[matthewb0051]

One big reason for the difference on the Will side, is that the Court's approval results in Letters Testamentary, which give the Executor the legal authority to take action on behalf of the deceased and his/her affairs. Technically the Executor can't just run around cancelling accounts or selling off assets without LettersT.

A friend of mine had a criminal case recently where the defendant was charged with criminal trespass of his dead grandfather's house. His mother and aunt had not processed the grandfather's estate thru probate and just assumed ownership of his crap. I bet it happens more often than we know. Verdict was not guilty if anyone is interested.

When I settled my father's estate, I was only asked for my Letters Test a few times. Most businesses didn't care, like the fitness club which just looked up his obituary online.