A complete Pokémon slab estate inventory lists every encapsulated, graded card—called a slab—by certification number, date-of-death value, and exact storage location. A public PSA Registry page cannot prove the list is complete or reveal where each card physically sits. Treat registry entries and certification searches as leads, not estate records. The administrator needs a card-by-card list supported by photographs, appraisal records, and a clear custody trail.
Table of Contents
- Can the PSA Registry reveal the full collection?
- What belongs in the cert-by-cert list?
- What does cert verification actually prove?
- Which value should the estate record?
- How specific should the storage record be?
Can the PSA Registry reveal the full collection?
No. PSA permits anonymous members and private sets, so its Registry information cannot establish an estate's complete inventory or exact storage locations. PSA's "Current" status means the registrant owns and possesses a listed card.
However, that possession can include a safe-deposit box or an auction consignment, not necessarily the owner's residence. Registry history is not a permanent ownership ledger. PSA instructs members to remove sold cards, while an All-Time Finest set may represent a retired collection that has since dispersed. Use registry records to identify possible cards, then reconcile them against physical holdings and custody documents.
What belongs in the cert-by-cert list?
PSA requires certification numbers when cards are registered and provides a public Cert Verification search. Record the cert exactly as printed, including every digit. Give each physical slab a separate estate item number instead of using the cert as the only row identifier.
That keeps the record usable if two holders display the same number or a card later raises authentication concerns. For each slab, record: Keep earlier locations and values in the file rather than overwriting them. A dated history helps distinguish a missing card from one that was consigned, moved, sold, or distributed.
- Estate item number, grading company, grade, and certification number
- Card and set details exactly as printed on the holder
- Clear photographs of the slab's front and back
- Date-of-death appraisal amount, valuation date, and supporting document
- Precise physical location and the party holding the card
What does cert verification actually prove?
A matching PSA search result does not conclusively authenticate the slab in hand. PSA warns that counterfeit grading inserts can reuse genuine public cert numbers. It also says a database listing does not guarantee that a web-listed item is genuine.
Cert verification therefore confirms that the number corresponds to a PSA record, not that the physical holder is authentic. Photographs should show enough detail to compare the actual card and label with the record. Flag any duplicate number, mismatched card detail, or unexplained holder for separate review. Do not assign a final appraisal value or combine duplicate records until the physical items have been resolved.
Which value should the estate record?
For a U.S. estate, record fair market value at death rather than the decedent's purchase price. The IRS states that the estate tax threshold for deaths in 2026 is $15 million. That threshold does not replace item-level probate work.
The IRS also instructs estate administrators to collect the decedent's assets and have them appraised for probate. Separate a completed appraisal from a preliminary estimate. Record the valuation date, supporting document, and person or firm responsible so later readers do not mistake an old purchase price for the estate value. These points address U.S. estates; the supplied evidence does not establish valuation rules elsewhere.
How specific should the storage record be?
"Vault," "bank," or "off-site" is not specific enough for an estate inventory. The location field should tell an authorized administrator where the slab is held and which record controls access.
Depending on custody, record: PSA says its Vault is in New Castle, Delaware, where vaulted items are fully insured, climate controlled, protected continuously, and stored behind Class 3 UL doors. It currently accepts only trading cards encapsulated and authenticated by PSA, SGC, BGS, or CGC; raw cards and other holders are ineligible. For an ineligible card, record its actual separate location instead of classifying it as vaulted.
- Residence storage area or container
- Safe-deposit institution and box reference
- Auction company and consignment reference
- Vault provider and account or submission reference
- Date and method of the latest physical confirmation
