What is an estate?

Many people think an estate only has something to do with the death of a person. But your estate is the sum and total of everything you own at any given point in your life, from the clothes on your back, to the money in your pocket, to a car, a house, your investments, etc. During your lifetime, you can deal with any part of your estate yourself. But after the death of someone, that person's estate has to be dealt with according to the terms of the person's will or, if there is no will, by the law relating to the distribution of estates.