Can the estate sell the home before the court issues letters?
Not on paper. Until Queens County Surrogate's Court issues letters, nobody has the authority to sign a listing agreement or a contract for an inherited house or co-op. Almost everything else can start now.
Read the answerHow long does the estate tax lien release take?
Three to four weeks on average for a complete application, plus seven to ten business days for mailing, by the Tax Department's own figures. It runs alongside the sale, not after it, so it rarely has to hold up a closing if it is filed early.
Read the answerWhat does the co-op board need from an estate, and how long can it take?
The letters, the contract and a complete buyer's package. For applications submitted on or after July 28, 2026, a covered co-op has 15 days to say whether the package is complete and 45 days to decide once it is, under NYC Local Law 58 of 2026. Estate transfers are covered too.
Read the answerHow long from the date of death to closing in Bayside?
Three outside clocks set the pace: the court appointment, the estate tax lien release, and for a co-op, the board. Everything else runs alongside them. Enter your dates in the timeline builder and see which clock is actually in front of you.
Read the answerWhat is the home worth as of the date of death, and why does that date matter?
It is the value the estate's CPA generally works from, so it gets written down early, even when the home will not sell for a year. Settle Bayside puts it in writing from recorded Bayside sales around that date, with every comparable listed, at no cost to the estate.
Read the answerThere is no court case. The home is in a trust, or passed by a transfer-on-death deed. What changes?
The court clock disappears, and the person who signs is the trustee or the new owner named on the deed, not an executor. The rest of the sale, including the estate tax lien question, still has to be dealt with.
Read the answerThe estate got a cash offer in the mail. Is it fair?
Check it against what actually sold, not against the letter. The recorded sales around today's date are public, and Settle Bayside will put them next to the offer in writing at no cost. An executor who sells well below market can be challenged by the heirs, so the comparison protects you as much as the price.
Read the answerI live out of state. How does a Bayside estate sale work from a distance?
What has to happen here, what can happen from where you are, and who does which part.
Read the answerStart here
Bayside only: 11360, 11361 and 11364. Text, call or email. The first conversation and the value letter cost nothing.
Helpful to have ready
- The property address, and the building and apartment for a co-op
- The date of death
- Whether the court has issued letters yet
- Your role: executor, administrator, heir, CPA or attorney
At the first real conversation you receive New York's required agency disclosure and housing discrimination disclosure forms.