What to do with the inherited property of a loved one who recently passed away, Real estate inheritance tips

What to do with inherited property of a Loved One Who Passed Away

21 Mar 2021

In the wake of the passing of a loved one, grief can be overwhelming. That’s because, all of a sudden, your world is plunged in a combination of extremities as love, sadness, deep memories, a sense of loss, and the realization that you are never going to see your loved one again. And in the spirit of the moment, you can barely focus on the decisions that matter because of the emotional turmoil.

What to do with Property of a Loved Ones

But as the dust settles, it will dawn to you that you have to deal with the deceased person’s estate -which means you will have to pay off the deceased person’s taxes, debts, and as well oversee the distribution of their money and property to those legally entitled to it. And how the property management is done depends more on whether or not the deceased left a will. Nonetheless, here is what to do with the property of a loved one who has recently passed away.

Access the money, property, and other assets

The person responsible for dealing with the will of the estate of the departed person is called the executor. However, if the departed left an invalid or no will at all, the person responsible for dealing with their estate is called the administrator – usually appointed by the court. If you want to get the court’s permission to conduct a local estate sale of the deceased, you can apply for a grant of representation to get access to their money and property. Such an application is sent to the Probate Registry that grants probate of the will.

Seek for the transference of real estate

Naturally, if the departed leaves behind a will before passing on, the real estate will pass directly to heirs or beneficiaries according to the law. If, for instance, a single parent passes on and leaves behind three kids, then their house is left under equal ownership of the kids. But what happens if the house is to be sold?

As the executor, you have the authority to liquidate the estate through an estate sale. And unless there are specific instructions in the will regarding the sale of the property, you can proceed to speak with an attorney regarding the transfer of the property to the designated beneficiaries. Doing so will give you a credible professional to help you out in this matter.

Settle the debts and bills for the estate

As the executor or administrator, it is in your best interest to stay current with the bills related to the property that may range from:

Utilities, and

Maintenance

If you are looking for a smooth estate sale, you must pay all the bills to avert complications resulting from unpaid bills. And while you are responsible for the estate, remember to pay the bills via the estate and not in person.

Compile all the necessary documentation relating to the deceased person’s estate

Collect all the financial documents for the estate as they are essential in the distribution of the estate, including the house. This step can be less enjoyable yet necessary as documents are never in the same place. Which means it might take you a while before having them ready. The documents you might want to gather include but are not limited to:

The will
Insurance documents
Receipts from bills

The policy of the homeowner
Personal documents
Bank account information

Documents relating to all investments

Clear out everything from the estate

Your best bet is that buyers are not going to be interested in the deceased person’s possessions. That said, you might as well clean it up and stage it professionally for sale. Clear out all their belongings and collect whatever you think is valuable – and remember to leave behind some furniture to accelerate its sale.

Moreover, take note of the things that the family members might want and could be a source of dispute. Overall, the sooner you clear out the home, the sooner you will have it for sale

Clearing out the estate left behind by a deceased person is more or less similar to the sale of regular homes, but some exceptions revolve around whether or not a will is left behind. Getting ready for an estate sale isn’t a walk in the park. That’s in part because the emotional distress of losing a loved one can leave you in emotional disarray, or because you have many memories associated with the estate. But as long as you get to grips with how to overcome the hurdles involved in an estate sale, the process will be seamless.

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