You can never be certain of what you may find on a property. One vacant house was being used by drug addicts. On another, a family member let us know the cases in the back of their father’s suburban garage was where he stored his dynamite. The back of a ranch property was lined with 55 gallon drums of hazardous waste.
At DBD Estate Services we have experience in dealing with a wide variety of odd, and sometimes dangerous, situations. That’s why we have cultivated close relationships with a variety of service providers from mold remediation specialists to federally-licensed safe-crackers. We also work closely with city code enforcement, law enforcement, and HazMat specialists.
It is simply not possible for us to list all the different types of services we have had to bring into play on the various properties we have secured and maintained. What we have listed here are the services we have provided through our own in-house staff and vendors we have regular relations with. If you have requirement not listed here, reach out to us, we’re use to dealing with the unusual.
Index of Services
Asset Searches
Not everyone maintains a clean and orderly estate. Ofter there are assets that are believed to exist, but can’t be found.
DBD Estate Services has a very high success rate of finding vital paperwork such as will, trusts, deeds, titles, leases, and financial records, and other lost or hidden assets, including those in secret hidden rooms.
Legal and Financial Documents
In probate, locating critical legal and financial documents is often the first hurdle for estate attorneys. Missing wills, trusts, deeds, or financial statements can delay settlement and increase liability.
At DBD Estate Services, we specialize in meticulous searches to uncover these vital records, whether they’re buried in filing cabinets, safes, deposit boxes, digital accounts, or hidden in the Laundry Room or a Cowboy boot in bedroom closet (true stories). Our team understands the urgency of fiduciary duties and works diligently to provide our clients with the documentation needed to move the final settlement of the estate forward. Let us handle the time-consuming search process, so you can focus on legal proceedings and client representation with confidence.
Cash, Jewelry, and Valuables
Digital Asset Recovery
Digital assets—wills, financial records, or photos stored in cloud-based accounts—can be critical to probate, yet they’re often inaccessible without proper recovery. DBD Estate Services helps estate attorneys recover these assets, navigating complex digital platforms to access documents in cloud subscriptions like Google Drive or Dropbox. We work with heirs and tech providers to ensure compliance with privacy laws and court orders, delivering a detailed inventory of recovered assets. Our service minimizes delays in estate administration, ensuring you have the digital records needed to fulfill fiduciary duties with confidence.
Family Photography and Memorabilia
Family photography and memorabilia are often the most sentimental assets in an estate, holding immense emotional value for heirs. DBD Estate Services helps estate attorneys preserve these irreplaceable items by locating, cataloging, and protecting them during probate. We search properties for photo albums, letters, and keepsakes, ensuring the collections are safeguarded from loss or damage. Our detailed inventories support equitable distribution among heirs, while our sensitive approach honors the decedent’s legacy.
Personal Effects
Personal effects — clothing, books, diaries, wallets, and everyday items — may seem minor, but they can complicate probate if not handled properly. DBD Estate Services assists Estate Attorneys by collecting, organizing, and managing these personal belongings, ensuring they’re accounted for in the estate inventory. We search properties, catalog items, and coordinate their distribution, donation, or disposal, all while respecting the decedent’s legacy and the heirs’ wishes. Our detailed reports help you meet fiduciary obligations, minimizing the risk of disputes or liability. Let us handle the details, so you can focus on estate settlement.
Unique or Special Collections
Unique collections—whether rare coins, vintage stamps, or art—can significantly impact an estate’s value, but they’re often difficult to identify and appraise. DBD Estate Services specializes in cataloging these special assets, ensuring they are properly documented for estate administration. We search properties for hidden collections, coordinate with expert appraisers to determine value, and provide detailed inventories to the attorneys that support equitable distribution or sale. Our service helps probate attorneys meet fiduciary obligations while maximizing the estate’s potential, all with the care and precision these unique items deserve.
