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Power of attorney, estates, and who is allowed to sell the metal
Shops have to know you can sell what you brought. A POA, an executor letter, or three arguing cousins are not the same document.
We want to pay the person who is allowed to sell the stuff.
That is not nosy. That is how a shop stays out of a family war and a police report.
What helps
Photo ID. Papers that show you are executor, trustee, or have a real power of attorney that covers property. One speaker for the family. Why ID. Estates. Bank box day.
What does not help
“Mom said it was fine” on speakerphone. A form printed from a blog. One sibling selling while the others wait in the parking lot.
We are not a probate court. If the pile is large and the papers are messy, we may ask you to come back with cleaner papers. That delay is cheaper than a lawsuit. Sorting. Call ahead. Stolen metal and holds.
More on the coin and money library.
If two heirs want two piles at the counter, that is a sibling split, not a phone call from the parking lot.
Extra pad history for power of attorney and estates
We want to pay the person who is allowed to sell the stuff. That is not nosy. That is how a shop stays out of a family war and a police report. Photo ID. Papers that show you are executor, trustee, or have a real power of attorney that covers property. One speaker for the family. “Mom said it was fine” on speakerphone is not a paper. A form printed from a blog is not a paper. One sibling selling while the others wait in the parking lot is how stolen-metal holds get interesting.
We are not a probate court. This is not legal advice. If the pile is large and the papers are messy, we may ask you to come back with cleaner papers. That delay is cheaper than a lawsuit.
What the shop does on an estate visit
Photograph first if you have not. Sort. Bank box day has its own script. Call ahead. If two heirs want two piles at the counter, that is a sibling split, not a phone call from the lot. We will still be decent. We will not be the referee.
Keep the ticket. Keep receipts for whoever does the taxes. Do not clean grandma’s coins on the dining table the night before. Don’t clean. Pull the pieces the family is keeping before you arrive so we are not the villain.
People also ask
Can I sell with a photocopy of a will? Ask us what we need. Bring the best papers you have. We may still say come back.
What if siblings disagree? Do not make the shop pick. Settle who can accept a bid first.
Does a POA have to mention coins? It needs to cover the property. We are not your lawyer.
Can an out-of-state executor sell? Sometimes, with the right papers. Call first.