We Work With
Estate Attorneys.
We Know the Process.
We Are Patient.

In most cases, the estate cannot close on a sale until the Surrogate’s Court has issued authorization — either through Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration, or a specific Order Authorizing Sale. However, we can execute a purchase agreement now and hold it until court authorization is granted. This keeps the estate moving forward and gives you a committed buyer ready to close the moment the legal authorization comes through.

Yes — and we prefer it. We can communicate directly with your estate attorney throughout the process, provide whatever documentation the court requires, and structure the purchase agreement to meet probate sale requirements under New York State law. Your attorney can contact us directly at (716) 557-7005.

Letters Testamentary are the official document issued by the Surrogate’s Court that give the executor legal authority to act on behalf of the estate — including selling real property. If the decedent had a will, the executor receives Letters Testamentary. If there was no will, the administrator receives Letters of Administration. In most cases, these are required before a real estate sale can close. We are familiar with both and structure our transactions accordingly.

This is one of the most common situations we encounter in probate. If all beneficiaries cannot agree, the Surrogate’s Court can authorize the sale over objection in some circumstances. We recommend working with your estate attorney to navigate heir disputes. We are happy to provide written offers and respond to questions from multiple parties — our role is to be a straightforward, professional buyer that makes the decision easier, not harder.

Never. We purchase estate properties with all contents included. The family or executor can remove items of sentimental or monetary value at any time before closing. Everything that remains at closing stays with the property and becomes our responsibility. We handle the cleanout after closing at our own expense. Many estates find this to be the most important benefit — the family is not burdened with managing the decedent’s belongings during an already difficult time.

Delinquent property taxes, an existing mortgage, mechanic’s liens, judgment liens — all are satisfied at closing from the sale proceeds. The estate does not need to pay these off before selling to us. We work with the title company to identify all outstanding encumbrances and ensure a clean title transfer at closing. The estate receives whatever net equity remains after all obligations are satisfied.

The timeline is driven by the Surrogate’s Court, not by us. Simple estates with a clear will and one executor can move through probate in a few months. More complex estates — multiple heirs, contested wills, significant assets, or creditor claims — can take considerably longer. We do not pressure the estate to move faster than the legal process allows. Once court authorization is in hand, we can close in as little as 7 days.

Our primary market is Erie County — Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Tonawanda, Amherst, Lackawanna, West Seneca, Hamburg, Orchard Park, Lancaster, Depew, Kenmore, and Williamsville. We also purchase probate properties in Niagara County including Niagara Falls, Lockport, and North Tonawanda. Contact us for any Western New York location.