Navigating probate real estate matters can be overwhelming, especially if you’ve been appointed as the personal representative. You may be at a loss as to where to start and what decisions to make in certain situations.
Resolving conflicting interests among family members and satisfying creditor claims is even more challenging.
Ultimately, you will need to balance the various demands and priorities of all parties involved to ensure that the probate process goes as smoothly as possible.
This article will help you understand the nuances of the probate real estate process, but if you’re uncertain, consider consulting a probate attorney.
If there is a will, the loved one may have nominated someone they trust — an executor — to manage the estate. They will be authorized to decide on estate matters but only after the Probate Court accepts the will.
When there is no will, the family members will nominate someone to become an administrator. The administrator will only be authorized to act once the court has appointed them to their position.
If the family members cannot agree on a representative, the court will take over and appoint someone as administrator to handle the estate, including real estate. The same can happen when a previously appointed administrator is removed for mismanaging the estate.
If another person is listed on the property’s deed aside from the deceased, they may also have the authority to manage the real estate.
Real estate can be one of the most challenging areas to manage during the probate process. You will have to determine who gets the property, whether or not you should sell it, and how to distribute the proceeds.
When the deceased is the sole owner of the real estate, it will have to go through probate, and the court decides who can sell, keep, or transfer it.
On the other hand, if there is a co-owner, the real estate may be considered a non-probate asset. Depending on how the deed is titled, the surviving owner might take ownership of the property and may not have to go through the probate process.
The deed will determine whether the property becomes part of the deceased’s estate or not, and it could be titled in different ways:
Real estate titled as joint tenants with rights of survivorship automatically transfers ownership to the surviving owner when one of the owners dies. The transfer will be automatic, and the property will be excluded from the estate and probate.
When real estate is titled as tenants-in-common, it becomes part of the deceased person’s estate and will need to go through probate to be passed on to their heirs or beneficiaries.
There can be situations, however, where heirs cannot inherit the probate property, such as when creditor claims exceed the assets of the estate. When this happens, the personal representative may have to sell real estate to pay them off.
To sell the deceased owner’s property, the court should have granted the personal representative certain expanded powers. If this isn’t the case, they will need a separate petition to gain the court’s permission to sell the probate property.
In Georgia law, yes. However, before selling the house in probate, there are considerations and legal processes. We recommend that you consult your probate attorney to ensure you go through all the necessary steps.
During probate, the ownership of the home remains in the deceased’s name until an executor or administrator is appointed by the probate court over the estate to handle the affairs of the estate.
Once the personal representative is appointed to the estate and pays all creditors of an estate, then they can make proper distributions to the heirs or beneficiaries.
So, at that time, the property may be sold, and proceeds split either according to the will or per intestate laws. If the heirs or beneficiaries want to keep the property, then a new deed is executed to take the property out of the deceased’s name and transfer it into the names of the heirs and beneficiaries.
Technically, though, the home is still owned by the deceased throughout the probate process until distributions of the estate are made.
It depends on several factors. Who’s name is on the title of the home? Is the home solely in the deceased’s name, or does the home have more than one name on the deed?
If the home is solely in the deceased’s name and
No one would be able to evict the tenant from the home if
If JTWROS owns the home, then that property now belongs to the surviving person who is on the deed.
If it is not JTWROS, then a portion of the property may have to go through probate, which is similar to the case when the home is solely in the deceased’s name.
The Probate Court must appoint someone first to manage estate affairs before any property can be sold. This is the first step, according to the probate legal process in Georgia.
Once the executor or administrator (both known as a personal representative) accepts the role, they will receive a court order that outlines their authority, including any expanded powers that grant them permission to sell estate property.
If the court order did not grant them expanded powers, they would need a separate petition for leave to sell to gain permission to sell a property.
In a jointly owned property, the deed lists another person as a co-owner. After one of the owners dies, the other person will automatically become the sole owner and can sell or transfer the property.
