Notifying Heirs When You Open Probate in Texas: What Notices to Send
Notifying heirs when you open probate in Texas Short answer: When you open probate in Texas you must make sure every interested person (heirs, beneficiaries, and known creditors) receives proper notice of the probate filing and any hearings. The court requires formal citation or notice to heirs and devisees, mailed or personally served notice to […]
Read article →Texas: Options When a Relative Refuses to Sign a Renunciation So You Can Serve as Personal Representative
Detailed Answer Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. This is general information about Texas probate procedures and not legal advice. For advice about your specific case, contact a licensed Texas probate attorney. What a renunciation is and why it matters A renunciation is a written statement in which a person who has priority or the […]
Read article →First Step to Determine Land Ownership in Texas
How to start determining who legally owns a portion of land in Texas This FAQ-style guide explains the single best first step to figure out legal ownership of part of your grandfather’s land in Texas, what that first step looks like in practice, and the next things to check. This is general information only and […]
Read article →What Happens to Joint Accounts and Property When Someone Dies Without a Will — Texas
How joint bank accounts and jointly held property transfer when someone dies without a will in Texas Short answer In Texas, what happens after someone dies without a will depends on how each asset is titled. Assets titled with a surviving co-owner or a named beneficiary generally pass outside probate to that person. Property that […]
Read article →Texas — Reimbursable Estate Property Maintenance Expenses During Probate
Detailed answer — Texas law overview on reimbursable estate property maintenance expenses Under Texas law, the estate is generally responsible for necessary and reasonable costs incurred to preserve estate assets until they are administered and sold. The person managing the estate (the executor named in a will or the court-appointed administrator) may pay or seek […]
Read article →How to Be Appointed Estate Administrator or Co-Administrator in Texas
Detailed Answer This section explains, in plain language, the typical steps to be appointed as an estate administrator or a co-administrator in Texas, what the court will consider, and what you should prepare. This is educational information only and is not legal advice. 1. Confirm whether probate is needed and which role applies First, determine […]
Read article →How to Avoid Probate in Texas Using Wills, Beneficiary Designations, TOD Deeds, and Trusts
Can you make sure your spouse and children inherit what you want without probate in Texas? Short answer: Some assets can pass outside probate in Texas if you use beneficiary designations, payable-on-death (POD) / transfer-on-death (TOD) arrangements, joint ownership with survivorship, TOD deeds for real estate, or a properly funded revocable living trust. A will […]
Read article →How to Buy Out Siblings’ Shares of a Parent’s House in Texas
FAQ: How can I buy out my siblings’ shares of a parent’s house in Texas instead of selling it through probate? Short answer: In Texas you can often buy out co‑owners (your siblings) through a voluntary agreement and deed transfer, or—if they won’t cooperate—you can ask a court for a partition (which may force a […]
Read article →Texas: Can an Estate Recover Money an Heir Withdraws from a Deceased Parent’s Accounts?
What to know about someone withdrawing funds from a deceased parent’s accounts in Texas Disclaimer: This is general information only and not legal advice. For specific guidance about a particular situation, consult a licensed Texas attorney. Detailed answer — how Texas law treats withdrawals after a person dies When a parent dies, their bank accounts, […]
Read article →Texas: Asking a Court to Appoint a Guardian ad Litem for Minor Heirs Before Selling Inherited Land
Do courts appoint guardian ad litem when minors have an interest in land being sold? This FAQ-style article explains how Texas courts handle representation for minor heirs when someone wants to sell inherited real property. It explains when a guardian ad litem (GAL) is used, how to ask the court for one, what the GAL […]
Read article →