Probate, derived from the Latin word “prove,” refers to the legal process of administering a deceased person’s estate. This court-supervised process involves identifying the decedent’s assets and debts, confirming rightful heirs, and distributing the estate’s assets accordingly. To claim surpluses from tax deed sales, a probate must be completed, and the court judgment submitted. GNSNEXT Asset Recovery Group manages this process, including hiring a probate lawyer to handle legal documents and court proceedings. Typically, a probate can take one to two months, depending on the number of parties involved, from initiation to the submission of the final court judgment to the county for the surplus claim.