Does Your Probate Client Know Who Is Checking the House?

Probate Attorneys: Does your client know who is checking the house?

The estate owns a vacant property. Everyone assumes someone is keeping an eye on it. But who? And when was the last time they actually went inside?

I would ask the Personal Representative: Who is responsible for checking the property? How often are they going inside? Is there a written record of each visit? Is the heat being maintained during winter? Are there signs of leaks, mold, or pests? Are the doors and windows secure? Is mail piling up? Is the lawn being maintained?

A vacant house can look perfectly fine from the street while a pipe is leaking in the basement, a window is broken, or the furnace has stopped working. The estate cannot protect an asset nobody is watching. Before the cleanout, repairs, or listing, someone needs to own responsibility for protecting the house.