What is "probate"?

Probate refers specifically to the legal process of validating a will and administering an estate. This process typically involves several key steps, including proving the validity of the will in court, paying debts and taxes, and distributing the remaining assets according to the instructions outlined in the will or by state law if there is no will.

In the context of estate planning and trust management, understanding the probate process is essential for fiduciaries and estate planners, as it dictates how an individual's assets will be handled after death. This process is crucial for ensuring that the wishes of the deceased are honored and that beneficiaries receive their rightful inheritances.

The other options address different aspects of estate and trust management but do not accurately define probate. Distributing assets among heirs is certainly part of the probate process but does not capture the validation aspect of a will. Managing a trust is a separate function that typically does not involve probate, as trusts generally avoid the probate process altogether. Similarly, the official recording of a trust document is not related to probate but is a procedural step in establishing the trust itself.