{"id":11034,"date":"2025-10-10T11:23:38","date_gmt":"2025-10-10T15:23:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nationalland.com\/blog\/?p=11034"},"modified":"2025-10-10T11:25:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T15:25:17","slug":"what-is-probate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nationalland.com\/blog\/what-is-probate\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Probate: How Assets Move After Someone Passes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For aging landowners, protecting your property and your legacy through estate planning should be a top priority. By taking the time to plan out what will happen to your estate after you\u2019re gone, you can save your heirs lots of time and money down the line.
During a recent episode of the National Land Podcast<\/a>, Professor Tiffany Lashmet<\/a> outlined the importance of estate planning and discussed the role that probate plays in the inheritance process. Here\u2019s what landowners should know about probate and how it will impact their estate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Probate?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Probate is the legal process that moves assets out of the deceased person\u2019s name and into the heirs\u2019 names. As ag-law expert Prof. Tiffany Lashmet explains, it\u2019s \u201cjust the process of getting assets out of the person who\u2019s passed away\u2026into the heirs\u2019 name,\u201d and skipping it \u201ccan really result in some complicated issues for heirs down the road.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Probate Works Step-by-Step<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In a typical case, someone files a probate action, the will is introduced, creditors and potential will-contestants have a window to act, and the court appoints an executor. The court issues Letters Testamentary, which authorize the executor to sign documents that actually transfer property from the estate to new owners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a Will vs Intestate (No Will)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Probate happens whether you die with a will or without one; the difference is time, cost, and control. \u201cIf you want to save money, die with a will,\u201d Lashmet notes, because probate \u201ctakes longer\u201d and is \u201cfar more expensive\u201d without one. Without a will, the state legislature is left to decide where your assets go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Actually Transfers Assets After Death?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A will states intent, but probate is the execution arm that makes the transfer legally happen (e.g., signing the deed from the estate to the heirs). \u201cThe will itself doesn\u2019t do that\u2026you go through the probate process to get someone appointed who has the authority\u2026to deed that property over to the heirs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

State-by-State Differences<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Probate rules and pain vary widely. Lashmet notes Texas is generally navigable, while in other states, you may need additional guidance to handle probate because it\u2019s \u201cso cumbersome and so expensive.\u201d Regardless of location, having a will executed validly before you die will save your heirs time and money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thinking of selling land or preparing an estate plan? Our team can help you prepare. Reach out to your local National Land Realty agent<\/a> for a confidential pre-listing probate checkup and referrals to land-savvy estate attorneys.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For aging landowners, protecting your property and your legacy through estate planning should be a top priority. By taking the time to plan out what will happen to your estate after you\u2019re gone, you can save your heirs lots of time and money down the line.During a recent episode of the National Land Podcast, Professor … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Understanding Probate: How Assets Move After Someone Passes”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":92,"featured_media":11035,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[13],"tags":[1518,1941,1519,1522,1609],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\nUnderstanding Probate: How Assets Move After Someone Passes - National Land Realty News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Probate is an important process for any landowner planning to pass their landholdings along to their inheritors. 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