What happens after a probate court approves an estate’s final accounting?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Inheritance Members of a kibbutz weaving fishnets, 1937.

After a probate court approves an estate’s final accounting, the executor proceeds with the following steps:

Distribution of Assets: The executor distributes the remaining assets to the beneficiaries and heirs in accordance with the terms of the will or state law if the individual died intestate.12
Closing the Estate: Once the assets have been successfully distributed, the executor requests that the court formally close the estate, which concludes the probate process.12

In some instances, heirs may be asked to sign a written agreement confirming their acceptance of the final accounting before the distribution occurs.1