Probate is the legal process of administering the estate of a deceased person, resolving any claims and ultimately distributing the deceased person's property under the declaration of the deceased’s Last Will & Testament. A probate court decides the legal validity of a testator's will and grants its approval by granting probate to the executors. Until such time as probate is granted and after any due taxes have been deducted, the assets and property forming the wealth of the estate, remains locked - out of the reach of any beneficiaries.