Ah, probate—the legal system’s way of making sure that when someone passes away, their estate is settled fairly, legally, and with just the right amount of bureaucracy to make you question your sanity.

So, your Aunt Linda left behind a house full of antique furniture, porcelain cat figurines, and—oh, look—her VHS collection of “Murder, She Wrote.” Now what? If you're staring at a mountain of stuff and a house to sell, you're probably wondering: Do I need an estate sale or estate liquidation?