Understanding Probate

Probate is the process where the court validates the will of the deceased (testate), or establishes that the deceased died without a will (intestate). The court is also responsible for appointing an individual to handle the assets and obligations of the decedent. This individual can be known as an Executor if named in the will or an Administrator if no will exists.

Under infrequent circumstances the individual designated by the court is referred to as the Administrator with the will annexed.The Executor/Administrators duties may
include:

• Identifying and collecting the deceased’s assets
• Inventorying and appraising the assets
• Giving notice to creditorsSettling any debts
• Distributing or disposing of assets
• Providing a settlement report to the court and all interested parties

• During probate anyone claiming to be owed money has a limited period of time to come forward with their claim.

• An additional responsibility of the Executor/Administrator is to make sure that all individual and estate taxes are paid.

• If the sale of real estate is part of the probate the Executor/Administrator will need to find a REALTOR® familiar with the probate process.

Additionally, provisions will be necessary for the generation of various reports and disclosures as well as the maintenance and possible repair of the property.

Also, consideration must be given for the liquidation of the household contents.

After all of the assets of the decedent are either collected and/or sold, and the taxes and debts are paid, it is the responsibility of the Executor/Administrator to distribute any remaining assets in accordance with the will, or by the rules of intestate succession as determined by the court if no will exists.

Appointment of the Administrator or Executor of the Estate

In most cases, the decedent’s will names an Executor who is designated to handle the distribution of assets, including real property. If no Executor is named, if the named Executor is unwilling to serve or if there is no will, the court appoints an Administrator to carry out these duties. The Executor or Administrator is the person who has the authority to list and sell the property; the sale cannot proceed until that person has been identified.

The Executor Establishes a List Price for the Property

As provided in the Independent Administration of Estates Act (IAEA), the Executor establishes a list price for the real property. The price takes into account the appraisal by the Probate Referee and is usually determined with the assistance of a real estate agent experienced in probate and trust sales. The property is then listed for sale through that agent/broker.

The Real Estate Agent Aggressively Markets the Property

The real estate agent markets the real property to the public as aggressively as possible to attract the highest offer. This generally involves a number of approaches, including signage, newspaper advertising, listing on one or more real estate websites and hosting open houses for other real estate agents and potential homebuyers. The real estate agent will also schedule appointments to show the property to interested parties who inquire directly.

The Real Estate Agent Assists the Seller in Negotiating Terms

While buyers of probate and trust real estate may be looking for a bargain, their range of offers are limited by the court. An accepted offer must be 90% or more of the Probate Referee’s appraised value. Once a buyer is found, the real estate agent assists the seller in negotiating terms that are satisfactory to both parties.

An Offer Is Accepted and Notice of Proposed Action is Mailed

When the property has an accepted offer, a Notice of Proposed Action is mailed to all heirs, simply stating the terms of the proposed sale. The heirs have 15 days to review the notice and pose any objections. If there are no objections, the sale may proceed without a court hearing.If the Executor/Administrator does not have full independent powers under IAEA, or if one of the heirs poses an objection to the Notice of Proposed Action, notice of the sale must be published in a generally distributed local newspaper (unless the will does not mandate such action).

The Attorney for the Estate Applies for a Court Date

The attorney for the estate then applies for a court date (the “confirmation hearing”) when the sale will be executed. The court date is usually within 30 to 45 days of the date the application is filed. A copy of the application and details concerning the sale are mailed to all interested parties.Even after the court date has been set, the real estate broker should continue to show the property and advertise the home to potential buyers in the hope of securing an “over-bidder” and thereby raising the sale price.

The Court Confirmation Hearing

During the court confirmation hearing, the previously accepted bid may be overbid by another interested party. In such a case, the overbidding party must appear at the hearing with a cashier’s check (no personal checks accepted!) in an amount totaling at least 10% of the minimum overbid price in order to successfully overbid. The minimum overbid is determined by the following formula: 10% of the first $10,000 plus 5% of the balance of the accepted offer.

The Highest Bid Wins

If there is more than one overbidder, the highest bid ‘wins.’ The winning bidder gives a cashier’s check to the Executor/Administrator and escrow is opened. Escrow will close approximately 30 to 45 days from the court hearing.

EXAMPLE

A property is listed at $200,000.
The accepted offer is $175,000.

The minimum overbid is calculated as follows:

Accepted offer = $175,000
                         +.10 x $10,000 = $1,000
                         + .05 x $165,000 = $8,250
Minimum overbid = $184,250
                          x .10 = $18,425 amount of cashier’s check

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