How to use this guide

• Get familiar with these terms
• Then follow the step‑by‑step workflow. Each step lists the required documents, who provides them, and the agent’s actions.

📚 Key probate terms (agent‑friendly)

• Probate: Court process to settle a decedent’s estate and distribute assets.
• Decedent: The person who passed away.
• Estate: All assets and liabilities of the decedent.
• Personal Representative (PR) / Executor / Administrator: Court‑appointed person managing the estate. This is your primary decision‑maker.
• Attorney of Record: Lawyer for the PR or estate.
• Filing Date: Date the probate case was opened. Helpful for timing outreach.
• Letters Testamentary / Letters of Administration: Court documents that give the PR legal authority to act (including to sell real property).
• Independent Administration vs Court‑Supervised: Determines whether sale needs court confirmation or if PR can act with fewer approvals.
• Notice of Proposed Action (NOPA): Notice sent to heirs under independent administration giving time to object to a proposed sale.

🧭 Step‑by‑step probate listing workflow

You really just need two documents to take a probate listing:

1. Probate Advisory (CA Assoc Of Realtors form PAA) - Explains the probate process and court confirmation (if applicable) requirements to all parties.
2. Probate Listing Agreement (CAR form PLA also called "Exclusive Authorization and Right to Sell - Probate") - The actual listing contract specific to probate sales