Families often ask if they can complete probate without a lawyer. The honest answer is yes—for many straightforward estates. Courts are used to “pro se” executors and administrators. The path is clear: file the petition, obtain letters testamentary or letters of administration, publish and send notices, gather and protect assets, evaluate and pay valid claims, sell property if needed, file taxes, and distribute with an accounting. This article is a lawyer’s step‑by‑step explanation of that path, written for non‑lawyers, and it also marks the guardrails: moments when hiring limited help is a good investment.

Decide first: is this estate suitable for self‑help?

You are a good candidate if the estate is solvent; heirs and beneficiaries get along; the assets consist of a home, bank and brokerage accounts, vehicles, and personal property; there are no operating businesses; and the will (if any) is clear and self‑proving. If the estate is insolvent, if disinheritance or estrangement looms, if a family business must be valued and sold, or if there are contested creditor claims, bring in counsel at least for a strategy session. DIY does not mean you never ask questions; it means you own the project and hire surgically where needed.

Start with authority: file and obtain letters

Go to the probate court for the county where the decedent lived. File the petition for probate, the original will if there is one, a certified death certificate, and contact information for heirs and beneficiaries. Ask the clerk how your court issues letters and whether a hearing is required. If the will waives bond, attach it. If there is no will, state your priority under statute to be named administrator. Once letters issue, order several certified copies. Institutions will ask to keep them.

Secure property and untangle the mail

Change locks if necessary, verify insurance on the home and vehicles, and redirect mail so bills and statements come to you. Maintain utilities that prevent loss (heat in winter, minimal electricity, water where needed) and cancel non‑essentials that bleed cash. Open an estate bank account with your letters; deposit income and pay estate expenses from that account only.

Publish and send notices properly

Ask the clerk what form the notice to creditors takes and which newspapers are approved for publication. Publish once or as required; calendar the creditor deadline. Send notice to known creditors—medical providers, lenders, credit‑card companies—with your mailing address for claims. Also send any required notices to heirs and beneficiaries. Keep proof of publication and mailing. This is not busywork; it is how you cut off late claims and protect yourself from surprise demands a year from now.

Build the inventory and get realistic values

List everything titled in the decedent’s name alone: bank accounts, brokerage positions, vehicles, the home and other real estate, refunds owed, and any unusual items. For real property, look at assessed value but obtain a market opinion if a sale is likely. For unique property—art, collectibles—get an appraisal rather than guessing. Knowing the true picture lets you decide whether an early distribution is safe or whether you need to reserve against taxes and repairs.

Manage and, if necessary, sell property

If the estate includes a home that must be sold, clean and secure it, keep insurance current, and hire a competent agent. Read your letters and local rules: some states require an order for sale; others allow you to sell under general powers. Title companies will tell you what they want to see—show them the will if it grants sale authority, or obtain a simple court order authorizing the sale. Do not attempt side agreements with beneficiaries about “who gets the house cheap.” Your duty is to obtain a reasonable result for the estate as a whole.

Evaluate claims and pay in sensible order

When claims arrive, verify them. Compare billing periods to the date of death; reject charges that are plainly not the decedent’s or that are time‑barred. Pay funeral invoices, property insurance, taxes, and secured obligations that protect value. If the estate is solvent, pay valid unsecured claims next. If the estate is tight, check your state’s priority scheme; do not guess. You want your ledger to show careful evaluation and appropriate sequence.

File the right tax returns

Expect a final personal income tax return for the decedent and, if the estate earns income during administration, a fiduciary return for the estate. If you sell the home, understand whether the gain is taxable to the estate. Use a preparer if you are unsure. Their fee is an estate expense, and a clean filing avoids penalties that slow final distribution.

Communicate enough to prevent suspicion

Silence is the number‑one driver of disputes. Set a cadence: a short update after letters issue, another after notices and inventory, and one before you propose distributions. You do not need to publish every decision; you do need to demonstrate that the process is moving and that you are respecting both the will and the law. When someone asks for an advance, consult the will; if it permits advances, document them. If not, explain that you must treat beneficiaries equally and wait for the creditor window and tax filings to clear.

Prepare the accounting and distribute

Your accounting is the estate’s report card. It shows beginning balances and property, receipts (sales, interest, refunds), disbursements (expenses, claims, taxes), and what remains. Attach statements or summaries by category. When you propose final distribution, send the accounting and a one‑page plan that translates numbers into shares or items. Ask for signed receipts or court approval, depending on your state’s practice. Once distributions are complete and receipts are in, close the estate with a brief filing.

Know when to call for limited help

Even in DIY matters, two moments justify paid assistance: selling real property and responding to contested claims or beneficiary threats. A short hearing to approve a sale or a two‑hour consultation about a noisy creditor can save months. Hiring counsel for a discrete task is not surrendering the file; it is protecting the estate’s value and your sanity.

The planning lesson you can apply today

If this process feels heavier than it should, the fix is to reduce what must pass through court next time. A properly funded revocable living trust moves the home and investments out of probate. A state‑specific will—ideally self‑proved—keeps the probate side clean and nominates a clear executor. Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance do their part. You will finish your current case; you can also make sure your family doesn’t have to repeat it.

A practical, step‑by‑step handbook for DIY probate: How to Probate an Estate (Book) → /product/how-to-probate-an-estate/

Cut court detours for major assets going forward: Online Revocable Living Trust → /product/online-living-trust/

Name the right executor in a valid will: Online Last Will & Testament → /product/online-last-will/