Estate Planning and Probate Law Practice Test 2026 – Comprehensive Exam Prep

Probate is the legal process that follows a person’s death to prove that a will is genuine and valid, and to authorize the executor to administer and distribute the estate according to the will. It often involves presenting the will to the court, validating its authenticity, appointing the executor (or administrator if there’s no will), and obtaining the authority needed to collect assets, pay debts, and transfer property.

The other terms describe different situations or processes. Being said to die “testate” means there is a valid will, not the process of proving it. “Intestate” means there is no valid will at death. “Administration” refers to managing the estate when there is no will (or when the court assigns someone to handle matters, often in intestate situations), rather than proving and registering a will.