Probate is the process of administering a deceased person’s estate when they die, whether they left a will or not. It is the right to deal with someone’s property, money, and possessions ‘their estate’.

If the person did leave a will, then it is the responsibility of the executors to carry out the person’s wishes and ensure, to the best of their ability, that the estate is distributed in accordance with the provision of the will. If the person did not leave a will then the law dictates what should happen to the estate, in accordance with the rule of intestacy.

A person’s estate is made up of property, money, and possessions and the administration of an estate involves closing bank accounts, selling shares, collecting money that is owed settling any debts, paying any taxes, and distributing the remainder of the estate between the entitled beneficiaries.

Unfortunately, sometimes the administration does not proceed as it should and intervention is needed.