Probate Seller’s Checklist

A practical, printable checklist for executors and personal representatives, from the first week through the closing table. Keep it on your desk and take it to meetings; every item below comes from years of guiding families through estate sales.

Tip: the page prints cleanly with the menu hidden. Use the checkbox squares as you go.

Within the First Week

Order multiple certified copies of the death certificate (10 to 15 is common) Find the will, trust documents, and any funeral or burial instructions Identify who is legally responsible: the named Executor or the petitioning Personal Representative Locate the property’s homeowner’s insurance, mortgage, and tax records Secure the home: change or control access, and ask someone to check it regularly Write down anything unusual about the property’s condition with dated photos Start a folder for every document you receive: do not lose a single paper

Within the First Month

File the will or resignation petition in the correct court (Probate Court in CT, Orphans’ Court in MD, Probate and Family Court in MA, DC Superior Court in DC) Get your Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration Open an estate bank account in the estate’s name Notify creditors and publish the required notice to the public on the state’s deadline Gather asset records: statements, deeds, titles, and the home’s tax assessment Order the required official appraisal of the home Let a real estate professional walk the property and provide an honest market analysis Tell the probate attorney if there are multiple heirs, disputes, or minor beneficiaries

Before Listing

Decide, with the estate attorney, whether the estate needs to sell the home Choose a selling price that a real probate market, not an estimate, supports Sort the family’s keepsakes carefully, and clear, clean, and de-clutter what remains Make only the repairs that protect safety and drive value; skip the cosmetic wish list Arrange for utility access, lawn care, and a smooth path for showings Complete the state’s property disclosure form; if you lack knowledge of a condition, say so in writing Photograph the home professionally on a bright day List with active marketing built for the estate’s timeline

Offers, Approval, and Closing

Review every offer against the price and the estate’s goals; the highest number is not always the best fit Prefer buyers whose financing can actually close on the estate’s timeline Keep the estate attorney in the loop on every contract step Provide any court filings, reports, and confirmation documents your state requires Deposit the net proceeds into the estate account at closing Keep every closing statement and receipt for the final accounting Finally: file the accounting and distributions, then close the estate with the court

Probate Seller’s Checklist

Within the First Week

Within the First Month

Before Listing

Offers, Approval, and Closing

Notes for your meetings

The seller’s checklist is a meeting agenda, not a solo project

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