---
title: "Probate Laws: 50 States"
description: Losing a loved one is difficult, and navigating probate laws can be confusing. Each state has its unique probate laws.
image: https://lifecloud.com/hubfs/Justice%20statue.webp
---

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# Probate Laws: 50 States

Losing a loved one is difficult, and navigating probate laws can be confusing. Each state has its unique probate laws.

Published August 28, 2024  
Written by **LifeCloud Team**

 

#### The probate process is legal and occurs after a person has passed away. It involves proving the validity of the deceased person's will, identifying and valuing their assets, paying off any outstanding debts or taxes, and distributing the remaining assets to their beneficiaries according to the terms of the will (or according to state law if there is no will).

The probate process can vary depending on the state where the deceased person lived, as each state has its own laws and regulations governing probate proceedings. The process can often be lengthy, expensive, and emotionally taxing for the deceased person's loved ones. Below are a collection of links to each states probate laws. 

 

 

##### **Alabama **

• [Wills and Estates ](http://www.legislature.state.al.us/CodeofAlabama/1975/128505.htm)

 

##### **Alaska **

• [Probate Laws Alaska](https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/probate/background.htm#probate) 

 

##### **Arizona **

• [Arizona Courts / Probate](https://www.azcourts.gov/probate) 

 

**Arkansas **

• [Arkansas Circuit Courts Probate Division](https://www.arcourts.gov/sites/default/files/Probate%20Benchbook%202022.pdf)

 

**California **

• [California Probate Code](https://www.courts.ca.gov/8865.htm?rdeLocaleAttr=en) 

 

**Colorado **

• [Colorado Probate Laws](https://leg.colorado.gov/publications/colorado-probate-law-2016) 

 

**Connecticut **

• [Probate Courts and Procedures](https://jud.ct.gov/lawlib/law/probatelaw.htm) 

 

**Delaware **

• [Deleware Probate Courts](https://www.newcastlede.gov/155/Probate-Process) 

 

**Florida **

• [Florida Probate Law](https://help.flcourts.gov/Other-Resources/Probate) 

 

**Georgia **

• [Georgia Probate Forms](https://georgiacourts.gov/probate/standard-forms/) 

 

**Hawaii **

• [Hawaii Probate Law](https://www.courts.state.hi.us/docs/court_rules/rules/hpr.htm) 

 

**Idaho **

• [Idaho Probate Laws](https://legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/statutesrules/idstat/Title15/T15CH3.pdf) 

 

**Illinois **

• [Illinois Probate Law](https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/archives/IRAD/probatecourt.html)

 

**Indiana **

• [Hamilton County Probate](https://www.hamiltoncounty.in.gov/210/Probate-Rules) 

 

**Iowa **

• [Iowa Probate Forms](https://www.iowacourts.gov/browse/files/categories/0500b4d9f82d4b30952c1aaf6147be60) 

 

**Kansas **

• [Kansas Probate Code](https://www.ksrevisor.org/statutes/ksa_ch59.html) 

 

**Kentucky **

• [Kentucky Probate Code](https://www.kycourts.gov/Legal-Help/Documents/probateguide.pdf) 

 

**Louisiana **

• [Louisiana Probate Laws](https://goea.louisiana.gov/media/1w1lq3sz/probateandsuccession.pdf) 

 

**Maine **

• [Cumberland County Probate Court](https://www.cumberlandcountyme.gov/departments/probate_court/index.php) 

 

**Maryland **

• [Administering Estates in Maryland](https://registers.maryland.gov/main/region/howard/Administering%20Estates%20in%20Maryland%20Guide.pdf) 

 

**Massachusetts **

• [Probate of Estates in MA](https://www.mass.gov/probate-of-wills-and-estates) 

 

**Michigan **

• [Michigan Probate Laws](https://www.mncourts.gov/help-topics/probate-wills-and-estates.aspx) 

 

**Minnesota **

• [Minnesota Probate Laws](https://www.mncourts.gov/help-topics/probate-wills-and-estates.aspx) 

 

**Mississippi **

• [Mississippi Probate Code](https://www.sos.ms.gov/policy-research/probate-code-2018) 

 

**Missouri **

• [Missouri Courts](https://www.courts.mo.gov) 

 

**Montana **

• [Montana Probate Laws](https://courts.mt.gov/Forms/endoflife) 

 

**Nebraska **

• [Nebraska Probate Courts](https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/self-help/estates) 

 

**Nevada **

• [Nevada Probate Law](https://nvbar.org/wp-content/uploads/SBN-Public-Info-Brochure-Probate-fn.pdf) 

 

**New Hampshire **

• [New Hampshire Probate Courts](https://www.courts.nh.gov/our-courts/circuit-court/probate-division)

 

**New Jersey **

• [New Jersey Guide to Probate](https://www.co.monmouth.nj.us/documents/14/A-Citizens-Guide-to-Wills-Estates-and-Probate_Nov2022.pdf) 

 

**New Mexico **

• [New Mexico Probate Process](https://nmcourts.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SRL_Probate.pdf) 

 

**New York **

• [New Your Probate Guidelines](https://www.nycourts.gov/courthelp/whensomeonedies/probate.shtml) 

 

**North Carolina **

• [North Carolina Probate Court](https://www.nccourts.gov/help-topics/wills-and-estates/estates) 

 

**North Dakota **

• [North Dakota Probate Court](https://www.ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/informal-probate) 

 

**Ohio **

• [Ohio Probate Forms](https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/forms/all-forms/probate/5) 

 

**Oklahoma **

• [Ohio Probate Court](http://www.oklegislature.gov/HouseSubjectIndex.aspx?SubSubject=Probate%20Procedure) 

 

**Oregon **

• [Oregon Probate](https://www.courts.oregon.gov/courts/lane/programs-services/pages/probate.aspx) 

 

**Pennsylvania **

• [Pennsylvania Probate Court](https://delcopa.gov/row/wills.html) 

 

**Rhode Island **

• [Providence Probate Court](https://www.providenceri.gov/probate-court/) 

 

**South Carolina **

• [South Carolina Probate Code](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t62c003.php) 

 

**South Dakota **

• [South Dakota Probate Law](https://atg.sd.gov/victim/seniors/probate.aspx#gsc.tab=0) 

 

**Tennessee **

• [Nashville Probate Court](https://circuitclerk.nashville.gov/probate/) 

 

**Texas **

• [Texas Probate Law](https://guides.sll.texas.gov/probate) 

 

**Utah **

• [Utah Informal Probate](https://www.utcourts.gov/en/self-help/categories/probate/informal-probate.html) 

 

**Vermont **

• [Vermont Probate Law](https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/fullchapter/14/003) 

 

**Virginia **

• [Virginia Probate court](https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/circuit/resources/probate_in_virginia.pdf) 

 

**Washington **

• [Washington Probate Law](https://www.courts.wa.gov/caseload/?fa=caseload.showIndex&level=s&freq=y&tab=probate) 

 

**Washington, D.C.** 

• [District of Columbia Probate Law](http://www.dccourts.gov/superior-court/probate-division) 

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