An ancillary estate refers to a separate probate proceeding that may be required when a person passes away owning property in a state or country where they were not a resident. For example, if a person was a resident of Maryland but owned a vacation home in Florida, an ancillary estate proceeding may be necessary to transfer ownership of the Florida property to the beneficiaries or heirs named in the Decedent’s will or according to Florida law. The purpose of an ancillary estate is to ensure that the Decedent’s property is properly transferred according to the laws of the state or country where it is located.