Probate Process Overview & Common Mistakes
A Guide to Probate in California (Free Zoom Webinar)
Thursday, June 18 @ 6:30pm
Probate in California can feel confusing, time-consuming, and expensive—especially when families are trying to make important decisions while grieving. This free educational Zoom webinar will give you a clear, practical overview of the California probate process, plus the most common mistakes that can delay timelines, increase costs, and create unnecessary conflict.
Hosted by Nancy Gonzalez and Jennifer Landon (Probate Realtor & Broker) alongside Brittany Britton (Trust & Estate Attorney, Best Coast Estate Law, P.C.), this webinar is designed to help you understand your options and take the next step with confidence.
- The key stages of the California probate timeline and what to expect at each step
- The most common probate mistakes families make—and how to avoid them
- How probate impacts real estate, including selling a home during probate
- What documents and decisions can slow a case down
- When you should speak with an attorney (and what to ask)
- How to reduce stress and protect the estate’s value
This is straightforward guidance meant to help you make informed decisions—whether you’re just starting probate or already in the middle of it.
- Executors, administrators, and personal representatives
- Heirs and beneficiaries trying to understand next steps
- Families handling a loved one’s estate in California
- Anyone facing probate real estate decisions (sell, maintain, or distribute property)
- Professionals supporting clients through probate (as permitted by role)
Small mistakes in probate can lead to major consequences—delays, court complications, unnecessary expenses, and reduced property value. Understanding the process early can help you avoid preventable problems and move forward with a clear plan.
- Executors, administrators, and personal representatives
- Heirs and beneficiaries trying to understand next steps
- Families handling a loved one’s estate in California
- Anyone facing probate real estate decisions (sell, maintain, or distribute property)
- Professionals supporting clients through probate (as permitted by role)
Register for the Free Zoom Webinar
If you’re dealing with probate now—or expect you may be soon—this webinar will save you time, money, and stress by helping you understand what to do first, what to avoid, and how to proceed confidently.
Reserve Your Spot Now
Landon Realty Group: Guiding Families Home
We offer our heartfelt condolences to you and your family for your recent loss and understand the challenges that families face when navigating the probate process. With our wealth of experience and unwavering commitment to providing compassionate and professional guidance, we have successfully assisted numerous families in handling real and personal property matters during probate.
Engaging a knowledgeable Probate Realtor in Los Angeles is crucial to efficiently selling such an important asset, while securing the best possible price for the property.
With a wealth of experience totaling over 50 years, you can trust that, whatever the circumstances, we've encountered it all. The Landon Realty Team is here to support you through the intricacies of selling a probate property.
Expert Probate Guidance You Can Trust
Having a probate real estate agent in your corner, well-versed in the processes and adept at navigating them saves you time and money. Jennifer and her team are here to guide you at every step as your experienced probate expert, ready to answer all your questions. We do this everyday, so you can rest assured you and your family are in secure hands.
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Probate FAQ
Probate is a court-administered process of distributing a deceased person’s (decedent’s) estate/assets according to their will if one exists or, if there is no will, to the person’s immediate spouse/children/siblings/relatives.
The Probate process generally takes approximately nine to twelve months to complete. Probate is the only way to transfer real property from the deceased person to the heirs in the event that no trust was set up prior to the decedent’s death.
An Estate property may be sold by the personal representative when:
- The sale is necessary to pay debts, devises (gifts to persons named in the will), a family allowance, expenses of estate administration, or taxes;
- The sale is to the advantage of the estate and in the best interests of the interested persons;
- The property must be sold according to the terms of the will; or
- Authority is given in the will to sell the property.
(Cal. Prob. Code § 10000.)A decedent’s will may designate the manner in which estate real property is to be sold or identify the particular property to be sold. Absent a court order based upon the best interests of the interested parties to the contrary, the personal representative shall comply with the decedent’s instructions. If the will is silent on these matters or there is no will, the personal representative may select the method of sale and the particular property to be sold. Estate real property may be sold by private sale, public auction, or a different method specified in the will of the decedent (Cal. Prob. Code §§ 10000.3, 10303). A private sale is one in which bids or offers are independently solicited, while a sale by public auction invites concurrent competitive bidding.
