Probate
Probate is the court-supervised process of validating a will — or applying intestacy law if there isn't one — paying debts, and distributing a deceased person's assets, including real estate, to heirs or beneficiaries.
A court appoints an executor or administrator, who inventories assets, notifies creditors, and often petitions the court for authority to sell real property under the Independent Administration of Estates Act, or with direct court confirmation.
California probate typically takes 9 to 18 months and involves court filing fees plus statutory attorney and executor fees calculated as a percentage of estate value — real costs that reduce what heirs ultimately receive.
An executor selling estate property needs court authority, full or limited depending on how the estate is administered, before closing. Buyers experienced with probate sales can work within that timeline rather than being spooked by it — always confirm authority and required approvals with the estate's probate attorney before marketing the property.
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