Probate Asset Search
and Estate Investigation

A probate asset search is a professional investigation that identifies all assets belonging to a deceased person's estate across all 50 states. Indeed, executors, administrators, and trustees have a fiduciary duty to locate every asset the decedent owned at the time of death, yet personal financial records are frequently incomplete, inaccessible, or outdated. Consequently, without a thorough estate asset investigation, property goes undiscovered, beneficiaries receive less than they are entitled to, and fiduciaries risk personal liability for failing to fulfill their obligations.

The Fiduciary's Obligation to Find Estate Assets

Furthermore, whether you are an executor named in a will, an administrator appointed by the court for an intestate estate, or a trustee managing a trust, the law requires you to identify and inventory all assets belonging to the estate. However, the decedent may have owned property in states you are not aware of, held business interests with UCC filings in multiple jurisdictions, maintained financial relationships at institutions you have never heard of, or purchased real property through nationwide databases that are not easily searchable without professional tools. As a result, a probate asset search closes these gaps by systematically investigating every asset category across every state.

What Happens When Estate Assets Are Missed

Specifically, when estate assets go undiscovered, the consequences are significant. First, beneficiaries receive incomplete distributions because the estate inventory underreports total value. Second, unclaimed assets may eventually escheat to the state, permanently lost to the rightful heirs. Third, the executor or administrator may face surcharge actions from beneficiaries who later discover assets that should have been included. Finally, in contested estates, undiscovered assets can reopen probate proceedings years after the estate was supposedly settled. Our professional estate asset investigation prevents all of these outcomes by delivering a comprehensive nationwide search before distribution occurs.

Out-of-State Real Estate the Family Did Not Know About

Indeed, one of the most common probate asset search findings is real property in states other than the decedent's primary residence. For example, a decedent living in New York may have purchased a vacation condo in Florida, a rental property in Texas, or vacant land in Idaho that was never discussed with family members. Without a nationwide probate asset search, these properties remain undiscovered and may eventually be lost to tax lien sales or state escheatment.

Business Interests and Corporate Holdings Not Disclosed

Furthermore, the decedent may have held ownership interests in businesses that were never mentioned in estate planning documents. Specifically, active or dissolved LLCs, corporate officer positions, partnership interests, and sole proprietorships in any of 50 states can represent significant estate value. Our business asset investigation traces these entity connections through Secretary of State filings nationwide, identifying commercial assets, equipment, and receivables that belong to the estate.

Pre-Death Asset Transfers and Financial Exploitation

Moreover, assets transferred before death represent some of the most contested issues in probate administration. Specifically, caregivers, new companions, or even family members may have influenced the decedent to transfer property, change beneficiary designations, or add names to accounts during periods of diminished capacity. As a result, our transfer analysis documents every real property conveyance, deed change, and entity formation within the relevant period, providing estate attorneys with the evidence needed to pursue recovery actions. For additional context on how economic conditions and interest rates affect estate property values, see our blog.

Vehicles, Watercraft, and High-Value Personal Property

Additionally, vehicles registered in other states, boats documented with the Coast Guard, aircraft registered with the FAA, and recreational vehicles titled under entity names are frequently missed in estate inventories. In fact, a decedent who owned a classic car collection stored at a facility in another state, or a boat moored at a marina far from home, may not have left any paperwork indicating these assets exist. Our nationwide investigation ensures these holdings are identified regardless of where they are located.

All estate asset searches comply with the FCRA, GLBA, and all applicable privacy regulations. Furthermore, read about our team credentials, review our terms of use, and browse our blog for additional guidance on asset search services with flat fees and no contracts.