Until a few years ago, I didn’t fully understand what probate meant.
After the death of my Aunt Mary, I learned that it is a legal process used to settle the state of a deceased person.
Probate handles the distribution of the person’s property to the rightful heirs. With some research, I discovered that a house can be sold while still in probate. The executor of the estate has the authority to manage the sale and divide proceeds among the heirs. The details of my Aunt Mary’s will and the complications with her house were a nightmare. There were five family heirs involved. My Aunt Mary lived in Phoenix, Arizona, and the family members were scattered across the country. None of us wanted to keep the house. We all wanted to get through the process as quickly and easily as possible. I worried that the longer we dealt with the sale of the property, the greater the chance of disputes and hard-feelings. As the executor, I made the decision to get in touch with a cash buyer. Once I got an offer, I presented the other four heirs and was relieved when everyone consented. Getting an offer was as simple as submitting an online form. I was required to provide a bit of information about the house. There was no obligation. We could have refused the offer with no penalty. By agreeing to the offer, we were able to schedule a closing date of our choosing. Wanting to expedite the sale, I pushed for a closing within ten days.
