One of the things families tell me they appreciate most is finally understanding who handles what. Here’s a plain-English breakdown:

The Estate Attorney

Your estate attorney guides the legal process — filing for probate if needed, interpreting the will or trust, handling creditor claims, resolving title issues, and making sure assets are distributed correctly. They’re your authority on what must happen legally.

The CPA or Tax Advisor

Your CPA handles the financial side — estate tax returns, income taxes on any rental income or sale proceeds, the step-up in basis calculation, and any Proposition 19 implications. They help you understand what you’ll owe (and often, how little you’ll owe thanks to California’s favorable inherited property rules).

Me — Your Realtor

I handle everything related to the property itself. That means walking the home, providing a current market evaluation, coordinating with contractors and estate liquidators, advising on whether repairs make sense, listing and marketing the property, negotiating with buyers, and guiding the transaction all the way to close.

I also do something most Realtors don’t — I coordinate the vendors. Clean-out crews, estate sale companies, handymen, odor remediation specialists, organizers, movers. You don’t have to find all these people on your own. That’s part of what I do.

Think of it like a medical team. The surgeon handles the procedure. The anesthesiologist handles the sedation. The recovery nurse handles your comfort. They all play different roles — and they work together.

Kathy Wellmerling, Realtor | Orange County, CA | Probate, Trust & Estate Properties | Kathy@OrangeCountyProbateService.com | www.OrangeCountyProbateService.com

I work closely with estate attorneys and CPAs in the Orange County area. If you don’t already have professionals in place, I’m happy to make introductions.