Definition of "Probate"

The court-supervised process of administering a will.

Letters probate represent judicial certification of the validity of a Will and judicial confirmation ofthe authority of the personal representative who is to administer the Will. Essentially, probate fees are a tax on a person\'s estate and except for the provinces of Quebec and Alberta, there is no limit to this tax.

The process whereby the will of a deceased is tested for validity in a court. This can be a time consuming and expensive process which can be reduced or eliminated through proper estate planning.