probate

American  

[proh-beyt] / ˈproʊ beɪt /

noun

• probates
  plural

1. Law. the official proving of a will as authentic or valid in a probate court.

2. an officially certified copy of a will so proved.

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adjective

1. of or relating to probate or a probate court.

verb (used with object)

• probates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• probated,
  past participle,  past
• probating
  present participle

1. to establish the authenticity or validity of (a will).

2. Law. to put (an offender) on probation.

probate British  

/ -beɪt, ˈprəʊbɪt /

noun

1. the act or process of officially proving the authenticity and validity of a will

2. 1. the official certificate stating a will to be genuine and conferring on the executors power to administer the estate

   2. the probate copy of a will

3. (in the US) all matters within the jurisdiction of a probate court

4. (modifier) of, relating to, or concerned with probate

   probate value

   a probate court

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verb

1. (tr) to establish officially the authenticity and validity of (a will)

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unprobated
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• probates
  plural

Participles

• probating
  present
• probated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• probate
  simple
• probates
  simple
• have probated
  perfect
• has probated
  perfect
• am probating
  progressive
• are probating
  progressive
• is probating
  progressive
• have been probating
  perfect progressive
• has been probating
  perfect progressive

Past

• probated
  simple
• had probated
  perfect
• was probating
  progressive
• were probating
  progressive
• had been probating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will probate
  simple
• will have probated
  perfect
• will be probating
  progressive
• will have been probating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of probate

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English probat, from Latin probātum “a thing approved,” noun use of neuter past participle of probāre “to examine, test”; see prove

Explanation

Probate is the act of proving the legal validity of a will. A will may require probate because the person that signed it isn’t around to verify his or her signature. As Ambrose Bierce wrote, “Death is not the end. There remains the litigation over the estate.” So comes the need for the probate. Though probate, from the Latin probare, “to test or prove,” is usually used for wills, it can also be applied to other legal documents, as in the proving of the validity of a document, or an official certification proving the document is real. Probate is also a verb meaning “to place a convicted person on probation.”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

probate probates probated probating

You’re not the only person to have an allergic reaction to the idea of probate.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026

But assuming it does go back to the account owner’s or to a deceased beneficiary’s estate, it will also go through probate.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026

Iowa is one of several states that limits recovery to only what is in the recipient’s official probate estate at death, which allows for several defensive planning strategies.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026

How much they are paid often depends on state probate law.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 24, 2026

I looked through probate records to see who would have benefited from his death.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann

The writer is a lawyer who specializes in wills, trusts, estates and probates.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 25, 2022

The website may also include information regarding probates, trusts and guardianships.

From Encyclopedia.com ● Jun. 12, 2018

The legal work was the basic fare: deeds, wills, taxes, probates, landlord issues, residency.

From Washington Post

A civil court also was assembled this month, by which some writs and some probates of wills were granted.

From An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, Volume 1 With Remarks on the Dispositions, Customs, Manners, Etc. of The Native Inhabitants of That Country. to Which Are Added, Some Particulars of New Zealand; Compiled, By Permission, From The Mss. of Lieutenant-Governor King. by David Collins

His abbatial functions, however, are confined to convening ecclesiastical courts, and granting probates of wills, and licenses for marriages, subject only to the metropolitan jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Armagh.

From Notes and Queries, Number 77, April 19, 1851 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc by George Bell

Once a valid will is discovered, Florida law requires it to be submitted to the probate court, even if it is decades old and/or contradicts how the estate was probated.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 6, 2026

"The estate will actually be probated in accordance with intestate succession laws and the children would be lawfully next in line to inherit," he said.

From BBC ● Mar. 15, 2025

Starr County District Attorney Gocha Ramirez agreed to pay a $1,250 fine and have his license held in a probated suspension for 12 months in a settlement reached with the State Bar of Texas.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 29, 2024

Virgin Islands, where Mr. Epstein’s estate is being probated.

From New York Times ● Mar. 18, 2020

She learned that it did not concern her at all, and was to be probated, in accordance with the dead man’s instructions, at the Fall term of court.

From At the Sign of the Jack O'Lantern by Myrtle Reed

Our son understands that there will be costs associated with probating our wills.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026

Those chores can include arranging the funeral, probating the estate, closing accounts, canceling services and dealing with various government agencies, including Social Security and the IRS.

From Seattle Times ● May 9, 2022

The words judicial proceedings relate to the outcome of court actions: damage awards, the probating of wills, divorce decrees, and so forth.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2016

Originally facing 45 felony charges, he later plead guilty to two misdemeanors and was sentenced to probating and community service.

From Forbes ● Dec. 23, 2014

"I only asked him to postpone probating Spencer's will," began Whitney, laying down his cigar.

From I Spy by Natalie Sumner Lincoln