You wrote a will. You signed correctly. You stored the original. Your family still needs probate in Thailand. Many people feel confused at this point. Probate is not a sign your will failed. Probate is the legal process the court uses to confirm who has authority to manage the estate. A will explains your wishes. Probate gives legal power to act on those wishes. Without probate, your executor has no court-recognized status. Banks, land offices, and many institutions will not