Introduction After you die, your will has to go through the probate process in order to be executed. Probate is the legal process of validating a will and distributing a person’s assets after they die. If you live in Texas, you may be wondering why your will has to go through probate. After all, it...KEEP READING

Introduction When it comes to giving gifts, we usually think of happy occasions like birthdays and Christmas. But what about when someone is nearing the end of their life? In Texas, there is a provision for what’s known as a Causa Mortis gift. This allows a person to give away property or possessions that they...KEEP READING

The “order of no administration” is one of the alternatives to a full probate. It is used when the estate has some assets, but the award of a family allowance would exceed the value of the assets. Since the family allowance is paid before nearly all other claims to the estate assets, there is no...KEEP READING

In Texas, probate court is the venue in which family members, friends, and business associates can contest a will. The Texas Estates Code sets out rules for how the court should handle these disputes. You might be wondering, if evidence of past misconduct toward an estate can be admitted as evidence to prove undue influence....KEEP READING

Introduction: Filing or Contesting a Will Texas Probate Court is the court in charge of handling the probate process for deceased persons who resided in Texas. This includes distributing their assets to heirs and resolving any debts or claims against the estate. The court also has jurisdiction over guardianship and conservatorship matters involving incapacitated adults...KEEP READING

Introduction: Making a Valid Last Will and Testament For your will to be valid in Texas, you must have testamentary capacity. Testamentary capacity means that you understand the nature and extent of your property and that you’re aware of the natural objects of your affection. You must also be able to understand that you’re making...KEEP READING

Excluding Witness Testimony A court may exclude a witness testimony from a suit for several reasons. This exclusion will be upheld so long as the court did not abuse its discretion in doing so. What constitutes an abuse of discretion? Morrow v. H.E.B., Inc. discusses this. Probate Case Morrow v. H.E.B., Inc., 714 S.W.2d 297...KEEP READING

If you die without a will in Corpus Christi, Texas, your estate may go to your spouse, children, parents, or other relatives as dictated by state law. However, this is not always the case. If you have any assets or debts that you want to leave to someone other than your spouse, then you will...KEEP READING

Introduction After a loved one passes away, you may be wondering what needs to be done in order to settle their estate. If they left behind a will, the process of probating it in El Paso, Texas is relatively simple. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps you’ll need to take in order...KEEP READING

Introduction If you have lost a loved one in Texas, there are a few things you will need to do in order to get their affairs in order. This includes locating important documents, notifying the appropriate people and agencies, and making funeral arrangements. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you through this difficult time....KEEP READING