Probate court is the office where all probate issues are handled. The probate court handles all matters of probate, right from admitting the petition for probate until issuing the order for transfer of property to heirs and beneficiaries.

In most states probate courts function exclusively. [In some states such as Massachusetts, Probate and Family Courts function as one unit with two compartments; Probate and Family Courts take up additional issues such as birth and death, marriage, domestic violence, child abuse, adoption, separation and divorce, maintenance etc].

A typical probate court has a presiding Judge, a supervisor and a few clerical employees.

Probate research is, in a sense, a study about family trees. Genealogists and historians are particularly apt to undergo probate research. Probate records give immensely invaluable information to them.

Researchers locate the places where the individuals in the family tree died. Sometimes the names of places are changed over time, or places themselves are located in a different state or country than where it used to be. For example, Eritrea, which is an independent country today, used to be part of Ethiopia. Within the US, some parts of Lincoln County which were in Maine in the 18th century are now parts of Kennebec, Waldo, Washington, Hancock, Androscoggin, Sagadahoc and Knox counties.

All important documents which are used in the probate process are known as probate records. The first category of records relate to personal properties which are to be submitted to the court.

The will should state what assets are involved, who are the beneficiaries, who will be the personal representative, guardian for minor children less than 18 years old, someone to manage children’s’ property [if the heirs are minors or young adults], signature of witnesses, signature of self and endorsement by the notary.