Who Has the Keys?

It sounds like a simple question, but in probate, it is often surprisingly complicated: who has the keys to the house?

When a homeowner passes away, keys can be scattered everywhere. A family member has a spare. A neighbor was watering the plants. A caregiver has a set. A contractor was working on the house months ago. The property might have a lockbox that nobody knows the code to. Or the keys simply can't be found.

The problem: until the executor has control of the keys and knows who else has access, the estate has no idea who can enter the property. That's a security risk and a liability.

My recommendation: have the locks rekeyed as soon as the executor is appointed. It's inexpensive, it gives the estate complete control over access, and it prevents any confusion about who should and should not be entering the property.

It's a small step that eliminates a big headache later.