I'm in Kansas City, so I'll chime in and try to answer a few things...In my opinion Kansas City (Missouri) is landlord friendly in the sense Missouri is a relatively quick eviction and non-judicial (faster) foreclosure state. 

Petitioners may either file a formal or informal estate, as well as ancillary estate (when part of an decedent who was a resident in another state).While in the court clerk's office, you might as well discretely ask other doing research if they are performing research for clients.

1)  I do deals prior to filing, during all stages of probate process, and post distribution (inherited).2) It depends on whether your PR is administering a formal probate, their interim powers, and /or informal probate where in may only be two steps from filing to distribution.Put the deal you want under contract, bulletproof the agreement and determine what satisfies you title officer or closing agent (or escrow officer). 3)  Most of the people I've been told are probate "experts" are really info marketers, rather than deal makers.

However, owner financing appears to be good plan especially in an a non-judicial state (Texas).

It doesn't have to be formal education, but if you have access to that, why not!

However, you didn't mention anything about a formal contract that would lay out EXACTLY what is expected of your partnership.

You're no buying a note secured by a deed of trust, you will be buying the property subject to an existing installment contract.Under the UCC installment sales are terminated upon default, that's all well and good, but states have recognized "laws of equity" requiring foreclosure proceedings in any financing agreement where a buyer has established significant equity, most set that at 10% of the sale price, this buyer exceeds that benchmark.Since the CFD does not have a non-judicial path to follow by agreement you will need to proceed with a judicial course of action, most likely.I don't know, nor do I even want to know Cali foreclosure laws (LOL) but since they are rather consumer oriented I'd think they would follow the popular thinking that using a prearranged quit claim deed, as is usually done with old CFDs, is circumventing foreclosure laws, so I wouldn't go there.

Fortunately this is in a non-judicial foreclosure state so the foreclosure should go rather quickly.

Performed a formal survey to verify boundary lines Received reports confirming in-ground oil tanks have been removed according to code Verified location and condition of well and septic Do I need to: Verify anything else with the title company?

I'm all for formal education paths but you need to consider the goals too.I mention this because in my area there are several commercial brokers.