Assuming there are no disputes that would cause delay, the process typically takes 6-12 months. That’s because the property will have to go through certain probate proceedings such as property appraisal and paperwork.
If your goal is to simplify the complex sale and transfer process, we recommend hiring professionals to assist you.
Having an expert in your corner saves you the trouble of fumbling through the steps and helps you steer clear of violations as you carry out your duties as a personal representative.
Before selling any property, Georgia Probate Court requires an appraisal. Estimating the value of a probate property means considering factors like size, location, and condition.
It is best to hire a professional appraiser to determine the real estate value as it can be tricky to do it yourself. If you need help finding an appraiser, you can ask for a recommendation from your chosen real estate agent.
Buying probate real estate can sound appealing to real estate investors, especially those who specialize in house flipping, because they can buy the property at a bargain.
Fortunately, anyone can purchase probate property with the court’s approval.
Before distributing assets (including the proceeds from the probate sales), Georgia probate law requires the personal representative to use them to pay off estate debts.
You should ensure that you have satisfied all the creditors, or you can become personally liable for any unpaid claims.
Whatever remains from the probate sales — if any — will be split among the heirs or beneficiaries as outlined by Georgia probate law.
To avoid making costly mistakes, consult an experienced probate lawyer, as disagreements often happen during the distribution phase.
Conflicts of interest add another layer of complexity to the process, but it does happen from time to time. If you are the personal representative, your actions will depend on these circumstances:
After the Probate Court accepts the will and appoints the executor, the executor must satisfy all the creditors before transferring any property. Without enough assets to pay what the estate owes, they may have to sell the property.
If the real estate property remains intact after paying creditors, the executor will now have to consider how the will describes the family member:
The Probate Court will need to appoint an administrator to manage the estate.
The administrator will have to pay all outstanding creditors out of the estate assets. If the assets come up short, they may have to sell the property to pay off the debt.
After that, the family member who wants to keep the home may consider buying the remaining heirs out of their portion. If the heirs cannot agree on a fair market price for the interested buyer, selling the property may be an option to give everyone their fair portion of the estate.
If you are the personal representative, you must outline and pay estate creditors before transferring any probate property. This rule applies even when there is a will.
Once you’ve paid all the creditors, you can transfer the property pursuant to the will or the heirs under Georgia law.
One exception is when the property is titled Joint Tenancy with Right of Survivorship. If this is the case, property ownership interest will transfer to the surviving owner named in the title without probate process.
What happens when the deceased was a resident of one state and owned real estate in another state? How do the probate courts handle this situation?
Usually, you have to open probate in both states. The reason for this is that there is no probate court with jurisdiction over all aspects of the probate case.
The probate court located in the state where the deceased resided has jurisdiction over all personal property (non-real estate), money, and real estate located within that state.
This initial proceeding is often called primary probate. The only part of the estate that the primary probate court does not have jurisdiction over is real estate located outside the state where primary probate is opened.
As a result, a second probate must be opened to deal with out-of-state real estate property. The second probate will be opened in the state where the property is located. Such a proceeding is usually called ancillary probate. If there is real estate in a third state, then an ancillary probate will also need to be opened there.
In Georgia, opening an ancillary probate is similar to opening a primary probate. The main difference is that the Georgia probate court will also want to have certified or exemplified copies of the probate court proceedings from the primary probate. As a result, you will want to open the primary probate before opening the ancillary probate.
Real estate management in probate can be tricky, especially if you need clarification on the nuances of the process. It’s best to consult with an experienced probate attorney.
Our office is open to any questions or concerns about probate real estate and its administration. You can reach out to us at (770) 796-4582, and we would be happy to assist you.
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Disclaimer: The information above is provided for general information only and should not be considered legal advice. Our probate attorneys provide legal advice to our clients after talking about the specific circumstances of the client’s situation. Our law firm cannot give you legal advice unless we understand your situation by talking with you. Please contact our law office to receive specific information about your situation.
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