WILLS & PROBATE

A will is a person's written intention of what should be done with his or her property after he or she dies. 

An estate of a person must go through court to legally conclude that person's affairs. This is called probate and the court oversees it. If there is real property, someone will need legal authority to transfer the property to the heirs. If the estate is producing income, taxes will have to be paid. The creditors are to be paid from the estate property.

Almost every estate will have a piece of property that passes by title or deed, like a car or real property, and normally only someone with legal authority can legally transfer such property.