What legal process establishes the validity of a will?

The legal process that establishes the validity of a will is called probate. During probate, the court examines the will to ensure that it meets the necessary legal requirements and determines if the will reflects the true intentions of the deceased. This process often involves authenticating the will, settling debts and estate taxes, and ultimately distributing the remaining assets to the beneficiaries as specified in the will.

Probate serves as a critical mechanism in estate administration, providing a formal legal framework for handling the deceased’s affairs and ensuring that the distribution of assets is carried out according to the deceased's wishes. It also offers a level of protection against any potential conflicts or disputes that may arise concerning the validity of the will or the distribution of assets.

In contrast, the other terms are related to different legal or real estate concepts. Inchoate typically refers to something that is not fully developed or incomplete, partition applies to the division of property, especially co-owned property, and severalty refers to ownership by one individual, which does not pertain to the validity of wills.