If you are handling a Florida home held in a trust or one you inherited while living out of state, you can complete the sale without traveling. The process is straightforward when you confirm authority, choose the right probate path, plan for taxes, and coordinate a remote closing with a capable local team. As your Orlando real estate advisor, I quarterback these steps so you can focus on decisions, not paperwork.

What Are the Legal Requirements for Selling a Home in a Trust?

Confirm Authority to Sell

Identify the acting trustee and verify the powers to sell under the trust. Your title company will request specific pages showing the appointment of the trustee and the powers granted, plus any amendments. If there are co-trustees, expect both signatures or a documented delegation. A seasoned local advisor keeps this collection tight and avoids re-work with title and the buyer’s lender.

Title Insurance and Document Readiness

Title insurance protects against challenges to ownership or authority. Expect to provide government-issued identification and standard seller affidavits. Irrevocable trusts can introduce extra steps, such as documenting beneficiary consents, so involve your title officer and attorney early. My role is to align the timeline, so document review happens in parallel with market prep.

How Do I Manage an Inherited Property From Out of State?

Understand Florida Probate Basics

Florida commonly uses formal administration or summary administration for probate. Which path applies depends on the estate size, creditor claims, and how the home was titled. If the home was titled in a living trust, probate for that asset may be avoided. For a plain-English primer, see the Florida Bar’s consumer pamphlet on probate and related resources from the Florida Courts. Florida Bar – Probate in Florida.

When Summary Administration Might Apply

Summary administration is a simplified proceeding that may be available in limited circumstances defined by statute, often when assets subject to probate are below a statutory threshold or when sufficient time has passed. A probate attorney can confirm eligibility and whether a personal representative will be appointed. Your advisor keeps the real estate tasks aligned to the attorney’s timeline, so you do not lose time on market prep.

Plan for Taxes Early

Florida does not currently impose a separate state estate tax. However, the state records an estate tax lien that is released by filing the appropriate affidavit where no federal estate tax return is due. The Florida Department of Revenue provides the forms: DR-312 and DR-313. On the federal side, heirs generally receive a step-up in basis to fair market value at the date of death, which can reduce capital gains when you sell. See IRS Publication 551 and the IRS FAQ on gifts and inheritances. I coordinate with your tax professional to ensure timing and documentation support your returns.

Pros and Cons of Selling From Out of State

• Pros: remote management with e-signatures, secure portals, video tours, and remote online notarization. A local team handles pricing, prep, showings, and closing coordination. I act as your single point of contact, so vendors and timelines stay synchronized.
• Cons: limited on-site oversight and time zone friction. We mitigate with a clear project plan, weekly status updates, and when available, smart-home monitoring for vacant properties.

Step-by-Step Timeline: Trust or Estate Sale in Orlando

1. Strategy call and document check – Confirm trustee authority or probate path with counsel. Identify any HOA, permits, or payoff items early. I map the target list date and build the vendor calendar backward from closing to avoid rush fees.
2. Property readiness – Safety, cleanliness, curb appeal, and small energy-efficient fixes that resonate with Orlando buyers. When heirs cannot visit, I arrange vetted vendors and provide before-and-after photo proof.
3. Pricing and positioning – Use condition-adjusted comps and buyer-pool analysis. If a home sits in a historically strong micro-market, that resale reliability informs pricing confidence and negotiation thresholds.
4. Marketing the story – Professional photos, floor plan, virtual tour, and clear copy. We highlight location advantages if they genuinely apply to the property (school zones, proximity to employment hubs, parks, or Medical City).
5. Showings and feedback – Weekly summary with buyer comments and market signals. We course-correct quickly if we see pattern feedback on condition or price.
6. Offer, title, and closing logistics – Negotiate credits and timelines that respect probate or trust milestones. Choose in-person or remote close. Coordinate estoppels, payoff statements, and title requirements so we hit the target date.

Practical Checklist for Trustees and Heirs

FAQs