Sell an Inherited House in St. Petersburg, FL (Probate)

The short answer

Yes — an inherited St. Petersburg house can usually be sold while the Pinellas probate case is still open. In a formal administration, the personal representative signs once the court issues Letters of Administration. If the will gives a power of sale, no separate court order is needed; otherwise the court authorizes or confirms the sale (Florida Statutes 733.613). Back taxes and liens are paid from the proceeds at closing.

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Selling an inherited St. Pete house, step by step

Get the original will to the Clerk. Whoever holds the original will must deposit it with the clerk of the court where the estate will be handled within 10 days after learning of the death (Florida Statutes §732.901). For someone who lived in St. Petersburg, that’s the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Open the estate in Pinellas. Probate runs through the Pinellas Clerk in Florida’s Sixth Judicial Circuit, with cases assigned to the Clearwater courthouse or the St. Petersburg branch. In most formal administrations the personal representative must have a Florida attorney, so this step usually starts with hiring one.
Letters of Administration. In a formal administration, the court appoints the personal representative and issues Letters. Until they exist, nobody can close a sale of estate property — so opening the estate early is the biggest speed lever the family controls.
Check the sale authority. If the will gives the personal representative a power of sale, the house can be sold without a separate court order (§733.613(2)). With no will, or no power of sale, title doesn’t pass until the court authorizes or confirms the sale (§733.613(1)).
Contract, then closing. A purchase contract can be signed during administration and timed to the court. A licensed Florida title company confirms who signs, pays the taxes, liens and any loan from the proceeds, and sends the rest to the estate.

Which path is the estate on?

The will gives the personal representative a power of sale. The house can be sold without a separate court order (§733.613(2)).
There’s no will, or no power of sale. The sale is still possible, but the court has to authorize or confirm it before title passes (§733.613(1)).
A small estate, or an older death. Summary administration may be available when a will doesn’t direct formal administration and either the property subject to administration, less property exempt from creditors, is $150,000 or less, or the person died more than two years ago (§735.201). The $150,000 limit comes from a 2026 law that took effect July 1, 2026; the old $75,000 limit may still apply to earlier deaths, so the attorney confirms which limit applies.
The house was the owner’s Florida homestead. Protected homestead passes under its own constitutional rules, which can change who signs the deed. That’s a question for the attorney at the start, not at the closing table.

Your probate attorney can usually tell you which of these is yours in the first conversation. Our Florida probate selling guide covers each one in more depth.

How long it takes: the clocks set by law

10 days — for whoever holds the original will to deposit it with the Clerk after learning of the death (§732.901).
3 months — the creditor window. Most claims against the estate are barred unless filed within 3 months after the first publication of the notice to creditors, or within 30 days after service for a creditor who must be served, if that’s later (§733.702).
Weeks to a few months — a typical summary administration.
Six months to a year or more — a typical formal administration, depending on the creditor period, the court’s calendar and how complicated the estate is.

The house sale doesn’t have to wait for the case to close. Many families sign a contract once the personal representative is appointed and close as soon as the paperwork allows.

St. Petersburg issues that come up with inherited houses

Property taxes don’t pause for probate. Pinellas taxes become delinquent on April 1 and a tax certificate is sold on the property. Two years after April 1 of the year the certificate was issued, its holder can apply for a tax deed (Florida Statutes §197.502), so an auction can be scheduled while the estate is still open. Read behind on property taxes in Pinellas or check your dates with the tax deed timeline tool.
Storm damage and St. Pete’s 49% rule. In the City’s flood hazard area, a building is “substantially damaged” when repairs cost 49% or more of its pre-damage market value, and it then has to meet current flood rules (stpete.org/rule49). An estate doesn’t have to fix that before selling: how the 49% rule works.
Code cases. Inside city limits, the City’s Codes Compliance Assistance Department handles code cases. In the City’s own words, “An active codes case does not prevent a property sale.” Recorded fines are paid or released at closing (how code liens work).
Look it up yourself. Ownership and values: Pinellas County Property Appraiser. Deeds, probate filings and tax deed sales: Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Taxes and payoff amounts: Pinellas County Tax Collector.
A house in another county? Pasco shares the Sixth Judicial Circuit with Pinellas — see selling a house in Pasco County. For Tampa and the rest of Hillsborough, see selling an inherited house in Tampa.

If you sell the house to us

AL calls you himself, usually the same day. Tell him who passed, whether there’s a will and whether a case is open. If you don’t know yet, he can look up the public court record with you.
A written cash offer, usually within 24 hours of the walkthrough, with the math shown.
As-is. Take the photos and the heirlooms; leave the rest. No repairs, no cleanout, no showings.
Timed to the court. Closing is typically 7–21 days once the title work is clear, or on the date the estate needs.
Out-of-state heirs can sign electronically or by mail; the title company handles the rest.
No commission, no fees to us. We pay the normal seller closing costs.
Not an agent, not a lawyer. Tampete Homes LLC (d/b/a HomeSellerCashOffer) buys for its own account. We work alongside the estate’s attorney, never around it, and if keeping, renting or listing the house is the better move, AL will say so.

