Orphan's court

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The orphan's court was an organization established in the Chesapeake Bay colonies during colonization. The major goal of the organization was to protect orphaned children and their right to their deceased family's estate from against claims and abuses by step-parents and others.

Modern-day orphan's courts are probate courts, hearing matters involving wills of decedents' estates which are contested and supervising estates which are probated judicially.

Probate courts are commonly referred to as orphans court, surrogate court, court of ordinary, depending on the jurisdiction.