Most people have heard of probate but don’t understand what it actually involves until a loved one dies and they face the responsibility of settling an estate. The term “probate” sounds intimidating and complicated. Movies and television shows depict probate as an expensive, lengthy ordeal that consumes estate assets in legal fees while families wait...KEEP READING

The executor or personal representative has a lot of say in a Texas probate case. Absent limitations in the will, the independent executor has a lot of power. They can do everything from deciding what property is sold and kept, what property is distributed and when, and what the value of the property is that...KEEP READING

Probate cases are handled by a number of different courts in Texas. This can include statutory probate courts, county courts, and even district courts. Regardless of the type of court, one thing holds constant: the court is busy. Most courts in Texas have high caseloads. This is true of statutory probate courts in the largest...KEEP READING

Probate cases can be challenging given the different parties involved. In some cases, family members who have lifetime differences and long-running disputes are forced to work together to wind up the decedent’s last affairs. These disputes often end up in probate court. This can result in disputes and overreaching. The recent Estate of Allen, 658...KEEP READING

What happens when there is a dispute between parties regarding the validity of a life insurance beneficiary designation? This scenario raises complex legal questions surrounding conflicting claims and the rightful entitlement to life insurance proceeds. The solution lies within the realm of “interpleader” lawsuits. These legal actions offer a remedy when parties notify the life...KEEP READING

This case study involves a widow who was seeking assistance to access her late husband’s bank accounts. Despite presenting an affidavit of death and a death certificate and being the successor on the account, she was told by the bank that she needed a letter testamentary to access the account. This situation was complicated by...KEEP READING

When a person passes away, their will typically outlines the distribution of their estate. However, there may be instances where a will is declared invalid due to a variety of reasons such as lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence, or improper execution. When this occurs, the distribution of the decedent’s estate becomes a complex process....KEEP READING

A durable power of attorney is a standard estate planning document. It is a powerful legal document that grants an agent broad authority to act on behalf of the principal. Unfortunately, this type of document is often prone to fraud and abuse. The Gardner v. Majors, No. 10-21-00306-CV (Tex. Ct. App.–Waco 2023) case provides an...KEEP READING

Dealing with the loss of a loved one is never easy, and it can be even more challenging when there is no clear plan for their assets. In Texas, when someone passes away without a will, their assets are subject to the state’s intestacy laws. This means that the court will distribute the assets according...KEEP READING

Estate planning attorneys draft wills carefully, reviewing every provision to ensure the document accomplishes the testator’s wishes. Yet even the most carefully prepared wills sometimes contain errors. A paragraph reference might be wrong. A bequest might refer to property the testator no longer owns. The will might describe a gift but fail to name a...KEEP READING