Probate administration is the detailed process of managing and settling a decedent's estate under the supervision of a probate court. It includes locating and valuing assets, safeguarding property, notifying and paying creditors, filing tax returns, and distributing remaining assets according to the will or intestacy laws. The personal representative (executor or administrator) has fiduciary duties to act in the best interests of the estate and beneficiaries. Probate administration can range from relatively simple to highly complex, depending on the size of the estate, types of assets involved, and presence of disputes or special planning structures.

In practice, probate administration is handled primarily by attorneys and personal representatives, but financial advisors often support the process by providing account information, beneficiary details, and assistance with claiming life insurance benefits. Advisors may help families understand timelines, expected distributions, and the role of non-probate assets in providing liquidity. They may also coordinate beneficiary claim forms, transfers of investment accounts, and updates to surviving spouses' planning. Lessons learned during probate administration often lead clients to adjust their own estate plans, using trusts, updated beneficiary designations, and life insurance to simplify administration for their heirs. Familiarity with probate administration helps advisors guide clients through a difficult emotional and financial period.