For Executors, Attorneys & CPAs
Domain Valuation for Probate & Estate Settlement
A practical, honest guide to valuing a deceased person's domain portfolio — for probate court, IRS Form 706, divorce settlement, or partnership dissolution. Free tool plus a professional worksheet template designed for legal and tax filings.
Start Here — Free Bulk Appraisal
Paste up to 100 domains from the deceased's registrar export. You'll receive an estimated market value for each, plus a downloadable CSV summary you can attach to court filings.
The 6-Step Probate Valuation Workflow
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1
Inventory every domain immediately.
Export the full domain list from each registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Network Solutions, etc.). Look for accounts beyond the obvious one — most active investors hold domains across 2–4 registrars. Check email folders for renewal receipts that reveal additional accounts.
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2
Renew everything before doing anything else.
Domains that expire during probate are lost permanently — they cannot be recovered after the redemption grace period. Most registrars allow renewal up to 10 years out for under $20/year. Renewing the entire portfolio for two years buys you safety while probate proceeds.
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3
Run a free bulk appraisal.
Use our free bulk appraisal tool to get an estimated market value for each domain. Record both the retail estimate and a liquidation value (typically 25–35% of retail, the realistic price for a fast estate sale).
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4
Document in a structured audit worksheet.
Estimates alone aren't enough — courts and the IRS expect a documented methodology. Our $39 Portfolio Audit Template provides fillable pages for 50 domains, a renewal calendar, sample completed audits, and signature-ready attestation language.
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5
Decide on each domain: sell, hold, or drop.
Domains with renewal cost greater than 5-year market value should be dropped. High-value domains (over $1,000) typically benefit from broker-assisted sale rather than a marketplace listing. Mid-range domains can be listed on Afternic, Sedo, or Dan.com.
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6
Engage a USPAP appraiser if the portfolio exceeds the reporting threshold.
For estates with aggregate domain value above $5,000–$10,000 (varies by state), a USPAP-certified personal property appraiser is generally required for court-admissible valuation. The Internet Commerce Association (internetcommerce.org) maintains a member directory of credentialed domain appraisers.
Honest Scope Disclosure
Our free appraisal tool and the Portfolio Audit Template are not USPAP-certified appraisals. They are valuation worksheets that gather and structure publicly available data using documented methodology. Many probate courts and the IRS require a USPAP-compliant appraisal for assets above certain thresholds. Use these tools to prepare the conversation with the estate attorney — not to replace a credentialed appraiser when one is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I value a domain name for probate?
Use a free domain appraisal tool to get an estimated market value for each domain, then document each estimate in a written audit worksheet. For estates with aggregate domain value above ~$5,000, retain a USPAP-certified personal property appraiser to convert the worksheet into a court-admissible appraisal.
Do I need a certified appraisal for a domain in probate?
Most US probate courts require a USPAP-compliant appraisal for personal property valued above $5,000–$10,000 in aggregate. Below that threshold, a documented self-attested valuation worksheet is usually sufficient. Confirm the threshold with your estate attorney.
What happens if a domain expires during probate?
The domain is permanently lost. Renew every domain immediately on opening probate (most registrars allow renewal up to 10 years out) and set 60-day and 30-day calendar reminders for any renewals that fall during the probate period.
Are domains personal property or intangible assets?
Most US courts treat domain registrations as a contract right (intangible personal property) rather than tangible property. They are transferable, taxable, and subject to estate distribution. The IRS treats them as intangible assets for income tax purposes.
Ready to begin the audit?
Start with the free bulk appraisal to scope the portfolio. If the estate involves more than 10 domains or aggregate value above $1,000, the $39 audit template gives you a defensible paper trail.