{"id":104617,"date":"2025-08-05T13:47:02","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T20:47:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/?p=104617"},"modified":"2025-08-05T13:47:02","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T20:47:02","slug":"selling-a-house-when-one-owner-is-deceased","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/blog\/selling-a-house-when-one-owner-is-deceased\/","title":{"rendered":"What To Know About Selling a House When One Owner Is Deceased"},"content":{"rendered":"

It doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re downsizing out of your five bedroom <\/span>home in Detroit<\/span><\/a> or putting your <\/span>house in Portland<\/span><\/a> on the market, selling a house can be challenging. That said, the process can get even more complicated when one owner dies.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many people don’t prioritize estate planning, but it ensures your home, assets and loved ones are cared for following your death. When there’s no will or living trust, the state will divide assets between heirs, like children, parents or other family members.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you’re selling a house when one owner is deceased, speak with an attorney to better understand the process and work with a top-rated local real estate agent when you go to sell the home.<\/span><\/p>\n

What happens to a house when the owner dies?<\/span><\/h2>\n

If there\u2019s more than one owner, the other owner or spouse holds all rights to the property if their name is on the deed to the property. If there\u2019s only one owner and they die, then <\/span>selling a house<\/span><\/a> becomes a little more complicated.<\/span><\/p>\n

When a homeowner dies, the owners will typically name the beneficiary or the person who will inherit their property. If the owner doesn\u2019t have a will or a living trust, the property goes through the <\/span>probate process<\/span><\/a>, a court-supervised process where the debts of the deceased are paid off and their assets are distributed. All debts and assets are known as the deceased\u2019s estate, and the executor is the person who collects the assets in probate to pay debt and locate beneficiaries and\/or heirs for asset distribution.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can you sell the property of a deceased person?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Whether you can sell the property of a deceased person depends on the legal transfer of ownership and the laws in your state. To sell the property of a deceased loved one, you must be the rightful heir to the inherited property. But if the house is titled solely in the deceased’s name or a tenancy in common, then you cannot sell it or claim ownership of the property before beginning the probate process.<\/span><\/p>\n

The process of selling a house when one owner is deceased<\/span><\/h2>\n

To sell a house when one owner is deceased, certain steps must be followed to ensure a legally compliant transaction.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Understand the property\u2019s ownership<\/span><\/h3>\n

The ownership structure dictates how the property can be sold. Here are ownership arrangements someone may encounter when selling the estate of a deceased person:<\/span><\/p>\n