Probate a court process of distributing what you have at the time of your death to the new owners. The court distributes your assets according to the terms of your Will. If you do not have a Will, the court distributes your assets according to the laws of intestate succession.

In either case, your executor first assembles your assets. Second, the executor pays the costs of the probate, taxes, and then your debts. If there is not enough cash to pay the costs of probate, the taxes, and the debts, the executor sells some assets to get the cash. Finally, the executor delivers whatever is left to the proper people. The job is not an honor, it is a lot of work and liability.