Real estate for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy estates.
We help trustees convert real property into estate value with a process designed around retention, court approval, and clean reporting.
Client
Chapters
Initial report
Status updates
Dual focus on real estate and bankruptcy procedure.
In a trustee sale, the trustee is our client and our duty runs to the estate. We may communicate with the debtor and debtor’s counsel to arrange access and gather information, but we do not represent the debtor in that transaction. We state this in writing at the outset so every party understands the relationship.
In Chapter 13 matters, where a debtor may sell property under a confirmed plan or with court permission, we can represent the debtor as seller with the trustee’s awareness and any required court approval. The representation is defined before any work begins.
How we work inside the case.
Retention
We provide the declaration and disclosures your counsel needs for an application to employ a real estate professional.
Valuation
Written opinion of value with photos, occupancy notes, and a lien summary for the trustee’s file.
Sale motion support
Offer summaries, purchase contracts, and marketing history organized for a sale motion and any overbid procedure.
Closing
Escrow coordination, payoff tracking, and a closing statement delivered with the final report.
Referral to closing.
Timelines vary with court calendars, occupancy, and lienholder cooperation. The ranges below reflect a typical Chapter 7 asset.
| Stage | What happens | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Referral | Case details, conflict check, access plan | Days 1 to 3 |
| Initial report | Site visit, opinion of value, occupancy and lien summary | Days 3 to 7 |
| Retention | Listing agreement and employment application filed by counsel | Days 7 to 30 |
| Marketing | ARMLS listing, investor outreach, showings | Weeks 3 to 8 |
| Sale approval | Offer accepted subject to court approval, notice period | Weeks 6 to 12 |
| Closing | Escrow, payoffs, final report to trustee | Weeks 10 to 16 |
Occupied property, liens, and title.
- Occupied property. We coordinate access with the debtor or tenants, document condition, and when appropriate negotiate a voluntary move out. Turnover matters are referred to the trustee's counsel.
- Liens and encumbrances. We gather payoffs, identify junior liens and HOA or tax arrears, and flag where a carve out or a sale free and clear may need to be discussed with counsel.
- Title issues. We order preliminary title early and track exceptions such as judgments, mechanics' liens, and vesting problems so they do not surface at closing.
- Homestead and exemptions. We work from the exemption information your office provides and never advise the debtor on exemption strategy.
Reporting built for the case file.
Every file receives an initial written report, status updates on a fixed cadence, an offer summary for each decision point, and a final report with the closing statement. Reports are formatted to drop into your file or attach to a motion.
Start a trustee referral.
Share the case basics. We respond within one business day with a conflict check and next steps.
- Conflict check before any work begins
- Initial written report within 7 days
- Status updates every 14 days
Trustee referral intake
All fields can be updated later. Case number is optional.