Sources

Florida Statutes §732.901, Production of wills — flsenate.gov (2026 Florida Statutes)
Florida Statutes §733.613, Personal representative’s right to sell real property — flsenate.gov (2026)
Florida Statutes §733.702, Limitations on presentation of claims — flsenate.gov (2025)
Florida Statutes §735.201, Summary administration — flsenate.gov (2026, as amended by ch. 2026-57)
Florida Statutes §197.502, Application for obtaining tax deed — flsenate.gov
City of St. Petersburg, Substantial Damage and Substantial Improvement — stpete.org/rule49 (read October 11, 2026 for our storm-damage guide); Codes Compliance Assistance — stpete.org (read October 8, 2026)
Statutes read October 15, 2026.

Straight Answers

Questions we hear a lot

Can I sell an inherited house in St. Petersburg before probate is finished?

Usually, yes — most inherited houses are sold during probate, not after. In a formal administration, nothing can close before the court appoints a personal representative and issues Letters of Administration. With no will, or no power of sale in it, the court also has to authorize or confirm the sale (Florida Statutes 733.613).

Where is probate filed for someone who lived in St. Petersburg?

With the Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court, in Florida’s Sixth Judicial Circuit; Pinellas cases are assigned to the Clearwater courthouse or the St. Petersburg branch. Whoever holds the original will must deposit it with the Clerk within 10 days of learning of the death.

Does the estate qualify for summary administration?

It may, if a will doesn’t direct formal administration and either the property subject to administration, less property exempt from creditors (such as protected homestead), is $150,000 or less, or the person died more than two years ago (Florida Statutes 735.201). The $150,000 limit took effect July 1, 2026; the old $75,000 limit may still apply to earlier deaths, so the estate’s attorney confirms which applies.

The inherited house is behind on property taxes. What now?

Watch the tax dates, not the probate schedule. Back taxes can be paid from the sale proceeds at closing, but if a tax deed sale is already on the calendar, the payoff has to reach the Tax Collector before the sale date — a signed contract alone doesn’t stop the auction.

Do all the heirs have to agree to sell?

The personal representative — not each heir — controls the sale of estate property, subject to the will and the court. Protected homestead can work differently, so the probate attorney confirms who has to sign.

Are you a real estate agent?

No. HomeSellerCashOffer is not a real estate agent or broker. We buy houses directly, for our own account, as Tampete Homes LLC, and close through a licensed Florida title company.

How fast can you close?

Typically 7–21 days once the title work is clear, or on the date you pick if you need more time.

AL Cakici · Owner, HomeSellerCashOffer (Tampete Homes LLC)

AL buys houses in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco for his own account and has personally purchased and assisted with 100+ transactions over 10+ years across the country. He is not an attorney; this page is general information drawn from the sources listed above, not legal advice. Facts checked against those sources on October 15, 2026.

What sellers say

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“I was skeptical at first when these guys approached me about my home, but they were very knowledgeable and straightforward. They did all the work. These guys know what it means to do good business, which is unfortunately rare nowadays.”

Andrew Z.

Google review, 2026

Posted on Google

“Working with HomeSellerCashOffer has been nothing but a positive experience. Al is extremely professional, transparent, and always a pleasure to work with. He communicates clearly, keeps the process smooth, and goes above and beyond to make sure everything stays on track”

Matthew N.

Google review, 2025

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“As an investor myself, I get bombarded from people trying to buy my houses. AL and his team were miles above anybody else that’s approached me, super knowledgeable, professional and transparent. Recommend to anyone that wants top tier service.”

Joshua H.

Google review, January 2026

Inherited a house in St. Petersburg? How the sale works.

Selling an inherited St. Pete house, step by step

Which path is the estate on?

How long it takes: the clocks set by law

St. Petersburg issues that come up with inherited houses

If you sell the house to us

Sources

Questions we hear a lot

What sellers say

Talk to AL — not a call center.

Inherited a house in St. Petersburg? How the sale works.

Selling an inherited St. Pete house, step by step

Which path is the estate on?

How long it takes: the clocks set by law

St. Petersburg issues that come up with inherited houses

If you sell the house to us

Sources

Questions we hear a lot

What sellers say

Talk to AL — not a call center.

Other guides you might find useful

How to Sell an Inherited House in Probate

Behind on Property Taxes in Pinellas?

We Buy Houses in St. Petersburg