Issue Briefs Subject(s): Financial Services & Commerce Published: April 7, 2016 Agency: Legislative Council Staff Probate is a general term referring to a court procedure by which a person's estate is transferred to others. In current usage, "probate" has been expanded to generally include all matters pertaining to administration of estates, including trust administration, guardianships, and conservatorships. This issue brief provides an overview of probate terminology and probate courts, and discusses probate procedures used in different situations. Download Document