Probate
Probate is the process of distributing a decedent's assets to the ones who are supposed to get them.
The decedent's Will is submitted to the Court and a Personal Representative appointed. A Personal Representative (referred to as an Executor in some states) may also be appointed if there is not a Will. The Personal Representative has the authority to administer the estate, deal with third parties, file tax returns, sell assets, and distribute the assets to the beneficiaries.
For more information on what probate entails, click on this link: Probate in Montana