Probate is the legal process through which a court validates a deceased person's will and grants authority to the executor to administer the estate. The process confirms the will's authenticity, ensures it was properly signed and witnessed, and officially appoints the executor named in the will. Once granted, probate (called a Certificate of Appointment in some provinces) allows the executor to access the deceased's assets, pay debts, and distribute property to beneficiaries. Probate fees vary by province and are typically calculated as a percentage of the estate's value. Some assets, like jointly-held property and registered accounts with named beneficiaries, may pass outside the probate process.