# Estates & successions

> Handle estate consignments with a representative such as an executor or notary, documents addressed to them, appraisals of the contents and single-owner sales.

- URL: https://www.selloff.auction/features/estates-successions
- Language: English
- Domain: Consignments
- Last updated: 2026-10-07
- Français: https://www.selloff.auction/fr/fonctionnalites/successions.md

## At a glance

- A representative on each consignment, with your own types such as executor, notary or lawyer
- Receipts, contracts and lists addressed to the representative when required
- Representative's email included in the consignment's communications
- Appraisals of estate contents, invoiced to the client or the representative
- A sale created directly from a receipt for single-owner auctions

## Estates need a third party

Estate sales rarely involve only the owner. An executor, a notary, a lawyer or a family member often gives instructions, signs documents and receives correspondence on behalf of the estate. Selloff handles this through consignment representatives.

## Representatives on consignments

Any contact can be flagged as a consignment representative. On a consignment, you select the representative and their type from a list you define, for example executor, notary, lawyer or heir. The consignor remains the estate, or the person who owns the goods, and receives the statements and payments.

With **Documents are addressed to the representative** ticked, the lots list, delivery receipt and sale contract use the representative's address in the window, and the consignor's details move beside it. The representative's primary email address is added to the consignment's recipients, and placeholders for their name, address and type are available in your document templates.

On the representative's own record, the "As representative" section lists every consignment and appraisal they are involved in, so a notary's files are easy to follow.

## From valuation to sale

Estates often start with an inventory. [Appraisals](https://www.selloff.auction/features/appraisals.md) record the contents, lot by lot with photos and estimates, with the same representative option; appraisal fees can be invoiced to the client or to the representative. The lots the family decides to sell are promoted to inventory, and those they give up can be handled with a waiver of rights.

When an estate deserves its own sale, an option lets you create a sale directly from a receipt with all its unsold lots. Identity documents and bank details stored on the contact records complete the file for compliance and payment.

## Related features

- [Consignor management](https://www.selloff.auction/features/consignor-management.md): Set commission, lot fees, insurance, broker and representative per consignment, group lots under receipts, and keep each consignor informed from one page.
- [Appraisals](https://www.selloff.auction/features/appraisals.md): Record appraisals at the counter or on site, describe and photograph lots, bill a fixed or hourly fee and move accepted lots into inventory.
- [Consignment receipts & signed documents](https://www.selloff.auction/features/consignment-receipts.md): Register each deposit on a numbered receipt with storage location and import details, send lot lists and contracts, and track which signed copies are back.
- [Consignor settlements](https://www.selloff.auction/features/consignor-settlements.md): Generate consignor statements for a whole sale, deduct commission, fees and VAT, pay consignors once buyers have paid and export transfers to your bank.

## Frequently asked questions

### How do I record an executor or notary acting for an estate?

Mark their contact as a consignment representative, then select them on the estate's consignment with the appropriate representative type. Tick "Documents are addressed to the representative" and the receipt documents are sent to their address, with the consignor's details shown alongside, and their email address is included in the consignment's communications.

### Can I organise a single-owner sale for an estate?

Yes. When the option is enabled, a sale can be created directly from a receipt: Selloff takes all unsold lots of that receipt, provided they share the same currency. You then build and number the catalogue as for any other sale.

### Where can I see all the cases a lawyer or notary handles with us?

On their contact record, the "As representative" section lists every consignment and appraisal in which they act. The contact list can also be filtered to show consignment representatives only.