JOINT OWNERSHIP – When two or more individuals, or entities, own an asset together.  May include real property or a financial account.  Joint owners generally jointly and severally have full ownership of the asset.  The surviving joint owner is generally the sole owner upon the death of the other joint owner(s).  Assets with joint ownership generally are not subject tp Probate.

JUDICIAL PROBATE – A hearing required in the Probate process, generally at the beginning of the process and often to determine who shall be the Personal Representative of the Estate and/or to resolve some other dispute at the outset of the Probate process.