Content Management
Was the deceased a hoarder? Or did they have special interests and collections such as stamps, coins, art, antiquities, firearms, jewelry, or other valuables? Maybe some assets are in contention among the heirs. Or perhaps there are things you don’t know how to sell, such as boats, airplanes, railroad cars, surplus military equipment, or half-ton stone statues.
Content Evaluation and Disposition
Facing a property filled with years of accumulated items can be overwhelming for probate attorneys and heirs alike. What’s valuable? What’s trash? What can be donated? DBD Estate Services takes the guesswork out of content evaluation and disposition, sorting through garages, attics, and main living spaces to categorize every item. We assess the value of belongings, coordinate sales or donations, and dispose of unusable items responsibly, all while keeping our clients informed with detailed reports.
Assets Probate Inventory
A thorough probate inventory is the backbone of estate administration, ensuring all personal assets are accounted for under Texas law (Estates Code § 309). DBD Estate Services specializes in cataloging furniture, jewelry, art, collectables, boats, and vehicles, often uncovering hidden financial accounts or real property missed by attorneys. Our detailed inventories, compliant with court requirements, provide a clear snapshot of the estate’s value, supporting fair distribution and judicial approval. Our process includes on-site assessments, photography, and a court-ready report, saving you time and reducing liability. Trust us to deliver precision and peace of mind, turning overlooked assets into opportunities for your clients’ estates.
Secure Storage Solutions
During probate, valuable or sentimental items often need secure storage to protect them from loss, theft, or damage. DBD Estate Services arranges secure storage solutions — climate-controlled facilities for everything from jewelry to family heirlooms. We inventory and pack items with care, ensuring they’re safeguarded throughout the probate process, and provide detailed reports for your records. Our service helps estate attorneys meet fiduciary obligations, reduces liability, and offers peace of mind for heirs, ensuring that precious assets are preserved until they’re ready for distribution or sale.
Records Organization
Organizing estate records is a critical yet time-consuming task for probate attorneys, often involving stacks of paperwork scattered across properties. DBD Estate Services takes on this challenge, meticulously sorting, categorizing, and digitizing records to create an accessible, court-ready archive. We handle everything from legal documents to personal correspondence, ensuring all records are accounted for and easily retrievable. Our service helps you meet fiduciary obligations, reduces the risk of oversight, and saves valuable time during estate administration. Let us organize the chaos, so you can focus on legal proceedings.
Insurance Documentation
Probate properties and contents often lack insurance, leaving estates vulnerable during administration. DBD Estate Services’ Insurance Documentation service identifies existing policies for properties and items (furniture, jewelry, vehicles) as part of asset searches, alerting attorneys to gaps—e.g., uninsured homes post-mortgage or valuable collections. We address legal requirements to maintain probate insurance, providing detailed reports to guide coverage decisions. Our proactive approach reduces financial risks, ensures compliance with Texas law, and protects against vacant property hazards, making us your essential partner in safeguarding estate assets.
Digital Archiving
Estate documents—wills, deeds, or personal records—often arrive folded, wrinkled, torn, dirty, stuck together, or water-damaged, complicating digitization. DBD Estate Services’ Digital Archiving service transforms these challenging materials into secure, searchable digital files, preserving their legal value. We partner with specialized providers who handle document preparation (removing staples, repairing tears) and use high-resolution scanning with OCR for accessibility. This service ensures compliance with probate requirements, protects against loss, and provides attorneys with a reliable archive. Whether for court submissions or heir access, our process saves time and mitigates risks, making us your trusted ally in managing fragile estate records.
Interior and Exterior Debris Removal
Vacant probate properties often accumulate debris, from cluttered interiors to overgrown yards, posing health, safety, and legal risks. DBD Estate Services handles interior and exterior debris removal, clearing out trash, hazardous materials, and unwanted items with efficiency and care. We coordinate with licensed contractors to ensure compliance with local regulations, providing detailed reports for your records. Our service helps estate attorneys maintain the property’s condition, reduce liability, and prepare it for sale or habitation, all while saving you the hassle of managing the cleanup process.
