Dealing with probate can be like having a full-time job that you never applied for. In California, if the homeowner dies without a Living Trust, the Superior Court must supervise the transfer of the home to ensure that all debts are paid and the rightful heirs receive their inheritance. At Cash For Keys CA, we are experts at making this complicated process easier. We buy probate homes "as-is," giving the estate the immediate cash it needs to pay off debts and distribute funds to the heirs without the 9-18 month wait of the court.
Understanding Your Authority (IAEA)
As the Executor or Administrator, your court document "Letters" will give you powers as defined by the Independent Administration of Estates Act (IAEA). This will determine how quickly we can close:
- Full Authority (The Fast Track): This is the best-case situation. You can sell the property without a court hearing. We make you an offer, you accept, and you submit a Notice of Proposed Action (NPA) to the heirs. If no objections are received within 15 days, we can close escrow immediately.
- Limited Authority (Court Supervision Required): If you have limited authority, the court must approve the sale at a public hearing (typically 30-60 days away). Although this takes longer, we work with your attorney to ensure our offer complies with all court requirements.
Probate Code 10309: The 90% Rule
California Probate Code Section 10309 states that a private sale cannot be approved by the court unless the offer is at least 90% of the appraised value set by a court-appointed Probate Referee.
Probate properties often have "deferred maintenance" (leaky roofs, old wiring, or foundation problems). If the Referee's appraisal is based on a "perfect" property, we can assist you in preparing the necessary documentation to demonstrate the true "as-is" condition to the referee. This will ensure our cash offer satisfies the 90% legal requirement for the judge's approval of the sale and enable you to proceed.

Take Back Control of the Estate Timeline
Quick
Consultation
First things first, we need to have a quick conversation about the property you are looking to sell and what conditions we need to meet to make it worth your while.
Home
Inspection
Next, we schedule a home walkthrough to better understand the property that we may purchase! This is a quick, non-invasive tour of the home which takes about 10-15 minutes.
Home
Offer
After we understand the condition of your home, we formulate a fair home offer based on what is needed to bring it to market along with some other simple factors.
Fast
Closing
The benefit of working with us, is we deal in cash! After we have agreed to the terms and conditions of the sale, we can close in as few as 10 days!






















