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Property Flipping and Probate

Posted on Thu Apr 25, 2019, on Probate and Estate Administration

From Our “Ask a Question” Mailbag: “I am trying to buy a house that is in the name of someone who has died. How do I open the estate? My goal is property flipping and probate as easily as possible.”

deceased property owner probate

Peter Klenk, Probate Lawyer.

Property Flipping and Probate, How To Get Good Title.

When a person dies owning real estate, probate is needed.  Probate is simply the process by which someone becomes the legal representative of a deceased person’s estate. The court grants this person the power to gather the assets, pay the creditors, and then distribute the remaining assets.

It is an indication of a problem if a person has been dead for more than one year and a house is still in their name.  More problematic, is a year has passed, and no person has been named the estate’s executor or an administrator.  For example, in Pennsylvania, a Will names an “executor” while in New Jersey the same person is called the Personal Representative. In both states, if there is no Will the person appointed is known as the “Administrator.”

Deceased Property Owner, No Will and the Family In Conflict.

If you wish to buy real estate in a deceased person’s name and no estate is open, what can you do? First, we need to know the dead person’s family information. At their death, were they married? How many children did they ever have? Who were the parents? If you cannot find this information, we can help.

The family information leads to sorting out who, under the rules of intestacy, has the right to serve as the estate’s Administrator. 

Once the heirs are known, we can work with them to have someone named as the estate’s Administrator. You, the buyer, likely do not wish to serve. If you do, then you have a fiduciary duty to sell the property at fair market value.  Further, you have a legal responsibility to distribute the assets correctly. If you mistakenly give money to the wrong person, you could be personally responsible. Better to have us work with the family to have an accountable heir take on this job.

There are often complications. For example, the Administrator is usually required to secure a bond. The bond company pays the heirs if the Administrator steals the estate’s funds. In some families, there is no person with a credit rating high enough to secure the bond. Another example is when heirs are in prison and refuse to cooperate.  Squatters in the property are another common problem.

There are ways around all these issues.

Once appointed, the Administrator is free to sell you the property. The Administrator is then responsible for addressing creditors and making proper distributions. You are free to develop your new property.

In Conclusion: Property Flipping and Probate.

Follow this link for more detailed information about the Probate Process Property Flipping and Probate.

When you have a deceased property owner, securing the property is essential.  If relevant people agree this streamlines the Administration process. But, if family harmony isn’t possible, the responsible family members should move forward with a Petition as quickly as possible.  But, sometimes they need help.

Let our Estate Litigation and Probate Lawyers help walk you through what can be a confusing process. To begin with, call to speak to one of our Estate Litigation Attorneys.  By all means, our lawyers are ready to answer your questions. Feel free to contact our office for a free consultation. Ultimately our goal is to make the process as painless as possible!

Wills, Trusts, Probate, and Estate Litigation, It’s All We Do!

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Estate Administration, Probate, Probate Attorney, Probate Lawyer

Peter KlenkPeter Klenk

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Nafeesha. B

When it came down to picking the right attorney to handle my affairs, I knew right away it was this firm. From speaking to their secretary to speaking to Peter I knew I was making the right decision. After only a few mins Peter knew right away what I was looking for and handled all my questions professionally and even gave me great feedback that put my mind at ease. All that without even giving a single penny! So of course I hired him! So far so good...

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Glenn P.

Peter Klenk ESQ is a thoughtful and capable attorney who we work with on estate planning issues. His firm recently provided us with new Wills, Power of Attorneys and our instructions regarding major health issues. These documents are important for estate and life planning. Peter and his team are masters in the complexities of Estate Law. We highly recommend Peter and his Associates to provide thoughtful advice and outstanding work on these complex issues of the law. Make sure your estate planning documents are up to date, and Peter can be relied on to do an excellent job. Well done Peter!

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D.P.

Like another reviewer, I contacted Peter through his website using the free consultation link, for a question regarding PA inheritance taxes. The question was quite technical and difficult to explain, and the answer was nowhere to be found on the web. Peter grasped precisely what I was asking, and provided a clear, helpful response (with a touch of humor) the very next day.

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Dylan Small

Peter provided outstanding advice and preparation of a will and trusts.

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Chantee C.

Peter recently gave a presentation about Wills & Trusts at my employer, and it was fantastic! He was extremely knowledgeable and provided valuable information to the group. People were very engaged and asked several questions, all of which Peter thoroughly answered. Personally, my husband and I have selected Peter to help us with our estate planning, and he has been very helpful in providing us with all of the information we need to provide a secure future for our family. Thank you, Peter!

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