When someone dies, the people they leave behind can often be at a loss as to what they need to do to properly administer the estate in an orderly fashion. You need to determine what sort of estate to open, and that will be based on a number of factors. Your first step should be to sit down with an attorney who can help you understand the probate process, tell you your options, work with you to get through it, and who is able to handle as much of the process as you need.