Probate is a legal process that takes place after someone dies.
The probate process usually includes:
- proving in court that a deceased person's will is legal (usually a routine matter)
- listing the deceased person's property
- getting the property appraised (how much is it worth)
- paying the debts and taxes
- distributing what is left as directed by either the will or, if there is no will, Arkansas law
Many people want to avoid the probate process because it can be a long and expensive process. There are many ways to avoid probate, such as owning property jointly, Payable on Death (POD) accounts, or giving the property away before death. You can also avoid or shorten the probate process with small estate laws.
