Utilizing ProbateCash to Serve Your Clients and Build Your Practice

In this webinar, we explored ways ProbateCash can alleviate the immediate cash flow issues faced by your clients caught in the probate process. We discussed how we can help your firm secure retainer fees from clients facing financial constraints.

Key Takeaways

• ProbateCash provides non-recourse inheritance advances to estate beneficiaries who need liquidity before probate closes.
• Advances are not loans, require no credit check, and are repaid only from the beneficiary’s inheritance.
• Law firms can use ProbateCash to help clients cover retainers, court costs, taxes, and estate expenses without delaying probate.
• Advances do not affect other beneficiaries and do not slow down estate administration.
• Funding is often available in one to two business days, even early in the probate process.
• Inheritance assignments are filed with the court to ensure transparency and proper repayment.

Full Webinar Transcript

Molly Driscoll:
Welcome, and thank you for joining today’s session, Utilizing ProbateCash to Serve Your Clients and Build Your Business. This webinar is brought to you by Probate Cash. I’m your host, Molly Driscoll.

As a reminder, please type your questions into the chat window. Marc will address questions after the presentation. If your question is case-specific or confidential, please indicate that in the chat, and someone will follow up with you separately after the session.

Our presenter today is a professional with extensive experience in the probate field. Marc Harris is an attorney admitted to the Florida Bar and the Southern District of Florida. He is also a member of the Florida Bar’s Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section.

Marc has worked in the specialty finance industry for over 25 years and has been involved in the purchase of more than one hundred million dollars’ worth of assets, many of which required court approval. As CEO of Probate Cash, Marc is now helping lead a growing industry focused on purchasing interests in actively pending inheritance claims from estates and trusts.

Marc, can you start by telling us what Probate Cash does?

Marc Harris:
Thanks, Molly. Good afternoon, everyone. It’s great to have attorneys as our primary audience today, because you’re the professionals who truly understand what beneficiaries go through during probate.

Probate Cash provides advances to beneficiaries who are waiting for an inheritance that is tied up in probate. Throughout my career, I’ve worked in financial services providing liquidity to people entitled to future cash flows who can’t access those funds right away. Inheritance delays fall squarely into that category.

Most beneficiaries don’t understand probate until they experience it firsthand. They go to the bank, try to access an account, or attempt to sell a home, and they’re told they can’t because the assets belong to the estate. That’s when they learn probate can take months or even a year or more.

This is where Probate Cash helps. We provide liquidity during the process, which reduces pressure on beneficiaries, personal representatives, and ultimately on law firms handling constant calls asking, “Where’s my money?”

Molly Driscoll:
How does an advance from Probate Cash actually work?

Marc Harris:
The process is simple. A beneficiary contacts us, or we speak directly with their attorney. The beneficiary completes a short application and provides basic estate information.

Our underwriting team reviews the probate case. If the case hasn’t been filed yet, we’ll work with the attorney to confirm that assets exist and will be sold. In many cases, we can fund an advance within one to two business days.

We never purchase the entire inheritance. Our goal is to provide necessary liquidity while keeping the beneficiary engaged in completing the probate process. The amount advanced depends on the stage of the case, whether the claims period has expired, and whether there is litigation.

These are not loans. There is no credit check, and the advance is non-recourse. If the inheritance is reduced or eliminated due to creditor claims, will challenges, or other issues, the beneficiary is not personally liable. That risk is ours.

Molly Driscoll:
How does Probate Cash help law firms specifically?

Marc Harris:
Law firms face cash-flow challenges too. In many states, attorneys rely on statutory probate fees or court approval, which means payment can be delayed.

We often work with attorneys who attract potential clients but can’t proceed because the client can’t pay a retainer or upfront costs. In those cases, Probate Cash can advance funds to the person petitioning to open probate so they can pay legal fees and court costs.

This allows attorneys to accept cases they might otherwise turn away, keep cash flow stable, and move the probate forward without paying expenses out of pocket.

Advances can also cover estate expenses such as property repairs, back taxes, or costs needed to prepare a home for sale. These expenses are typically recorded as estate expenses and shared proportionally among beneficiaries.

Molly Driscoll:
Are inheritance advances governed by any specific laws?

Marc Harris:
Only one state—California—has a statute that specifically governs inheritance assignments. We strictly follow that statute in California and apply the same process nationwide.

The beneficiary signs an assignment of inheritance, which is filed with the court. The assignment directs the personal representative to pay Probate Cash directly from the beneficiary’s share at distribution. In California, this is reflected in the final court order. In other states, we follow the same procedural safeguards even without a specific statute.

Molly Driscoll:
How can Probate Cash fund advances so quickly?

Marc Harris:
Because these are not loans. There’s no collateral, no credit committee, and no underwriting based on personal credit. We evaluate the probate estate itself.

If the inheritance disappears due to claims, will challenges, or other issues, we absorb the loss. The only time we pursue legal action is if a beneficiary receives their inheritance and refuses to repay the assigned amount, which would be a breach of contract.

We also don’t charge interest. Instead, we charge a one-time fee based on risk and timing. Some advances are outstanding for 90 days; others last several years. Probate timelines vary significantly.

Molly Driscoll:
How does an advance to one beneficiary affect other beneficiaries?

Marc Harris:
It doesn’t. We are only in contract with the beneficiary receiving the advance. We have no contractual relationship with other beneficiaries, the estate, or the attorney.

If the beneficiary who received an advance ends up with a shortfall, it does not affect other beneficiaries and does not delay estate distributions. In fact, advances often reduce tension and make probate administration smoother.

Molly Driscoll:
One of the questions we received is whether an estate attorney can be held responsible if Probate Cash isn’t repaid.

Marc Harris:
No. Attorneys are not guarantors, and we do not ask them to sign our contracts. We simply want open communication so there are no surprises. Attorneys may also alert us to issues not yet reflected in court records, which helps everyone.

Molly Driscoll:
Another question: How can attorneys leverage Probate Cash to sign new clients?

Marc Harris:
Many attorneys turn away potential clients because they can’t afford upfront costs. Probate Cash allows attorneys to move forward without that financial barrier.

Additionally, when a client urgently needs money and has no access to estate funds, attorneys can explain that Probate Cash is an option once representation begins. That can be a decisive factor in signing a client.

Molly Driscoll:
What are the downsides of an inheritance advance?

Marc Harris:
These advances aren’t right for everyone. Our fees start at 25% of the advance amount and can increase depending on risk and timing. That reflects the uncertainty and duration of probate.

We encourage beneficiaries to explore all alternatives first, including family support or traditional financing. However, many people choose Probate Cash because traditional loans take weeks, while we can fund in days.

We ensure beneficiaries fully understand the terms. They’re encouraged to consult counsel, and we conduct recorded calls to confirm comprehension. Our contracts are written in plain language, not legal jargon.

Molly Driscoll:
Can law firms advertise that they work with Probate Cash?

Marc Harris:
Yes, with transparency. Our marketing team can help ensure compliance and clarity. As long as clients understand the relationship, Probate Cash can be positioned as a resource that helps firms attract and retain clients who need immediate financial support.

Molly Driscoll:
Thank you, Marc, and thank you to everyone who joined us today. We’ll be sending a follow-up email with the webinar recording and additional information. Have a great day.