Have you been declared the personal representative of an estate? Where do you start? Now that you know what probate is and what to expect during the process, let’s discuss first steps! Hi, I’m Sherri Echols, Broker Associate with RE/MAX Bryan – College Station and I’ve been selling Real
Estate for over 11 years. We’ve dealt with quite a few homes with Probate over the
years. Your first step will be to go to Family & Probate Court in the county where the
deceased person lived. This is where you’ll file the will, along with a copy of the death
certificate and a Petition to be formally appointed as the Personal Representative. Once you’ve done this, you will receive “Letters” when your request is approved. These
“letters”’ are proof of your legal authority to collect and manage the estate’s assets.
Keep in mind that it can take up to several weeks or more for you to receive your
Letters. Your responsibility as Personal Representative is to collect, inventory and
protect the assets of the estate and pay valid debts and taxes. After debts and taxes
have been paid, you will distribute the remaining property as the will directs. You will
want to have a strong team of professionals available to help you through this process.
A good probate attorney, tax professional and, if the estate includes real estate, a strong
realtor can help to make the process much easier for you as the personal
representative. Also, be sure to seek the advice of a lawyer or an attorney as I am not
one but just giving helpful information. I’m your community Market Leader Sherri Echols, a helping hand for a happy home.
