Selling an Inherited Home in Royal Palm Beach: Probate, Homestead and Next Steps

Probate in Royal Palm Beach often starts with a family home in an HOA neighborhood, a place the owner may have lived in for decades. Now the heirs have to work out who can sell it, how long the court process takes and what buyers in the village will pay for a home that needs updates. This guide covers the legal steps and the practical ones, in that order.

Royal Palm Beach is a village in central Palm Beach County, next to Wellington. Buyers here tend to compare parks, schools and the commute, so the way you present an inherited home can matter as much as the paperwork.

Key takeaways

• Royal Palm Beach is in Palm Beach County, so estates go through the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit and the county clerk.
• A home in a revocable trust can often sell without probate. A home in one person's name usually needs a court case first.
• The Florida Bar says a simple estate takes about five or six months, partly because creditors get at least 3 months to file claims.
• Florida homestead law can limit who inherits when the owner left a spouse or a minor child.
• HOAs must deliver an estoppel certificate within 10 business days of a request, so ask early to keep the closing on track.

What to do in the first weeks

You do not have to make big decisions right away. Instead, focus on protecting the house and finding papers.

• Lock the house and collect any spare keys.
• Call the insurance company. Many policies limit coverage on a vacant home, so ask what it needs.
• Keep the AC, power and water on to prevent mold.
• Find the will, any trust, the deed, HOA statements and recent tax bills.
• Keep up with lawn care and pool service. HOAs in the village can send violation notices for an unkept yard.

Also, Florida law gives anyone holding the original will 10 days after learning of the death to deposit it with the clerk of court in the county where the estate will be handled.

Is probate in Royal Palm Beach required?

It depends on how the home was titled. You can look up the deed in Palm Beach County's official records or ask a title company to pull it.

The home is in a revocable trust

A successor trustee can usually sell a trust-owned home without probate. The title company will ask for the trust papers and a death certificate. However, the trustee still owes duties to the beneficiaries and should keep them informed.

The home passed by survivorship

Spouses who owned as tenants by the entirety pass the home straight to the survivor. A joint tenancy with right of survivorship works in a similar way. Usually the survivor records a death certificate and can then sell.

The home was in one name only

If the deed shows only the person who died, the family usually needs probate. The court appoints a personal representative, Florida's term for an executor. If the will gives that person the power to sell, a separate court order may not be needed. Otherwise, the court must approve the sale.

Steps in probate in Royal Palm Beach

Probate proves the will, pays valid debts and transfers property to heirs. For a Royal Palm Beach home, the case goes to the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, which covers all of Palm Beach County. Filings go through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, and the Palm Beach County Clerk keeps the records.

Florida has two main tracks. Formal administration is the standard path. Summary administration is shorter and can apply when the probate estate, minus exempt property, is worth $150,000 or less, or when the person died more than 2 years ago. Since most homes in the village are worth more than that, a house in a sole name usually needs formal administration.

In formal administration, creditors get at least 3 months after the notice to creditors first runs to file claims. That is why the Florida Bar says a simple estate takes about five or six months. In addition, Florida's probate rules require a personal representative to have a Florida attorney unless that person is the only one with an interest in the estate.

To see how a listing agent fits in, read our page on probate and inherited property.

Homestead rules in Florida

Most inherited homes in the village were the owner's primary residence, so homestead law usually applies. Under section 732.4015 of the Florida Statutes, an owner who leaves a spouse or a minor child cannot freely leave the homestead to others by will. The exception allows a gift to the spouse when there is no minor child.

If the home did not pass by a valid will, section 732.401 gives the spouse a life estate and the children the remainder. The spouse may instead elect a one-half share as a tenant in common within 6 months after the death. When there is no spouse and no minor child, title companies often still want a court order that confirms the home's homestead status.

Finally, the homestead exemption and Save Our Homes cap end when ownership changes. The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser will then assess the home at full market value on a later roll. For a home owned for many years, that tax jump can be large.

