Probate
/ˈproʊ.beɪt/noun
The legal process of establishing a will’s validity and administering a deceased person’s estate.
Did you know?Probate comes from the Latin verb probare, “to test or prove,” reflecting the legal examination used to authenticate a deceased person’s will.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
probare
“To test, examine, approve, or prove”
Classical Latin
Latin
probatus
“Proved, tested, or approved”
Medieval Latin
Latin
probatum
“A thing proved or authenticated”
12th–13th Century
Anglo-French
probate
“Proof or official authentication, especially of a will”
14th Century
Middle English
probate
“The proving of a will before a legal authority”
Modern English
English
probate
“The court-supervised validation of a will and administration of an estate”