Dictionary Definition
Probate
1. (a) : the action or process of proving before a competent judicial authority that a document offered for official recognition and registration as the last will and testament of a deceased person is genuine
(b) : the judicial determination of the validity of a will
2. : the officially authenticated copy of a probated will
Origin of the word “Probate”
Probate means “to prove,” from the Latin verb “probare.” In Middle English it took the form of the word “probat”, which is derived from Latin probatum, neuter of probatus, past participle of probare. The first known use of Probate was in the 15th century.[1]
Sources
1. http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/probate-faq-29135.html
2. http://www.americanbar.org/groups/real_property_trust_estate/resources/estate_planning/the_probate_process.html
3. http://statelaws.findlaw.com/washington-law/washington-probate-laws.html
4. http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/washington-probate-an-overview.html
5. http://estate.findlaw.com/probate/the-probate-basics.html
Attorney Robert Dickson
The core of Rob’s legal practice is civil litigation, with an emphasis on construction, real estate, and business law. He represents a wide range of clients, from large construction companies to individual homeowners. His is a practical approach to law, which strives to balance the need for a successful legal outcome with a client’s financial goals (or constraints). Outside of his private practice, Rob serves as an adjunct professor at the Seattle University School of Law where he teaches real estate litigation. [ Attorney Bio ]