What happens to a will when the testator dies?

When a testator (the person who created the will) passes away, the will becomes effective. This is referred to as probate. The process for probating a will varies from state to state, but generally speaking, the executor must locate, identify, and inventory the assets of the estate. Once the assets are gathered, the executor will be responsible for paying any outstanding debts, taxes, or liabilities of the estate. Once the debts and taxes have been taken care of, the executor will distribute the assets according to the terms of the will. In California, the executor must file the will with the appropriate court in the county where the decedent (person who has died) resided within 30 days of their death. The executor must also publish a notice in the local newspaper and mail a copy of the will to any known creditors. Once the will is filed with the court, the court will appoint an executor or administrator to carry out the terms of the will. The executor will be responsible for collecting the assets, paying the debts and taxes, and distributing the remaining assets to the beneficiaries according to the will. In California, the probate process generally takes about a year to complete. Once the process is finished, the will becomes final, and the estate is closed. All assets that were part of the estate are then distributed to the beneficiaries according to the will.

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What happens to a will when the testator dies?

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