WHAT IS PROBATE?

Probate. Probate should be avoided unless you dislike your family or want the last laugh. It’s time consuming, expensive, unpredictable and not private. While there are only two reasons why it could be positive, in most states and in most circumstances it can and should be avoided. That’s because it’s a whole process for someone to go through. You either appoint him or her or the judge appoints him or her for you by statute. The job is a tedious one that requires getting intimate with the deceased’s family and life. There’s three main parts, assets, beneficiaries and creditors. Each stage requires focus and effort, and each represents an opportunity for problems and an arena for fighting. Overall, each step requires judicial oversight, which slows the process down greatly. We call probate the ultimate toll booth for lawyers, since mostly lawyers are required to go through process. You’ll learn more about this in our report once you take our questionnaire.