What is Probate?

Jacksonville Probate Lawyer

Probate is a court-supervised process for identifying and gathering the assets of a deceased person (decedent), paying the decedent’s debts, and distributing the decedent’s assets to his or her beneficiaries. In general, the decedent’s assets are used first to pay the cost of the probate proceeding, then are used to pay the decedent’s outstanding debts, and the remainder is distributed to the decedent’s beneficiaries.

Although a standard will may be sufficient for many people, estate planning should not be limited to simply drafting a will. The importance of planning for the possibility of incapacity during your lifetime should also not be overlooked. Other important considerations include a durable power of attorney, health care surrogate designation, and living will.

More information on Probate from the Florida Bar