Category: Probate and Estate

Selling a home after a parent passes is rarely just a real estate transaction. There’s a court process or a trust to work through, siblings who may live in different states and see the house very differently, and a lifetime of belongings to sort before anyone can even think about listing. The articles and case studies here walk through how probate and trust sales actually work in Santa Clara County, from full versus limited authority under the Independent Administration of Estates Act to court confirmation, overbidding, and what Prop 19 and the step-up in basis mean for heirs deciding whether to keep, rent, or sell.

After 23 years and more than 460 closed transactions in Silicon Valley and the greater Bay Area, I’ve learned that the family side of these sales matters as much as the legal side. You’ll find real examples of executors, trustees, and adult children navigating these decisions together, along with practical guidance on preparing an inherited home, coordinating with attorneys and CPAs, and getting everyone to the closing table with relationships intact.