Q&A

Can a estate pass through probate if there is no will?

Can a estate pass through probate if there is no will?

A person’s estate can pass through probate whether they died without a will or with one, as long as it has assets that are subject to the process. For an estate to avoid probate, the deceased must own no assets subject to probate at the time of death.

How does probate transfer property after someone dies?

Probate and the house: Transferring property after someone dies Probate is a court-supervised legal procedure where beneficiaries legally obtain the financial and physical assets promised to them in a will and clear the debts of an estate.

How does an estate go through probate in South Carolina?

For an estate to go through probate, no estate planning is required. A person’s estate can pass through probate whether they died without a will or with one, as long as it has assets that are subject to the process. For an estate to avoid probate, the deceased must own no assets subject to probate at the time of death.

When do you have to start the probate process?

Before anyone can begin selling, transferring, or using estate property, someone has to initiate the probate process. This process begins when you file a document (usually called a petition or application) with the probate court in the county in which the decedent lived.

When does an estate not need to go through probate?

Typically, many of the assets in an estate don’t need to go through probate. If the deceased person was married and owned most everything jointly, or did some planning to avoid probate, a probate court proceeding may not be necessary.

Probate and the house: Transferring property after someone dies Probate is a court-supervised legal procedure where beneficiaries legally obtain the financial and physical assets promised to them in a will and clear the debts of an estate.

What do you need to know about probate process?

Probate is a fancy word for a procedure through which assets are legally passed. For very large estates the probate process can be a complex procedure, but for most people, it is a very simple formality. Probate is really just a judge giving legal permission for assets to be passed on, whether or not there is a last will.

For an estate to go through probate, no estate planning is required. A person’s estate can pass through probate whether they died without a will or with one, as long as it has assets that are subject to the process. For an estate to avoid probate, the deceased must own no assets subject to probate at the time of death.