Dictionary.net

establish the legal validity of; as of a will, etc.

establish the legal validity of (wills and other documents)

Official proof; especially, the proof before a competent officer or tribunal that an instrument offered, purporting to be the last will and testament of a person deceased, is indeed his lawful act; the copy of a will proved, under the seal of the Court of Probate, delivered to the executors with a certificate of its having been proved.

The right or jurisdiction of proving wills.

Of or belonging to a probate, or court of probate; as, a probate record.

To obtain the official approval of, as of an instrument purporting to be the last will and testament; as, the executor has probated the will.

The court process following a person's death that includes proving the authenticity of the deceased person's will appointing someone to handle the deceased person's affairs identifying and inventorying the deceased person's property paying debts and taxes identifying heirs, and distributing the deceased person's property according to the will or, if there is no will, according to state law. Formal court-supervised probate is a costly, time-consuming process -- a windfall for lawyers -- which is best avoided if possible.

Official, legal proof, as of wills.

The proof before competent authority that an instrument, purporting to be the will of a person deceased, is indeed his lawful act: the official copy of a will, with the certificate of its having been proved: the right or jurisdiction of proving wills.

Proof of a will.

Formal, official, legal proof, as of a will.

n. [Latin] Official proof; especially, proof that an instrument purporting to be the last will and testament of a person deceased, is indeed his lawful act ;-right or jurisdiction of proving wills.