What legal process involves proving the validity of a will?

The process of establishing the validity of a will is known as probate. During probate, the will is presented to a court, where the judge will review the document to ensure it meets legal requirements and determine its authenticity. This includes verifying the signature of the testator (the person who made the will), confirming that the will was executed properly according to state laws, and ensuring there are no challenges to its validity.

Once the court has validated the will, it can then oversee the administration of the estate according to the terms specified in the will. This process not only involves validating the will but also allows for the settling of debts and distributing the remaining assets to the beneficiaries as indicated.

Estate planning refers to the overall process of preparing for the management and distribution of an individual's assets in anticipation of death and may include creating a will; however, it does not specifically address the legal validation of the will itself. Settlement generally refers to the process of concluding affairs regarding the estate, including compliance with debts and distribution of assets, but again, it is not the legal process for proving a will's validity. A testamentary document is another term for a will, but it does not define the process through which a will is validated in a legal context.