies and catalogs all the property you owned, appraises the property, and pays all debts and taxes, proves that the will is valid and legal, and distributes the property according to the instructions of the will.  Probate can be a long, drawn-out legal process, and there are some probate-avoidance plans in place.  Simply speak to an attorney to find out what you can do to avoid probate in your area. 

 

Helpful article: Wills won’t work without probate.

 

Deeds and property tax records are public information and available at low to no cost in most counties via website. We suggest searching online for your local tax commissioner and probate office. PTC subscribers can upload and maintain copies of their property records.