How Can We Transfer the Deed of a Deceased Parent Who Died 22 Years Ago?
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Answer:
The answer will depend if there are others named on the deed, and if so, whether they are tenants in common or joint tenants with right of survivorship. If it was owned as tenants in common, or owned solely by the deceased, it made need to go through the probate process. A fiduciary deed is sometimes executed by the representative of the estate to transfer real property of a decedent as part of the probate process.
When property is held as joint tenants with right of survivorship, the property passes to the survivor outside the probate process. If there were no other owners, their consent to the transfer isn't needed. You may contact the recorder's office in the county where the property is located for applicable rules for transferring a deed to a survivor's name, as procedures vary by local office. Typically, a copy of a death certificate is required to make the change.
When a person dies, their assets are distributed in the probate process. If a person dies with a will, a petition to probate the will is filed with the probate court in the county where the deceased resided at the time of death, asking for letters testamentary to be issued, giving the executor authority to handle the estate affairs. If a person dies with a valid will, an executor is named to handle the distribution of the estate. If the person dies without a valid will, the court appoints an administrator to distribute the decedent's assets according to the state's laws of intestacy. The court will issue letters of administration, also called letters testamentary, to the administrator, giving the authority to handle the affairs of the deceased. An heirship affidavit may also be used to conduct estate affairs when a small estate is involved. In cases where the decedent didn't own property valued at more than a certain amount, which varies by state, the estate may go through a small estate administration process, rather than the formal probate process.
If small estate procedures may be used, an affidavit may be used to distribute the assets of the deceased in a summary process. In Virginia, small estate procedures may be used if the estate isn't worth mor than $50,000. If the estate doesn't qualify as a small estate, it may be necessary to have the estate probated and receive letters testamentary. The court will issue testamentary letters to the executor or administrator, giving the authority to handle the affairs of the deceased.
