The Personal Representative, with the assistance of their legal counsel, can make a determination if the property is homestead. If it is felt it is, then a court order declaring it homestead is necessary. If not sure, then you file a petition with the court on your best determination and let the court decide. If not, then no court order is needed. However, if the beneficiary tries to sell the property and a title agent later determines that it could be or is, then you will have to go back to court to get an order.
Answered on Feb 15th, 2012 at 1:14 PM