Manage Personal Property Estate Sales
Valuing and selling personal property during probate can be a daunting task, often requiring expertise that estate attorneys may not have the time to provide. DBD Estate Services manages personal property estate sales, working with professional organizers to appraise, market, and sell items efficiently. We handle everything from furniture to collectibles, ensuring maximum returns for the estate while providing detailed reports for your records. Our service helps you fulfill fiduciary duties, minimize disputes, and streamline estate administration, all while turning physical assets into liquid funds for distribution.
Charitable Donation Coordination
Not all estate items have resale value, but they can still make a meaningful impact through charitable donations. DBD Estate Services coordinates the donation process, identifying items suitable for charity, partnering with local organizations, and ensuring proper documentation for tax deductions. We handle everything from clothing to furniture, providing detailed reports for your records. Our service helps estate attorneys fulfill fiduciary duties, supports the decedent’s legacy of giving, and offers heirs the satisfaction of making a difference, all while simplifying estate administration.
Appraisal Coordination
Probate estates often hide unexpected treasures—doll collections, stamp collections, rare coins, gun collections, art, antiques, furs, and more. DBD Estate Services’ Appraisal Coordination service connects you with licensed, certified appraisers specializing in these areas, delivering accurate valuations for court inventories, insurance, and fair distribution. We manage the process, from identifying items during inventory to coordinating experts, ensuring compliance with Texas probate standards. Our tailored approach uncovers hidden value, reduces disputes, and saves you time, making us the ideal partner for managing the unpredictability of estate assets.
Maintenance and Repair
Older homes, and those previously occupied by elderly or indigent individuals frequently suffer from neglected maintenance, which decreases the value of the home and property. Unkept lawn and landscaping, and any visible structural damage often results in code violations.
Estimates for Repairs and Renovation
Probate properties often require repairs or renovations to preserve their value, but estimating costs can be a challenge for estate attorneys. DBD Estate Services secures qualified estimates from licensed contractors, assessing the property’s needs and providing detailed cost projections for repairs and upgrades. We handle everything from minor fixes to major renovations, ensuring transparency and accuracy in every estimate. Our service helps you make informed decisions, fulfill fiduciary duties, and prepare the property for sale or habitation, all while saving you the time and effort of managing the process.
General Repairs and Maintenance
Probate properties often require ongoing repairs and maintenance, a task that can overwhelm estate attorneys already managing legal duties. DBD Estate Services oversees general repairs and maintenance, coordinating with licensed contractors to handle everything from plumbing fixes to roof repairs. We manage projects from start to finish, ensuring quality work, timely completion, and detailed documentation for your records. Our service helps you maintain the property’s value, fulfill fiduciary obligations, and reduce liability, all while saving you the time and stress of overseeing contractors.
House Cleaning and Deodorization
Whether preparing for sale or habitation, a clean, odor-free property is essential for effective probate management; but cleaning neglected homes can be a daunting task. DBD Estate Services manages house cleaning and deodorization, contracting and supervising professional crews to restore the property to a pristine state. Our crews handle everything from deep cleaning to odor removal, ensuring the property meets health and safety standards. Our services help Estate Attorneys maintain the estate’s value, fulfill fiduciary duties, and reduce liability, by managing the hassle of overseeing the cleanup and maintenance.
Painting
A fresh coat of paint can transform a probate property, increasing its sale value and appeal, but managing the painting process can be a hassle for estate attorneys. DBD Estate Services handles painting projects, coordinating with professional painters to deliver high-quality results that enhance the property’s marketability. We manage everything from color selection to project completion, ensuring a seamless process and detailed documentation for your records. Our service helps you fulfill fiduciary duties, maximize the estate’s value, and prepare the property for its next phase, all with minimal effort on your part.
