Probate Court at Legal Glossary

What is it? A specialized court or division of a state trial court that considers only cases concerning the distribution of deceased persons estate. Called surrogate court in New York and several other states, this court normally examines the authenticity of a will -- or if a person dies intestate, figures out who receives her property under state law. It then oversees a procedure to pay the deceased persons debts and to distribute her assets to the proper inheritors. See probate.

Law Definition Added By: Jordan

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