How Probate Usually Works Probate is the legal procedure for verifying a will, paying off any debts or taxes, and distributing what remains to the appropriate beneficiaries. If your loved one didn’t leave a will, or if people question its validity, the court follows the state’s intestate succession laws to decide who inherits. https://rockpointprobate.com/north-carolina-probate-law-and-how-it-works/