Generally, yes. Without full authority under IAEA, the minimum offer price for a private sale of real property must be at least 90 percent of the appraised value of the property (Cal. Prob. Code § 10309(a)(3)). The appraisal must have been made within one year prior to the date of the confirmation hearing (Cal. Prob. Code § 10309(a)(2)).
Download our Free Guides
Handling personal property during probate or trust administration can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone—download our two free guides, Comprehensive Guide to Handling Personal Property and Managing Personal Property in Probate & Trusts.
Landon Probate Team Helps You
Save Time
The probate procedure encompasses a multitude of paperwork, filings, and time-sensitive deadlines, all necessitating a specific order of completion. As your collaborative team, we work alongside your Probate attorney, ensuring a meticulous and correct execution of tasks, ultimately saving you time and relieving the associated stress.
Save Money
While you could opt to hire a real estate attorney, incurring costs ranging from $10,000 to $20,000, you'd still require a Real Estate Agent to handle the property sale. By choosing to work with us, we not only guide you through the process but also facilitate a connection with one of our attorneys, ultimately saving you from unnecessary expenses.
Understand Your Options
Discover the Advantage of Landon Realty Team: Our team stands apart from average real estate agents by providing specialized services tailored to the unique challenges of probate. We offer our sellers 3-4 strategic selling options, including All Cash As-Is Sale and Renovate & Sell approaches. These options are meticulously crafted to ensure our sellers not only navigate the complexities of probate but also get precisely what they need from the selling process. Trust us to guide you with personalized and comprehensive strategies designed for probate scenarios.
Answers & Help
Count on our team to be there for you when you need assistance. You don't have to face the stress alone; we're here for you every step of the way.
Top Ten Things NOT TO DO when having an Estate Sale
1. Do not throw anything away before you determine it’s real worth.
2. Do not clean, as it makes more sense to clean after the sale.
3. Garage sales are Not recommended. The main purpose to hire a professional estate sale company is their ability to know what is valuable and what is not.
4. Refrain from selling anything before the scheduled estate sale. The estate sale company draws in people from the inventory advertised, and has them wait until sale day to purchase.
5. Verify that the Homeowner’s Insurance covers the real property, and that it remains in place until the house is sold.
6. Have all heirs & beneficiaries remove their inherited items prior to the estate sale companies viewing the property.
7. Review the Estate Sale contract. Take it home and read it. Understand what they will do and what they will not do. For example, will the clean out of the house after the sale be an extra fee.
8. Make it clear to friends, neighbors and relatives they must go to the sale to get the items they want. Once the Estate Sale contract is signed no personal property should be removed from the house.
9. Decide what to do with what does not sell. Options for leftovers are: a buy-out, donate to charity, hire a clean out company or dump runs.
10. You should not remove any items from the sale after you have hired an Estate Sale Company.
Who You Work With Matters
When you work with Landon Realty you know you're working with an experienced Probate Team.
Our team of seasoned probate specialists can lead you through the entire process, from beginning to end. We'll accompany you every step of the way, ensuring a seamless experience throughout.
Schedule Consultation
Get in Touch
If you are curious to hear more about us and what we can offer, don't hesitate to get in touch. We try to take care of all of the detailed and long processes and making home buying or selling super easy! Send us your brief and learn how we work.
- 4004 W Riverside DrBurbankCA91505
- 13105825379
- jennifer@lrgla.com
Your Trusted Partner in Probate Home Sales
Landon Realty Group is here to guide you through every step, making the journey seamless and stress-free. As seasoned professionals specializing in probate home sales, we understand the unique challenges that arise during this process and are committed to providing unparalleled expertise to ensure a successful outcome.
