Probate: What Happens When Someone Dies

Probate: What Happens When Someone Dies is a practical Law course that explains what happens to property, debts, and legal responsibilities after a death. Students will learn how probate courts work, what executors and heirs need to know, and how to approach the process with more confidence and less confusion.

Navigate Probate Law With Practical Step-By-Step Guidance

• Learn the legal steps after death, from the first days through closing the estate
• Understand the roles of courts, executors, administrators, heirs, beneficiaries, and creditors
• Identify probate property, non-probate property, debts, taxes, and estate assets
• Gain a practical framework for handling disputes, records, distributions, and planning ahead

A practical guide to estates, courts, executors, heirs, creditors, and the legal steps after death.

This course gives students a clear overview of Probate: What Happens When Someone Dies, including why probate exists, when it is required, and how the court process begins. It explains core Law concepts in plain language so students can better understand wills, intestacy, inheritance rights, and legal authority.

Students will examine the responsibilities of executors, administrators, and personal representatives, including giving notice, inventorying assets, managing bank accounts and real estate, paying debts, handling creditor claims, and preparing final filings. The course also covers fiduciary duties, recordkeeping, accountings, and the steps required to distribute property to beneficiaries and heirs.

Beyond the standard probate process, the lessons address common complications such as will contests, disputes among family members, insolvent estates, minors, digital assets, businesses, and personal property. Students will also learn how planning tools may help simplify or avoid probate in appropriate situations.

By the end of the course, students will have a practical understanding of probate Law and the confidence to follow the major legal, financial, and administrative steps involved after someone dies.