what is probate court 
probate court is a segment of the judicial system that oversees the execution of wills as well as the handling of estates conservatorships and guardianships probate court also handles the commitment of a person with psychiatric disabilities to institutions designed to help them probate court ensures that a will is executed according to the wishes of the individual who has passed away it makes sure that all debts owed are paid and that assets are distributed properly the court oversees and usually must approve the activities of the executor appointed to handle these matters in addition when a will is contested the probate court is responsible for ruling on the authenticity of the document and the cognitive stability of the person who signed it if no will exists the court also decides who receives the decedent s assets based on the laws of the jurisdiction in place understanding probate courtthe term probate is used to describe the legal process that involves the handling of the estate of a recently deceased person broadly the role of the court is to make sure that their debts are paid and their assets are distributed to the correct beneficiaries according to the decedent s wishes as detailed in a will 12probate is multifaceted in that it refers to the overall legal process of dealing with a deceased person s assets and debt the court that manages the process and the actual distribution of assets individual states have rules concerning probate and probate courts some states do not use the term probate but instead refer to a surrogate s court orphan s court or chancery court it s important to review the laws regarding probate in the state in which a will is to be probated before death if you re creating a will and after death if you are a beneficiary or executor many local courts offer complete instructions concerning probate for example the new york state unified court system allows individuals to search by their county and type of court to begin the probate process 3