What Should You Do in the First 30 Days After a Reverse Mortgage Death Notice Arrives?

Three things need to start on the same day the notice arrives, not in sequence: request the servicer's written payoff statement, open probate to get legal authority to act, and order an appraisal. Heirs who finish one step before starting the next are the ones who run out of time.

Why the sequence matters more than the deadline itself

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said plainly in August 2026 that heirs "might not have the money" to pay off a reverse mortgage and may need financing of their own — and the National Consumer Law Center told HUD directly that heirs need "clear, prompt, and committal communication from servicers" just to get through the required steps in time. Neither group was describing an edge case. They were describing what happens when probate and mortgage paperwork run one after another instead of side by side.

That's the trap: a title company, buyer, or refinance lender won't deal with you until someone holds Letters of Administration for the estate. If you wait to see how the mortgage situation shakes out before opening probate, you've already lost weeks you don't have.

The day-by-day sequence

Day 0 — the day the notice arrives. Call the servicer and request a written payoff statement (not just a verbal balance). File to open the estate in Montgomery County Orphans' Court the same week, even if you haven't decided yet whether to keep or sell the house. Call a licensed appraiser.

By Day 10. You should have: the payoff statement in hand, a probate case number, and an appraisal scheduled or completed. If any of the three is missing, that's the one to escalate first.

By Day 20. Decide which of the three paths you're taking — keep, sell, or deed-in-lieu — based on the appraisal versus the payoff balance. If selling, this is when a signed listing agreement or purchase contract starts to matter: it's the kind of documented "active progress" HUD looks for when heirs request more time.

By Day 30. Respond to the servicer in writing with your stated intention and the documentation you've gathered. This is the actual 30-day deadline — it's a response requirement, not a close-of-sale requirement.

Day 30 through Month 6. This is the extension window. Keep the servicer updated with concrete milestones — an accepted offer, a refinance application in underwriting — not just "we're working on it."

Related questions

What documents do I need to open probate in Montgomery County after a parent dies?

Typically the death certificate, the original will (if one exists), and a petition for administration filed with the Montgomery County Register of Wills — requirements vary depending on whether there's a will and how the estate is titled, so confirm specifics with the Register of Wills or an estate attorney.

Can I get an extension on a reverse mortgage deadline?

Yes. HUD can grant extensions in stages, generally up to six months and sometimes longer, when heirs document active progress — a listing agreement, marketing activity, a signed contract, or a refinance application already underway.

Who do I call first — the mortgage servicer or a probate attorney?

Both, the same day, not one after the other. Contacting the servicer starts your response clock; opening probate starts the authority you'll need to act on whatever you decide.

What if there are multiple heirs who disagree about keeping or selling?

The estate and heirs generally need to reach agreement before acting, since probate authority is typically granted to one or more personal representatives who must act on the estate's behalf — disagreements are exactly the kind of delay that costs a family its extension eligibility, so resolving them early matters as much as the paperwork does.

Next step

Get the estate's net position in writing before you commit to a path. A written payoff statement and a current appraisal tell you exactly what you're working with — and give the servicer the documentation it needs to grant more time.

Marc Cormier is a licensed real estate professional with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty, based in Montgomery County, Maryland. He has 27 years of experience and close to 1,000 homes sold, with a focus on probate, distressed properties, bankruptcy trustee sales, and downsizing for families across Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia. He is the author of an Amazon best-selling book on probate real estate and holds the SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist) designation.

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