From the first phone call to the money in your account
Here is exactly what happens when a family sells an inherited Pinellas County house to us, who is responsible for each piece, and what you will actually be asked to do.
- Heirs' job: answer questions, sign documents, and choose a closing date
- An independent Florida probate attorney represents the estate; we pay the cost
- A licensed Florida title company holds and pays out every dollar
- Qualifying probates are often done in 24 to 48 hours after signing; others take longer
Step 1: The first conversation
What you do: Call or text (727) 353-6206. Alex answers personally. Share what you know: the address, who passed and roughly when, whether there's a will, and who else is in the family. It's fine if you don't have all of it. Many people call knowing only the address and a name.
What we do: We pull the public records on the property, including how it's titled, the tax status, and whether there's a mortgage, reverse mortgage, or lien. We sketch out the family tree with you so we can tell early whether the estate is likely to qualify for the simplified process. By the end of this call you should have a realistic picture of the timeline.
Step 2: One walkthrough, then a written offer
What you do: Let us in once. If you're out of state, a relative, a neighbor, or a lockbox code works. You don't need to clean, empty the fridge, or fix the roof.
What we do: We walk the house, look at its condition and any storm or flood damage, and then send a written cash offer. The offer spells out that we pay the probate cost and the closing costs. Take whatever time you need to talk it over with your family. If listing with an agent would clearly net you more and you have the time, we'll say so.
Step 3: The probate filing
What you do: Sign the documents the attorney prepares. Every heir signs in front of a notary wherever they live, whether that's a bank in Ohio or a remote online notarization from your kitchen table. If there's an original will, it goes to the Clerk, as Florida law requires (Fla. Stat. 732.901).
What the attorney does: An independent licensed Florida probate attorney prepares the petition and represents the estate, not us. Filings go to the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. If the house was homestead, the attorney asks the court for an order determining homestead.
What we do: Pay the attorney and the court filing fees, typically about $3,000 in total, and keep everyone updated. That cost is never taken out of your share.
We are a home buying company, not attorneys, and this is general information, not legal advice. The estate's probate attorney advises on your specific situation.
Step 4: The court's order
For estates that qualify for summary administration, probate can often be completed within 24 to 48 hours once the heirs have signed. The order confirms who the heirs are and that the house passes to them. It does not set a price or a closing date. Those belong to the family.
Step 5: Title work and closing
What the title company does: A licensed Florida title company checks the title, orders payoffs, and prepares the closing statement. Back taxes, liens, code fines, and any mortgage are paid from the sale proceeds. No heir brings money to the table.
What you do: Review the closing statement, ask questions, and sign. Closing usually happens about a week after the court's order, on a date you pick. Out-of-town heirs can sign remotely.
What we do: Wire our purchase funds to the title company. We never handle the heirs' money ourselves.
Step 6: The wire, and what's left in the house
The title company sends each heir their share by wire or check, split according to the court order. Before closing, take any photos, papers, furniture, or keepsakes that matter to you. Leave the rest. We take care of whatever is still in the house after it's ours.
When it takes longer, honestly
Not every estate is a two-day probate. These situations add time, sometimes weeks and sometimes months:
- Formal administration. If the estate doesn't qualify for the simplified process, the court appoints a personal representative and a notice to creditors is published. Creditors generally have three months to file claims (Fla. Stat. 733.702).
- A will that has to be proven, or a will nobody can find.
- Missing or hard-to-reach heirs, including heirs overseas.
- Family disagreement over whether to sell. In that case we may be able to buy one heir's share instead. See selling your share.
- A reverse mortgage or tax certificate deadline that changes the order of steps.
We'll tell you on the first call which of these apply, so the timeline you hear is one you can plan around. Our guide on how long probate takes goes further. If you'd like to start, the contact page has everything you need.
Questions families ask
Who does the probate attorney work for?
Can every heir sign from out of state?
When do I pick the closing date?
What if there is a mortgage on the house?
Keep reading
We’re a home-buying company, not attorneys. This page is general information about Florida probate, not legal advice; an independent licensed Florida probate attorney represents the estate in every probate we pay for. Last updated November 2026.
Probate and the sale, handled in one place
Call or text Alex. He’ll ask a few questions about the house and the family, explain your options plainly, and tell you honestly whether selling to us makes sense.
- We pay the probate cost, typically about $3,000
- For qualifying estates, probate is often complete in 24–48 hours
- Closing about a week later at a licensed Florida title company
- The court doesn’t set your price or closing date. You and your family do.
Timelines depend on the estate. Formal administration or a family dispute takes longer, and we’ll tell you upfront.
Tell us about the house
Share the address and the best way to reach you. Alex will follow up, usually the same day.