Landscape Maintenance
Neglected landscapes in probate properties can pose health, safety, and legal risks, from overgrown trees to weed-filled yards. DBD Estate Services manages landscape maintenance, providing one-time cleanups or regular care to ensure the grounds are safe and appealing. We coordinate with professional landscapers, oversee all work, and provide detailed reports for your records. Our service helps estate attorneys maintain the property’s value, comply with local ordinances, and reduce liability, ensuring the estate is ready for sale or habitation with minimal effort on your part.
Compliance Verification
Probate properties can often face Code Violations, posing potential legal and financial risks for estate attorneys. DBD Estate Services provides code compliance verification services, inspecting properties for health, safety, and zoning issues, and coordinating with local authorities to address violations. We ensure the property meets all regulatory standards, providing detailed reports to support your fiduciary duties. Our services minimizes liability, protects the estate’s value, and prepares the property for sale or habitation, providing peace of mind during the estate administration process.
Property Inspection and Condition Evaluation
You’ve just become responsible for a property. What condition is it in? What’s inside? What is around it? Is there anything important you should know about? Probate properties often hide unseen challenges—security risks, repair needs, or valuable assets—that can complicate estate administration. DBD Estate Services’ Property Inspection and Condition Evaluation service is the foundation of every project, providing a comprehensive assessment to identify required services, from security enhancements to content management and asset recovery.
Security and Property Protection
Properties that appear abandoned are often targets for thieves, vandals, and squatters. They are particularly susceptible to mortgage theft and similar crimes. In addition, unoccupied homes often attract rats, mice, insects, and mold. Frozen pipes, storm damage and other environmental issues can destroy your assets.
Property Access, Rekeying and Securing Property
Gaining and securing access to a probate property is often the first challenge estate attorneys face, as vacant homes are vulnerable to unauthorized entry or theft. DBD Estate Services manages property access, rekeying, and security, installing new locks, securing windows and doors, and ensuring the property is protected. We coordinate with locksmiths and provide detailed reports for your records, helping you fulfill fiduciary duties, reduce liability, and safeguard the estate’s assets, all while ensuring compliance with legal requirements.
Eviction Verification
Evicting unauthorized occupants from a probate property can be a legal necessity, but ensuring the premise stays vacated requires careful coordination. DBD Estate Services handles eviction verification, working with authorities to execute the eviction process and confirming that the property is empty and secure. We provide detailed reports to document the process, helping estate attorneys fulfill fiduciary duties, reduce liability, and protect the estate’s assets. Our services ensures the property is ready for its next phase, whether sale or lease, with minimal disruption.
Pest Control
Vacant probate properties are prone to pest infestations, from rodents to insects, which can cause significant damage and pose health risks. DBD Estate Services manages pest control, coordinating with professionals to eliminate infestations and prevent future issues. We provide detailed reports to document the process, helping estate attorneys fulfill fiduciary duties, reduce liability, and protect the estate’s assets. Our service ensures the property is safe and habitable, ready for sale or occupancy, with minimal disruption to the probate process.
Emergency Repairs
Emergencies like burst pipes or storm damage can cause significant financial loss to a probate property, creating stress for estate attorneys and heirs alike. DBD Estate Services handles emergency repairs, responding quickly to mitigate damage and coordinating with contractors to restore the property. We provide detailed, illustrated, reports to document the process, helping you fulfill fiduciary duties, reduce liability, and protect the estate’s assets. Our service ensures the property is safeguarded, giving you peace of mind during a crisis and allowing you to focus on estate administration.
Winterization
Vacant probate properties are prone to pest infestations, from rodents to insects, which can cause significant damage and pose health risks. DBD Estate Services manages pest control, coordinating with professionals to eliminate infestations and prevent future issues. We provide detailed reports to document the process, helping estate attorneys fulfill fiduciary duties, reduce liability, and protect the estate’s assets. Our service ensures the property is safe and habitable, ready for sale or occupancy, with minimal disruption to the probate process.