KALEO recently had a Probate & Trust attorney come into our office and provide training on what we should know as real estate agents about the trust and probate process. KALEO REALTORS understand the importance of continuously expanding their knowledge base to better serve their clients. The key takeaway from the presentation was the significance of having a well-thought-out plan in place for your properties and estate. Neglecting this can lead to numerous headaches down the road. 

 

Discussing what happens after one’s passing is uncomfortable. As residential REALTORs, many of KALEO agents’ transactions revolve around life events: birth, marriage, divorce, and death. Sometimes the life events are celebrations like big job promotions or combining households, and sometimes somber. Scenarios like inheriting your parent’s property or dealing with the estate of a deceased family member frequently bring KALEO real estate agents into the picture, especially when there is no will, and the property needs to go through probate.

 

Here are 3 things you can do today to help your future self:

1. Seek expert guidance from professionals such as attorneys, estate planning specialists, and tax advisors for managing your assets. 
2. Create a plan including details such as designating a Successor Trustee if you establish a trust, and determining who holds decision-making authority. 

3. Maintain your Trust (or revisit your estate plan) periodically to ensure it aligns with your current needs.

 

Many homeowners own their home in a living trust and have questions including: “Do I have to pull my property out of the trust to sell it?”, or “Will having my property in a trust make it more difficult to sell?” A KALEO agent can answer these questions and more in a private consultation. You don’t have to be on the verge of selling immediately to meet with a KALEO REALTOR. They routinely meet with clients who are a few months away from selling to get a game plan, timeline, and checklist of what is ahead.

 

If you or someone you know has recently experienced a loss in the family and are grieving while also navigating the complexities of selling property, please contact a KALEO agent. They have experience dealing with sensitive situations and know how to navigate trust and probate sales. A KALEO REALTOR would be honored to help. 

This content is not the product of the National Association of REALTORS®, and may not reflect NAR's viewpoint or position on these topics and NAR does not verify the accuracy of the content.