Probate is the term for a legal process in which a will is reviewed to determine whether it is valid and authentic. Probate also refers to the general administering of a deceased person's will or the estate of a deceased person without a will.

What does it mean when a will has been probated?

Probate is a legal process to validate the Will of a person who has passed. When you receive a grant of probate, the court legally recognises the validity of the Will and the executor who's responsible for the estate and its assets.

Is a will always probated?

Not necessarily. Probate isn't always required, especially for small, straightforward estates. ... If it's a very simple estate and all assets are jointly owned, probate can often be avoided. A common example is when the surviving spouse simply becomes the sole owner of the assets since everything is already in both names.