An estate inventory app helps families, executors, and organizers create a clear record of belongings during a difficult transition. Retinelle lets you document rooms with photos and notes, add structured fields for decisions or values, and export a dated PDF for family coordination, appraisers, attorneys, or house clearing.
Core workflow
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Create one project per property. Keep the main home, storage unit, vacation home, or outbuilding separate so records stay easy to share and review.
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Work room by room. Photograph furniture, artwork, jewelry, documents, electronics, collectibles, tools, and sentimental items. A systematic pass prevents important items from being missed.
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Add context while it is fresh. Notes such as “promised to Sarah,” “needs appraisal,” or “stored in attic cabinet” are often more useful later than a perfect description.
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Use fields for status and value. Track whether an item should be kept, sold, donated, appraised, or reviewed by family.
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Export a dated report. Generate a PDF for discussion, probate preparation, appraisals, or disposal planning. Retinelle is not legal advice, but it gives the people involved a practical starting record.
What to document for probate preparation
Exact probate requirements depend on the jurisdiction, so confirm the formal rules with the executor or attorney. In practice, a useful estate inventory usually includes high-value personal property, vehicles, financial or ownership documents, household contents, collectibles, art, jewelry, and items with sentimental importance.
Take overview photos of each room, then closer photos of individual items that may need decisions. For documents, a photo of the folder, title page, or envelope can be enough to show that the document exists without transcribing private details into notes.
Fields that help executors make decisions
Retinelle’s custom fields help move an estate inventory from a photo album to an organized working list. Add a currency field for “Estimated Value,” an enum for “Disposition” (Keep, Sell, Donate, Appraise, Undecided), and a text field for “Intended Recipient.” A boolean field for “Needs Review” helps separate ordinary household contents from items that require a family conversation.
Because filters carry through to exports, you can create focused PDFs: one list for the appraiser, one for items to donate, and one for family review. Spreadsheet export also gives executors or organizers a structured format when they need to sort by value, room, or decision.
How photos prevent family disputes
Estate work is rarely just paperwork. A photo-based inventory reduces disputes by giving everyone the same view of what exists, even when some relatives are remote. It also preserves context after the house has been cleared, which is often when families realize they wish they had documented more.
Privacy matters here. Retinelle keeps the working inventory on your device, so sensitive family records are not uploaded to a shared service just to create a basic list.
People also ask
How do you create an estate inventory for probate?
Create an estate inventory one property and room at a time. Photograph important belongings, then record their location, estimated value, intended recipient, and disposition before exporting a dated report. Confirm the formal probate requirements with the executor or a local attorney.
What assets should be included in an estate inventory?
An estate inventory commonly includes valuable personal property, vehicles, ownership documents, household contents, collections, art, jewelry, and sentimental items. The legally required categories vary by jurisdiction, so use this as a working record rather than a substitute for local instructions.
Do you need to list every household item for probate?
You may not need to list every ordinary household item individually, but the requirement depends on the estate and jurisdiction. Prioritize high-value, sentimental, unusual, or disputed belongings and ask the responsible professional how routine contents should be grouped.
Can photos be used in an estate inventory?
Photos can identify belongings, record condition, and preserve room context for family review. They support a working inventory, but they do not replace required ownership documents, professional appraisals, or the formal probate filing.
