How to Handle an Estate After a Death in Charlottesville VA

First Week After a Death — What to Prioritize

1. Secure the property. Change locks if needed. Turn off utilities only after confirming no items need temperature control.
2. Find and secure important documents. Will, trust, bank accounts, insurance policies, deed, Social Security card, passport.
3. Photograph everything before removing anything. Useful for insurance, estate records, and family disputes.
4. Contact the estate attorney before selling or removing anything of value.
5. Notify family members who may want specific items. Give them a reasonable deadline.

When to Schedule the Estate Cleanout

There's no set timeline for clearing an estate — it depends on whether the property is being sold, rented, or kept in the family. Most families schedule the physical cleanout 2–8 weeks after the death, after valuables are identified and family members have taken what they want.

Albemarle Moving works with your timeline. We've done same-day urgent clearances for estate sales happening the next day and we've waited months for families who needed more time. Call 434-230-4551 whenever you're ready.

What Albemarle Moving Does for Charlottesville Estate Cleanouts

• Free on-site walkthrough before any work begins
• Donate-first sorting — 65%+ goes to Habitat ReStore or local families
• Donation receipts for Habitat for Humanity ReStore (for tax purposes)
• Documentation for executors and estate attorneys on request
• No deposit — pay only after the job is complete
• Work with whoever is the estate point of contact — attorney, executor, or family member