The spelling of the phrase "ex probates" is fairly straightforward, but it may be confusing for those who are not familiar with Latin terminology. The first word, "ex," is pronounced as "eks" and means "from" or "out of." The second word, "probates," is pronounced as "proh-bah-teys" and means "proved" or "tested." Together, "ex probates" refers to something that has been proven or tested in the past, often in a legal context.