Guides
Plain answers to the questions families ask after a death, from finding the will to closing the estate.
September 28, 2026
A comprehensive guide for executors handling property taxes after death. Learn who pays the tax bills during probate, what happens to senior exemptions, how to handle cash-poor estates, and the personal liability risks of letting taxes go unpaid.
September 25, 2026
Navigating a reverse mortgage after death triggers a strict 30-day timeline. Learn how executors and heirs can stop foreclosure, use the 95% rule, protect a non-borrowing spouse, and settle the estate without inheriting the debt.
September 24, 2026
Navigating the administrative, legal, and family issues when an heir or tenant occupies estate property during probate. Learn how to fulfill your fiduciary duties, charge rent, and legally resolve probate home disputes without crossing dangerous legal lines.
September 22, 2026
Discover exactly which utilities and insurance policies executors must keep active after a death to protect the estate. Learn how to navigate vacant home insurance, avoid personal liability, and handle estate carrying costs during the probate process.
September 21, 2026
When clearing a deceased loved one's home, throwing away the wrong paperwork, hardware, or personal items can paralyze probate and trigger legal conflicts. Learn what to secure and what to save.
September 17, 2026
Learn when real estate sales need court approval, how confirmation hearings and overbids work, and what executors should expect during a dependent probate sale.
September 15, 2026
Executors face immense pressure to renovate an inherited home. Learn why an as-is probate sale is often the smartest fiduciary decision, how state disclosure exemptions protect you, and why skipping repairs maximizes the step-up in basis tax advantage.
September 14, 2026
Inheriting a house with siblings is rarely a simple windfall; it is a shared financial liability. Learn how multiple heirs navigate probate real estate, handle carrying costs, manage buyout agreements, avoid forced partition actions, and understand tax implications.
September 11, 2026
Help families navigate the complex financial and emotional decision of whether to keep or sell an inherited home. Learn how to evaluate estate cash needs, secure proper legal authority, understand step-up in basis tax rules, and manage sibling buyouts.
July 6, 2026
Discover exactly what happens to a mortgage when the homeowner dies. Learn about the executor's responsibilities during probate, federal protections like the Garn-St. Germain Act, strict reverse mortgage timelines, and your options for an inherited house.