Probate

State

Policymakers should simplify, expedite, and minimize the cost of probate. Changes should allow informal or administrative probate procedures for wills and for appointing personal representatives. In particular, states should simplify the probate process when people die without a will. 

States should reform their probate procedures in accordance with the most recent version of the Uniform Probate Code. They should also provide appropriate oversight related to unsupervised or independent handling of estates, in which a personal representative may represent the estate without court approval in transactions such as selling a home. 

States should allow individuals who prepare wills to register wills with the appropriate court of jurisdiction.