Inheriting a home usually happens at one of the hardest times in a person’s life. On top of grief, there are legal steps, bills, and decisions about a property that may hold years of memories. You do not have to figure it all out at once. Taking things in the right order protects the home, the estate, and you.
Step One: Protect the Property
Before anything else, make sure the home is secure and still insured. Change the locks if needed, keep the utilities on, and contact the insurance company, because many policies limit coverage on a home that sits vacant. Keep paying the mortgage, property taxes, and any association dues to avoid late fees and liens while the estate is being settled.
Step Two: Find Out Who Can Sell
Being named in a will does not automatically give you the right to sign a sales contract. In most cases, the court must first appoint a personal representative who has legal authority to act for the estate. How the property was titled matters too. A home held in a trust, or with a surviving joint owner, may not need to go through probate at all.
Florida recently made smaller estates easier to settle. For deaths on or after July 1, 2026, estates with probate assets of $150,000 or less, not counting exempt property such as the homestead, may qualify for a simpler process called summary administration, up from $75,000 before. Estates where the person passed away more than two years ago may qualify regardless of value.
Step Three: Understand Homestead Rules
If the home was the owner’s Florida homestead, special rules may control who inherits it and how it can be sold. When there is a surviving spouse or minor child, those rules can limit what a will can do with the home. This is one of the most technical areas of Florida law, so this is the point to work with a probate attorney.
Step Four: Talk to a Tax Professional
Inherited property often receives a stepped up tax basis, generally equal to its value at the date of death. That can greatly reduce capital gains tax when the home is sold. A CPA can confirm how it applies to your situation and whether an appraisal as of the date of death makes sense.
Step Five: Decide How to Sell
Some families sell as is, while others make light updates to reach a wider pool of buyers. Cleaning out personal belongings, basic repairs, and fresh paint often make a real difference. We can compare what the home would bring in its current condition versus after targeted updates, so every heir can decide with real numbers.
You Are Not Alone in This
We work alongside the family, the attorney, and the tax professional so the sale moves forward without adding to the stress. This article is general information, not legal or tax advice, so please consult a Florida probate attorney and a tax professional for your situation.
If you have inherited a home in South Florida, schedule a seller consultation and we will walk you through your options at whatever pace is right for your family.