What does probate mean in Australia, and what does the process involve?

Essentially, probate is proving the validity of the Will of the deceased. A probate is a formal document issued by a Supreme Court that confirms the validity of the Will and authorises the executor to deal with the assets of the estate, including managing, selling, and distributing the assets. The process generally involves finding the original Will, publishing an advertisement of your intention to apply for probate, preparing the necessary court documents, filing the court documents, dealing with any queries that the court may raise, and then receiving the grant. Banks and other institutions and land registries won't allow you to deal with assets until you've got the grant.