Probate attorneys can help you establish a living trust or recommend other non-probate devices (such as life insurance) to ensure your loved ones avoid the hassles of a public probate hearing and are taken care of as you wish. A probate court’s jurisdiction is limited to inheritance matters, such as wills and trusts. When someone dies, his or her will is presented to the probate court. The court will appoint an executor to administer the deceased’s property, collecting and paying debts and disposing of property as directed in the deceased’s will. In the event there is no will for the deceased, the probate court will appoint an administrator to dispose of the deceased’s property. Administered by a court in a public forum, probate can be a very cumbersome and complex process, requiring an attorney with probate court experience.