How long do we have to sell my parents' house after they die?
Answered by Chris Deutsch, Founder & Editor
Licensed Minnesota Realtor #20382264 ·
The short answer
There's no legal deadline to sell. The clocks that do exist are quieter, and they're practical ones.
On stage The 60-second answer
Captions on · Transcript below
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The longer answer
Minnesota generally wants probate opened within three years of death — that's about starting the legal process, not selling the house. The real pressure is carrying cost: every month the home sits, the estate pays taxes, insurance, utilities, and upkeep, and an empty house needs a vacancy policy most households don't know to ask about. Most estates I've worked with list within six to twelve months — not because anyone forced them to, but because that's when the family was ready and the math started to matter. Both reasons are allowed to count. Your attorney can confirm the probate timing; I'm not a lawyer, and this isn't legal advice.
Take the time you need — and know what the waiting costs, so it's a choice and not a drift. I'll put that number on one page for you. Just ask.
The next department over
What people in this spot usually ask next.
- Inheritance & probateIs there an inheritance tax in Minnesota?Read the answer
- Inheritance & probateHow long does probate take in Minnesota?Read the answer
- Inheritance & probateWill we owe capital gains tax when we sell our parents' house?Read the answer
- Inheritance & probateThe house is in my parents' trust. How does selling it work?Read the answer
- Divorce & separationWhat if my spouse refuses to sell or won't cooperate with the sale?Read the answer
- Divorce & separationDo we have to tell buyers we're selling because of divorce?Read the answer
From the editor's desk
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