When heirs disagree during probate in Royal Palm Beach

Siblings do not always agree on whether to sell, rent or keep a parent's home. The answer depends on the title and the will. If the personal representative has the power to sell, one heir may not be able to block the sale. However, if the heirs already own the home together, they may need to agree, or one may ask a court to divide or sell the property.

Open talk early helps. A written pricing review and a net sheet can move a family from opinions to numbers. In many cases, one sibling buys out the others at a fair price, and that can be a good outcome too.

HOA paperwork and estoppel letters

Many Royal Palm Beach homes sit in HOA communities. Before closing, the title company will request an estoppel certificate, which shows dues owed and other amounts. Under section 720.30851 of the Florida Statutes, the association must deliver it within 10 business days of a request.

So contact the HOA soon after the personal representative is appointed. Ask about unpaid dues, open violations and any approval steps for a new owner. Clearing these items before you list makes the sale smoother.

Cleanout tips

Sorting through a family home takes time and patience. Work in clear stages.

1. Collect important papers first, like bank records, tax returns, titles and insurance policies.
2. Let family members choose keepsakes, and keep a written list of who took what.
3. Have items of real value appraised before anyone sells them.
4. Then use an estate sale company, donations and a hauling crew for the rest.

Keep receipts for every cost, since the estate often pays them.

Pricing after probate in Royal Palm Beach

According to Pure Equity's MLS data as of October 1, 2026, the Royal Palm Beach median list price is $499,900, with a median of $251 per square foot across 244 active residential listings. Those asking prices mix houses with condos and townhomes, so treat them as context.

The same data shows active listings have been on the market for an average of 99 days. For countywide sales, Miami Realtors reported an August 2026 single-family median sale price of $650,000, with a median of 40 days to contract.

Buyers in the village often weigh parks and recreation. For example, the village's Commons Park includes trails, a dog park, fishing docks and a kayak launch. A home close to amenities like that may draw extra interest from families. In contrast, a home with an old roof or original kitchen will face buyers who compare it with updated homes on the same street.

Many heirs sell as is. Others make simple fixes, like paint, flooring and a deep clean, to widen the pool of buyers using financing. A free home value estimate is a good first step before a full pricing review.

Taxes on the sale

Under IRS rules, your basis in an inherited home is generally its fair market value on the date of death. If an estate tax return was filed, the value on that return usually sets the basis. As a result, a sale soon after the death at a similar price may produce little or no taxable gain. Order a date-of-death appraisal, and ask a CPA how the rules apply to your family.

Frequently asked questions

How long does probate in Royal Palm Beach take?

Expect at least the 3-month creditor period. The Florida Bar says a simple estate takes about five or six months, and disputes add time.

Can we list the home before probate in Royal Palm Beach closes?

Often, yes. Once appointed, the personal representative can list the home if the will grants the power to sell or the court approves the sale.

Who pays the HOA dues while the estate is open?

Dues keep coming due after a death. Usually the estate pays them, and any unpaid amount shows up on the estoppel certificate at closing.

Can one heir buy out the others?

Yes, if the other heirs agree on a price and the person with authority signs. A probate attorney can handle the paperwork.

Sources

• Florida Statutes, s. 732.401 descent of homestead
• Florida Statutes, s. 732.4015 devise of homestead
• Florida Statutes, s. 735.201 summary administration
• Florida Statutes, s. 733.702 creditor claims
• Florida Statutes, s. 720.30851 HOA estoppel certificates
• The Florida Bar, Probate in Florida
• Palm Beach County Clerk, probate of estates
• Village of Royal Palm Beach, Commons Park
• IRS, Publication 551: Basis of Assets
• Palm Beach County Property Appraiser, homestead exemption
• Miami Realtors, Palm Beach County August 2026 market report

This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Probate and homestead outcomes depend on your family's facts, so talk with a Florida probate attorney and a tax professional before you act.

Selling a family home in the village? Book a no-obligation listing consultation with a Royal Palm Beach specialist. We can help you price the home, line up HOA paperwork and plan around probate. Talk with our team. If a family member would rather buy nearby, our agents can help with that search too.