Probate is the process of finalizing an estate after a death. The probate court will oversee the process. That is the main duty of the court. The actual process of disbursing the assets, locating heirs and managing the estate is up to the personal representative or...
To contest a will means you object to the validity of the will. There are several qualifications in place before an individual can contest a will in Texas, and the individual has two years to file the petition. 1. Be an interested person Only a person with a claim or...
Acting as the personal representative for another may give you a sneak peek into the probate process. This vantage may help you craft your estate to help your loved ones through the process. What can you expect as you go through probate? This court process takes an...
Perhaps your favorite aunt wanted you to serve as her personal representative and you were happy to agree. Aunt Lucy died unexpectedly, thrusting you into the role you thought was years away. You feel overwhelmed by the responsibility, but professional guidance will...
If your elderly parents have written an estate plan, you are probably grateful. After all, trying to figure out their wishes without some guidance can be extremely challenging. Still, if someone has unduly influenced your father and mother, you probably cannot trust...
Texas residents may speed up their asset distribution by adding heirs to their financial accounts. You could review and choose those financial institutions that allow clients to name beneficiaries or add joint owners to their accounts. You may also consider creating a...
People write wills and other estate planning documents hoping their friends and family will respect their wishes regarding their assets and other end-of-life decisions. Heartbreakingly, this is not always the case. For many different reasons, some estates end up in...
Not all assets end up going through probate. Some assets do not become part of an estate because they have beneficiary designations. Assigning a beneficiary on an asset means you can directly pass it to another person after you die, allowing the asset to bypass...
A valid will requires naming an individual as your estate’s executor. The individual you choose administers to the various needs that arise during probate. Under Chapter 304 of the Texas Estates Code, you may name a spouse, relative or trusted individual capable of...
Whoever serves as your estate executor will have the responsibility of distributing your estate to your heirs, so you want to look for ways to lighten the burden on your executor. Sometimes estate administrators become swamped with duties because the estate has a lot...