How to Choose a Probate Real Estate Agent in Los Angeles: 10 Questions to Ask Before You Hire
California has no state probate certification for agents. These 10 questions show you who has done the work.
The short answer: ask about court-confirmation experience, the Letters, attorney references, license and brokerage, local court timelines, occupants, communication, and fees. California has no state probate certification for real estate agents, so the answers matter more than a title.
Use this checklist with any agent you interview. The right-hand column shows how I answer each one.
10 questions to ask before you hire a probate agent
| # | Question | Why it matters | How Bill Gross answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | How many court-confirmation sales have you handled? | Confirmation sales have a hearing, overbids, and a court-approved commission. Experience here protects the timeline. | Probate, trust, and court-confirmation sales in Los Angeles County. Ask me for recent examples. |
| 2 | Will you read the Letters before pricing the house? | Full vs. limited IAEA authority decides whether you need a Notice of Proposed Action or court confirmation. | Yes. The Letters are the first document I ask for. |
| 3 | Can you give me estate attorney references? | Attorneys see how an agent handles filings, deadlines, and the hearing. | Yes, on request. I host Probate Weekly and The Estate Planning Podcast with estate attorneys as guests. |
| 4 | What is your license number? | Every California agent has a DRE license you can check in two minutes. | DRE #01022275. Check it on the DRE public license lookup. |
| 5 | How long have you been licensed? | Years in the business help when a probate sale gets complicated. | Licensed since 1989, broker since 2005. 40 years in real estate and lending. |
| 6 | Who is your supervising brokerage? | The brokerage is responsible for the agent and holds the listing agreement. | eXp Realty of California, Inc., DRE #01878277. |
| 7 | Do you know the local court process and current timelines? | LA County hearing dates drive when you can close. | Yes. I track current LA County probate hearing timelines. |
| 8 | How do you handle occupants, cleanouts, and repairs? | Many inherited homes are occupied, full of belongings, or need work. | Cash for keys, cleanouts, hoarding, and repair or code issues are part of my plan. |
| 9 | How will you keep me and the attorney updated? | The personal representative and the attorney both need to know where the sale stands. | Updates at each step: listing, offers, DE-165 or confirmation filing, hearing date, and escrow. |
| 10 | How are you paid? | Fees should be clear before you sign the listing. | The estate pays the commission from sale proceeds at closing. In a confirmation sale, the court approves the commission. |
What a good answer sounds like
A good answer is specific. “I’ve done a lot of probate” is not an answer. “I read the Letters first, and with limited authority we plan for a confirmation hearing” is.
If the agent can’t explain the overbid rule, contract plus 5% plus $500 with a 10% cashier’s check payable to the estate, keep interviewing.
Want the bigger picture first? Read Probate-focused broker vs. traditional realtor.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a probate real estate certification in California?
No. California has no state probate certification for real estate agents. Ask about experience with court-confirmation sales, IAEA authority, and estate attorneys instead.
How do I check a California real estate license?
Use the DRE public license lookup at www2.dre.ca.gov. It shows license status, expiration, and the supervising broker.
Can I interview more than one probate agent?
Yes. The personal representative chooses the agent and signs the listing agreement, usually with the estate attorney’s input. Interviewing two or three agents is normal.
Who pays the probate agent?
The estate pays the commission from the sale proceeds at closing. In a court-confirmation sale, the court approves the commission.
Should my agent attend the confirmation hearing?
Ask before you hire. Overbids happen in the courtroom. Bidders need to know the first overbid is the contract price plus 5% plus $500, and to bring a cashier’s check for 10% of the bid, payable to the estate.
About the author. Bill Gross, The LA Probate Expert, brokered by eXp Realty. 40 years in real estate and lending; licensed since 1989, broker since 2005. Probate-focused broker for executors, administrators, trustees and estate attorneys in Los Angeles County. Host of Probate Weekly.
DRE #01022275. Brokerage: eXp Realty of California, Inc., DRE #01878277. 8383 Wilshire Blvd #800, Beverly Hills, CA 90211 · (310) 210-0008. Bill is a real estate broker, not an attorney and not a probate referee.
Educational only. California probate and trust administration are fact-specific. Confirm authority, court requirements, and tax consequences with the estate’s attorney and tax advisor.